US3572689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for folding articles
Assignee: International Paper Co
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Filing: 1968-07-11
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1988-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A series of flat articles are advanced along a path at regular intervals and are folded by continuously traveling fingers which engage an article intermediate its ends and fold the same. The fingers advance the articles to a station at which the folded articles are deposited as the fingers automatically withdraw from the folds. The folded articles may be abutted seriatim into a stack within an accumulator in the form of a conveyor traveling a speed considerably slower than the speed of the traveling fingers.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Murphy
- 👤 Charles A Lee
- 👤 Warren R Furbeck
- 👤 Philip G Day
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:24
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; D; D06; D06F; D06F89/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/937; Y10S493/938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In an apparatus for folding flexible articles, an endless conveyor for advancing a series of said articles resting thereon and having their centers spaced apart a predetermined distance along a first predetermined path to one end of said conveyor where said conveyor is inverted, guide means at said one end of said conveyor to constrain the leading end of each article to follow a curved path to the exit of said guide means, said leading end of said article being free to depend downwardly from the exit of said guide means, finger means including at least one finger to engage the depending article substantially medially and hold it against the inverted conveyor to travel with the conveyor along a second predetermined path, means to form a fold at the location of said finger, takeup means to receive said folded articles, and means for retracting said fingers from said folds of the articles upon their delivery to said takeup means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an apparatus for folding flexible articles, an endless conveyor for advancing a series of said articles resting thereon and having their centers spaced apart a predetermined distance along a first predetermined path to one end of said conveyor where said conveyor is inverted, guide means at said one end of said conveyor to constrain the leading end of each article to follow a curved path to the exit of said guide means, said leading end of said article being free to depend downwardly from the exit of said guide means, finger means including at least one finger to engage the depending article substantially medially and hold it against the inverted conveyor to travel with the conveyor along a second predetermined path, means to form a fold at the location of said finger, takeup means to receive said folded articles, and means for retracting said fingers from said folds of the articles upon their delivery to said takeup means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said takeup means is a takeup conveyor for carrying said articles at a first speed, and in which an accumulating conveyor following said receiving conveyor is aligned with the path of travel of said articles while on said take up conveyor, said accumulating conveyor traveling at a speed sufficiently slower than the speed of said takeup conveyor so incoming folded articles are abutted with preceding articles in the accumulating conveyor whereby the articles are abutted and form a stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said finger means includes a pair of endless bands each carrying a plurality of fingers about an endless path, each of said fingers on one band being aligned with a finger on the opposite band for simultaneously engagIng and advancing a respective article, and said means for retracting includes guides for directing said bands in paths diverging from each other to withdraw the fingers automatically from the folded article and thereby deposit the article in said takeup means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said fingers travel on a substantially horizontal plane when folding the article and in which the means for folding the article directs said end portions into a substantially horizontal plane when forming said fold and in which said article is free to pivot downwardly about a finger to dispose the folded article substantially vertically before it is deposited in said takeup means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said takeup and accumulating conveyors include means to engage the sides of the folded articles and hold them upright as they are conveyed by said conveyors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which each of said side engaging means includes opposed endless bands for engaging the opposite sides of the upright articles and in which said conveyors have a bottom conveyor belt for supporting and conveying the lower ends of the articles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an apparatus for folding articles such as a disposable diaper, an endless conveyor conveying diapers to one end thereof, means defining a curved chute adjacent said conveyor end to guide the leading end of each diaper to travel in an arcuate path around said conveyor end, means including endless bands each carrying a series of spaced fold fingers along predetermined paths to engage a diaper substantially centrally thereof as the diaper exits from said curved chute and to advance the diaper in the direction of finger travel, forming means disposed along said path of finger travel to force the extremities of said diaper together and thereby form a fold at said finger, said diapers being thereafter free to pivot about said finger to orient said legs of said diaper downwardly, means for automatically withdrawing said finger from said fold, and conveyor means operable when said finger withdraws to hold said folded diaper upright and convey it away.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an apparatus for folding articles such as a disposable diaper, an endless conveyor conveying diapers to one end thereof, means defining a curved chute adjacent said conveyor end to guide the leading end of each diaper to travel in an arcuate path around said conveyor end, means including endless bands each carrying a series of spaced fold fingers along predetermined paths to engage a diaper substantially centrally thereof as the diaper exits from said curved chute and to advance the diaper in the direction of finger travel, forming means disposed along said path of finger travel to force the extremities of said diaper together and thereby form a fold at said finger, said diapers being thereafter free to pivot about said finger to orient said legs of said diaper downwardly, means for automatically withdrawing said finger from said fold, and conveyor means operable when said finger withdraws to hold said folded diaper upright and convey it away.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of folding and stacking a series of flexible articles comprising the steps of advancing said unfolded articles successively along a predetermined path at regular intervals, engaging each article substantially centrally by at least one finger while leaving the ends thereof free, forcing the free ends of said article together to form a fold in said article at said finger, withdrawing said finger to release said article therefrom, and abutting successive folded articles and holding the sides thereof with the articles being disposed in an upright position and in a column to form a stack of folded articles.