US3762699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fan fold apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-02
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1990-12-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for fan-folding web material includes a pair of contra-rotating folding rollers having an irregular yet congruent configuration comprising a heart-shaped profile whereby the grain of the web is broken as each roller point forces the web into the ''''V'''' of the adjacent roller. Means are provided to rotate one roller at a constant angular speed while the second roller is driven at a variable angular speed to insure a constant tangency between the rollers without any slippage therebetween. The final creasing of the web is achieved by means of a clamping unit adjacent each roller ''''V'''' which is actuated by epicyclic gearing and cams within the roller.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wing
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; B65H45/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A web folding apparatus including, a pair of folding rollers of congruent and symmetrical cross-sectional configuration, said rollers each having a periphery defined by alternate epicycloidal, generated and constant radial curve portions generally providing each roller with a contour including mateable male and female areas, means supporting each of said rollers for rotation about a central axis, means for feeding web material between said rollers, and means for driving said rollers in a contra-rotating manner, said driving means including means rotating one of said rollers at a constant angular speed while concurrently rotating the other of said rollers at a variable angular speed whereby, said two rollers repetitively mate at points of web folding when respective said male and female areas are juxtaposed and said rollers constantly maintain a point of tangency between their peripheries without any slippage or interference therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A web folding apparatus including, a pair of folding rollers of congruent and symmetrical cross-sectional configuration, said rollers each having a periphery defined by alternate epicycloidal, generated and constant radial curve portions generally providing each roller with a contour including mateable male and female areas, means supporting each of said rollers for rotation about a central axis, means for feeding web material between said rollers, and means for driving said rollers in a contra-rotating manner, said driving means including means rotating one of said rollers at a constant angular speed while concurrently rotating the other of said rollers at a variable angular speed whereby, said two rollers repetitively mate at points of web folding when respective said male and female areas are juxtaposed and said rollers constantly maintain a point of tangency between their peripheries without any slippage or interference therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, said folding rollers are each heart-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, each said folding roller periphery includes a pair of constant radial portions adjacent a pair of generated curve portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, each said folding roller periphery male area includes an exteriorly projecting point and said female area includes an interior ''''V'''' and said point is defined by a pair of said generated curve portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 4 wherein, said curve portions defining said ''''V'''' are epicycloidal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 including, a web clamping unit carried by each said folding roller, said clamping unit comprising a stationary jaw and a rotatable jaw, said roller supporting means including a fixedly disposed shaft within said roller, and means within said roller operable by rotation of the roller about said shaft to displace said rotatable jaw to open and close said clamping unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein, said means within said roller displacing said rotatable jaw includes a toggle mechanism having an arm attached to said rotatable jaw, and spring means urging said arm to normally retain said clamping unit in a closed or open position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 7 including a cam fixed to said fixedly disposed shaft and adapted to cyclically open said rotatable jaw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 7 including, a cam mounted about said fixedly disposed shaft for free movement therearound and adapted to cyclically close said rotatable jaw, an epicyclic gear train having a sun gear fixed to said fixedly disposed shaft, and a cam gear connected to said freely mounted cam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 9 wherein, said cam and cam gear are fixed to a sleeve slidable about said fixedly disposed shaft and said epicyclic Gear train includes intermediate gears transmitting rotation from said fixed sun gear to said freely mounted cam gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, said driving means includes, a constant speed drive shaft having means for rotating same at a fixed speed, an adjacent variable speed drive shaft, and means on said two shafts for driving said variable speed shaft alternately at a constant speed and at a variable speed for each revolution of said constant speed shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, said driving means on said two shafts includes a drive cluster gear plate fixed to said constant speed shaft and a driven cluster gear plate fixed to said variable speed shaft, each said two plates provided with angularly spaced apart mateable gear segments whereby, when said gear segments of said two plates are meshed said variable speed shaft is driven at a speed equal to said constant speed shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 12 including, a speed change drive plate fixed to said constant speed shaft adjacent a differential unit freely mounted upon said variable speed shaft, said differential unit including a driven gear plate, said speed change drive plate and differential plate having angularly spaced apart mateable gear segments, said differential unit provided with variable speed motion generating means operable when said speed change plate segment meshes with said differential plate semgent to rotate said variable speed drive shaft at a variable speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein, said generating means includes means alternately locking and unlocking said freely mounted driven gear plate to said variable speed drive shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 14 wherein, said alternately locking and unlocking means includes a pair of crank arms, means radially mounting said crank arms adjacent said variable speed shaft in a normally free manner, a follower pin displaceable to lock each said crank arm to said variable speed shaft, said generating means including an eccentrically mounted roller engaging each said crank arm, and means driving said crank arm roller to arcuately move said crank arm when said crank arm is locked to said variable speed shaft by said follower pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 15 including a drum assembly fixedly disposed around said variable speed shaft adjacent said differential unit, said drum assembly including a speed change element and rim plate, said generating means provided with a star wheel gear assembly connected to each said crank arm roller by an eccentric shaft, and said crank arm roller drive means includes a tooth section on said fixed speed change element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 16 including cam means on said drum assembly engageable by said follower pin to lock said crank arm to said variable speed drive shaft when said star wheel gear assembly engages with and is rotated by said tooth section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, said star wheel assembly includes a gear section, and pivot means on said drum assembly engaged by said star wheel assembly to rotate said gear section into mesh with said tooth section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 18 including, a shoe on said star wheel assembly slidable on said rim plate when said gear section is not meshed with said tooth section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 18 wherein, said drum assembly includes a separate and different diameter fixed speed change element and rim plate for each star wheel assembly whereby, different variable speed motions are transmitted to said variable speed drive shaft upon the alternate actuation of said two star wheel assemblies.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, said folding roller supporting means includes a non-rotatable shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, each sAid folding roller periphery male area is provided with a point and said female area includes a diametrically disposed ''''V,'''' and a movable clamping unit is mounted within said roller adjacent said ''''V.''''
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A web folding apparatus according to claim 1 including, a pair of swingable support arms between said driving means and said roller supporting means whereby, adjustment of said arms varies the contact pressure between said rollers.
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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |