Method and apparatus for fanfolding of continuous webs

0001The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for fan-fold form of equidistant grooved endless webs of foldable material, in particular cardboard, especially mono- or wall corrugated board, which with a Feed speed are fed to in each case two track sections to put together.

0002Endless webs of foldable materials, but because of their Material properties are not flexible, ie not on without damage Let it retract a role, such as single- or multilayer corrugated boards, are in Form of fanfold merged.

0003The merging of these tracks is carried out according to the prior art in the Way that along transverse grooves in the webs, the transverse grooves respectively, the forming fold lines, the webs are folded by hand or at least caved need and are then merged. The buckling of the webs along fold lines is done by impact, for example with a Wooden pole. With very wide webs, it is necessary that the two sides of Path is generated buckling caused by shock. A disadvantage of this Procedure is the one of the staff required, carried out for the second no precise folding along the transverse grooves, so that the fan-fold form of the web only with insufficient accuracy is performed.

0004The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which the said disadvantages are overcome and allows a fan-fold form of Continuous webs of foldable material automatically and with great accuracy to produce.

0005Based on the embodiment shown in the drawing, the invention described in more detail below. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent claims listed.

0006The drawing shows a side view of one embodiment of the Device of the invention. The foldable material is an endless path along of the arrow (1) fed at a feed speed. The material runs along a guide (2) up to a stop means (3). The guide (2, 2a) and the stop means (3, 3a) are preferably adjustable in height, as shown in the drawing indicated. In the field or exactly on a transverse groove in the fold line, the web was impressed, the web is grasped by a driving means. The Entrainment means is of both sides of the web provided guide means (4) out. These guide means (4) are in the form of traction means, ie as pull cords, For example, as a rocker joint chain is formed and in turn on a performed correspondingly shaped guideway, the first along a straight line (41) increases and then in an approximately circular path (42) passes, which in turn merges into a straight portion (43).

0007is By guiding the entraining agent along the path described above ensures that the foldable continuous sheet a in the field or at the exact location Cross groove is raised and thus by the feed automatically bend, ie a forcibly folding along the fold line as provided in the web Transverse groove is generated.

0008By adjusting the speed of the guided by the guide means Drive means on the feeding speed of the continuous web is in the Transition to the circular arc portion (42) of the guideway is buckled performed endless web in such a manner that the two portions of the material before and behind the fold line forming an acute angle.

0009After in this manner, a folding of the web is done, the driving means is by the guide along a rectilinear portion (43) of the guide track fed out from the formed double layer of the continuous web and as in the form of Fanfold folded continuous web can stored in suitable recording means will.

0010The entrainment means are secured in the distance to the guide means, that every second is provided as fold line transverse groove is grasped and thus occurs continuous fan-fold form of the continuous web. The distance between the Entrainment means on the guide means is preferably variable to to realize different Faltlängen. Preferably, also the Distance between the guide means variably to different widths of the continuous web To realize.

0011The drive means are preferably in the form between the guide means tensioned cables, in particular steel cables, or exported in the form of wires or formed by fixed between the guide means sections or sheets. Alternatively, a lift in the range or at the exact location of the fold lines than in the continuous web provided lateral grooves by suction from above or done by means of compressed air from bottom.

0012Preferably the guide means are at least in the region of the seats of Driving means provided with laterally against the guide rail supporting roles.

0013Alternatively to the above described web on which the guide means and thus the entrainment means are performed, each initially rising and then be provided sloping path, so that the driver means a beginning Moving diagonally forward and upward through leads and then the driving means moves down to the front, alternatively, for example, along a semicircle or in a closed circular motion by guiding the entraining means for example on hubs or hubs.