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of folding and stacking a series of flexible articles comprising the steps of advancing said unfolded articles successively along a predetermined path at regular intervals, engaging each article substantially centrally by at least one finger while leaving the ends thereof free, forcing the free ends of said article together to form a fold in said article at said finger, withdrawing said finger to release said article therefrom, and abutting successive folded articles and holding the sides thereof with the articles being disposed in an upright position and in a column to form a stack of folded articles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 in which each of said folded articles are abutted in a stack by conveying said folded articles at a given speed into an accumulator traveling at a speed which is substantially slower than said given speed so that each of the articles incoming to the accumulator abuts a preceding article.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 in which flat unfolded articles are moved in a first direction to the exit end of a conveyor and are constrained to travel in an arcuate path about the exit end of the conveyor, whereupon the leading portion of the article is released for engagement of a succeeding portion by said finger.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of folding and stacking a series of flexible flat articles comprising the steps of advancing the unfolded articles at a first predetermined speed successively along a first predetermined path at regular intervals to a first station, at said first station engaging a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively with at least one finger while leaving the ends thereof free, by said finger advancing each article along a second predetermined path at said predetermined speed past a second station to a third station, at said second station folding the articles about the respective fingers, disposing the respective folded articles vertically dependent from said fingers between said second and third stations, at said third station engaging the edges of the folded articles, thereupon withdrawing the fingers from the respective articles, carrying the engaged folded articles at the same predetermined speed to a fourth station, and at said fourth station abutting successive folded articles in a stack.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of folding and stacking a series of flexible flat articles comprising the steps of advancing the unfolded articles at a first predetermined speed successively along a first predetermined path at regular intervals to a first station, at said first station engaging a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively with at least one finger while leaving the ends thereof free, by said finger advancing each article along a second predetermined path at said predetermined speed past a second station to a third station, at said second station folding the articles about the respective fingers, disposing the respective folded articles vertically dependent from said fingers between said second and third stations, at said third station engaging the edges of the folded articles, thereupon withdrawing the fingers from the respective articles, carrying the engaged folded articles at the same predetermined speed to a fourth station, and at said fourth station abutting successive folded articles in a stack.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an apparatus for folding articles, means for advancing said articles in succession at regular intervals along a first predetermined path, finger means including fingers moving along an endless second predetermined path to catch a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively and advance the articles along at least a portion of said second predetermined path, a former disposed along said second predetermined path for folding said article at said finger, a takeup conveyor disposed along said second predetermined path for receiving said folded articles and moving them in a third predetermined path, and means for retracting said fingers from said articles after their delivery to said takeup conveyor, said finger means including a pair of endless bands each carrying a plurality of fingers, each finger on one band being aligned with a finger on the other band to engage the article substantially simultaneously with its aligned finger, and said means for retracting including means for carrying said bands with said fingers thereon along diverging paths so that the finers automatically withdraw to release the folded article.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an apparatus for folding articles, means for advancing said articles in succession at regular intervals along a first predetermined path, finger means including fingers moving along an endless second predetermined path to catch a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively and advance the articles along at least a portion of said second predetermined path, a former disposed along said second predetermined path for folding said article at said finger, a takeup conveyor disposed along said second predetermined path for receiving said folded articles and moving them in a third predetermined path, and means for retracting said fingers from said articles after their delivery to said takeup conveyor, said finger means including a pair of endless bands each carrying a plurality of fingers, each finger on one band being aligned with a finger on the other band to engage the article substantially simultaneously with its aligned finger, and said means for retracting including means for carrying said bands with said fingers thereon along diverging paths so that the finers automatically withdraw to release the folded article.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an apparatus for folding articles, means for advancing said articles in succession at regular intervals along a first predetermined path, finger means including fingers moving along an endless second predetermined path to catch a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively and advance the articles along at least a portion of said second predetermined path, a former disposed along said second predetermined path for folding said article at said finger, a takeup conveyor disposed along said second predetermined path for receiving said folded articles and moving them in a third predetermined path, and means for retracting said fingers from said articles after their delivery to said takeup conveyor, said takeup conveyor including means for engaging opposite sides of the folded articles and holding them upright.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an apparatus for folding articles, means for advancing said articles in succession at regular intervals along a first predetermined path, finger means including fingers moving along an endless second predetermined path to catch a predetermined portion of each of said articles successively and advance the articles along at least a portion of said second predetermined path, a former disposed along said second predetermined path for folding said article at said finger, a takeup conveyor disposed along said second predetermined path for receiving said folded articles and moving them in a third predetermined path, and means for retracting said fingers from said articles after their delivery to said takeup conveyor, said takeup conveyor including means for engaging opposite sides of the folded articles and holding them upright.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |