Device for zigzag folding of a countinuous tape

A device for the zigzag folding of flexible tapes is mounted on an entablature. The entablature includes a guide for distributing the tape. A pair of rollers are disposed within a transverse slot on the entablature. The rollers are each provided with an alternating succession of disks and pulleys. The disks are fixed to said rollers so as to rotate together. Each of the pulleys accepts a cable. The plurality of cables constitutes a belt for aiding in advancement of the tape. The rollers are coupled to a support carriage including a motor for rotating the rollers in opposite directions, the tape being guided between the oppositely rotating rollers and disks.

The invention pertains to the technical field of machines and materials for 
the packaging of flexible tapes made of textile material such as ribbons 
and similar products. 
It is first of all stated that textile tapes and ribbons are packaged in 
packing material and presented with a zigzag alternation. 
In order to accomplish this, a device is provided which comprises an 
entablature with a rear zone receiving means for the distribution of the 
fabricated tape, a central zone equipped with a transverse slot allowing 
the alternating displacement of a pair of rollers between which is guided 
the tape, the rollers being mounted on a carriage driven by control means 
in an alternating transverse movement in relation to the aforementioned 
slot and allowing at the outlet of the rollers the folding of the tape, 
with the aforementioned entablature having a front zone allowing the 
reception and discharge of the parts of the continuous folded tape and 
their discharge to the packaging zone. There are also provided means for 
the advancement of the folded tape or ribbon parts. 
In a specific implementation, the applicant for the present patent proposed 
an improved device comprising two specific features defined in French 
Patent No. 88.12709. 
The first specific feature is comprised of making each of the rollers 
alternatively positive with respect to the direction of tape advance 
irrespective of the direction of displacement of the carriage. For this 
purpose, the rollers are driven by free wheels mounted in opposition. 
The second specific feature is comprised of acting by means against the 
strands of the part of the tape in relation to the outlet of the pair of 
rollers by assuring an alternating application and release of pressure of 
each of the half-parts of the tapes that has been executed so as to 
maintain the parts of the folded tapes in the vertical position. The 
aforementioned means are of the belt type. 
In the context of exploiting the aforementioned patent which was completely 
satisfactory for the majority of tapes and ribbons processed, it was found 
that certain types of ribbons had a tendency to unfold. This problem 
occurred with ribbons with a certain "nervousness", i.e., a tendency to 
slacken and thereby constitute an impedimentation of packing. Thus, it was 
necessary to improve the device so as to make it capable of handling this 
problem. 
In addition, in the state of conception of the rollers, the devices 
employed exhibited certain limits under the conditions of processing tapes 
or ribbons with a limited width. 
Thus, a first goal of the invention was to improve the existing devices so 
as to allow quick adjustment of the rollers irrespective of the width 
dimensions of the tapes or ribbons. 
Another goal of the invention was to be able to employ the device for the 
zigzag folding of tapes or ribbons irrespective of their composition or 
application. 
Another goal of the invention was to improve the existing devices by the 
use of supplementary modular means that could be assembled and 
disassembled quickly with a very large capacity of adjustment in 
fulfilling the performance conditions for tapes or ribbons so as to 
achieve perfect packaging. 
These goals as well as other goals will become evident from the description 
below. 
In accordance with a first characteristic, the device is noteworthy in that 
it comprises an entablature with a rear zone and means for distribution of 
the fabricated tape, a central zone fitted with a transverse slot allowing 
the alternating movement of a pair of rollers between which is guided the 
tape, the said rollers being mounted on a carriage driven by control means 
in an alternating transverse movement in relation to the aforementioned 
slot and thereby allowing the discharge from the rollers of the fold of a 
ribbon, and a front zone allowing the reception and discharge of the parts 
of the continuously folded ribbon and their discharge towards the 
packaging zone, with this device also having means for advancing the 
folded ribbon parts in the form of belts; with the device being 
characterized in that the rollers are mounted on joining and guiding 
spindles the lower ends of which are attached to a support structure 
associated with the carriage, said rollers consisting of an alternating 
succession of modular sets of disks and pulleys taking cables, a 
multiplicity of cables defining one or several belts for advancing parts 
of the tapes and ribbons, a first end of the cables being secured on 
fixing means offset at an angle to the plane of the rollers, said cables 
being parallel and horizontal, the number of disks and pulleys varying 
according to the width of the type or ribbon to be folded, each pulley 
being mounted free to rotate independently of the direction of rotation of 
the rollers. 
In accordance with another characteristic, the device is noteworthy in that 
each disk has on its periphery a crown made of flexible material, the unit 
of installed disks and crowns defining a common vertical generatrix, and 
in that the said pulleys have smaller diameters than the associated disk 
and crown, the cables being situated in the interior space of each roller, 
and in that the rollers are thereby mounted so as to allow passage only of 
the tape or ribbon to be folded. 
In accordance with another characteristic, the device is noteworthy in that 
the joining and guiding spindles are equipped at their base with a lower 
shoulder allowing the centering and support of the successive elements 
constituting each roller. 
These characteristics and additional characteristics will become clear from 
the description below.

In order to render the object of the invention more concrete, it will now 
be described in a nonlimitative manner illustrated in the drawings. 
The device in accordance with the invention provides for the zigzag folding 
of flexible tapes notably made of textile material and of ribbons in 
particular, in accordance with automatic continuous processing. The device 
is positioned in a known manner on an entablature (1) which has 
successively a zone and means (2) for distribution of the tape or ribbon 
originating from a roll on which the tape was wound during fabrication or 
loose, depending on the prior fabrication procedures. The means (2) 
comprises in a nonlimitative manner a guide for transmitting and 
presenting the tape to the tape routing rollers (4) and (5). 
The central or essentially central part of the entablature is equipped with 
a transverse slot (3) allowing the alternating movement of a pair of 
rollers (4) and (5) mounted so as to rotate in opposite directions and 
between which is guided the end of the tape or ribbon R which is then 
folded in a zigzag manner. 
The motor means permitting the transverse movement of the support carriage 
(7) of the pair of rollers (4 and 5) are situated in the bottom part of 
the entablature and protected by protective plates, whereas the rollers 
are in the top plane of the entablature. 
So as to assure the said movement, the carriage is associated at its bottom 
part with suitable known control means which could, for example, 
nonlimitatively consist of a system of connecting rods or cranks 
controlled by a motor, assuring the aforementioned back and forth 
movement, as shown schematically in FIG. 3; these means were described in 
the previously cited French patent. 
The amplitude of the displacement of the carriage is adjustable in a known 
manner and varies according to the desired length of the folds of the 
tapes or ribbons. 
Following an alternating movement of the support carriage, the folded tape 
is then routed onto the front part of the entablature, being guided 
longitudinally by bars (6) attached in any suitable manner. Thus, as the 
tape is folded, it is led towards the front of the entablature and falls 
into a package provided for this purpose and not illustrated. 
The rollers (4) (5) are driven in a rotational movement which varies with 
the direction of displacement of the carriage. In a first nonlimitative 
specific implementation described in French Patent No. 88.12709, the 
rollers (4, 5) are made alternatively positive irrespective of the 
direction of displacement of the carriage. This is accomplished by means 
of free wheels (8, 9) associated with the assembly of the said rollers. 
In addition and in a known manner, the device includes a belt which, during 
the folding of the tapes or ribbons, acts alternately according to the 
position of the carriage and thus of the rollers (4, 5) on the parts of 
the aforementioned tapes or ribbons. This action is comprised of the 
exertion of a temporary pressure and push against the folded part of the 
ribbon and accompanying the direction of advance of the carriage. 
It is now appropriate to present the characteristics of the invention with 
reference to the FIGURES. 
The device is first of all noteworthy because of the novel concept of the 
rollers (4 and 5) which can be driven positively by means of free wheels 
in accordance with Patent No. 88.12709 or in any other manner. 
Thus, the rollers referenced as units by (4, 5) are mounted on joining and 
guiding spindles or shafts (10) the lower ends of which are attached by 
suitable means to the support structure (11) referenced as a unit and 
associated with the carriage (7). These joining means are, for example, 
those described in the previously cited French Patent or other types. 
The originality of these rollers is that they are constituted of an 
alternating succession of disks (12) and of pulleys (13) taking cables 
(14), with a multiplicity of pulleys creating a multiplicity of cables 
(14), the totality of which constitutes the belt or belts (15) for 
advancing the parts of the tapes or ribbons. Thus, there is shown for 
example in FIG. 4, the joining spindles or shafts (10) which have a 
shoulder at their lower bottom base (10.1) which allows the centering and 
support of one of the constitutive elements of the rollers and, for 
example, a pulley. 
Then, as if we were assembling a construction toy, the disks and pulleys 
are mounted in an alternating manner on the spindle with mechanical means 
of the washer (16) or equivalent type, so as to permit the independence of 
movement of the pulleys in relation to the disks. Thus, as is shown in the 
drawings, the disks have at their periphery a crown (17) made of a 
flexible, adhesive material. All of the disks and associated crowns define 
a common vertical generatrix and when the two rollers (4, 5) are mounted 
in this manner, they only allow passage of the tape or ribbon which is 
drawn through by their rotational movement. The pulleys (13) have smaller 
diameters than the disks (12) and associated crowns such that the cables 
(14) are situated in the interior space of each roller. 
The mounting on the spindles (10) of the modular elements constituting the 
rollers can be effected by any known mechanical means while still 
preserving the same concept of realization. FIG. 11, for example, 
illustrates one possible implementation of the mounting. For example, two 
pairs of rings (18-19) are employed. They are mounted in an alternating 
manner on the joining spindles or shafts (10). These rings (18-19) are 
designed and equipped with shoulders so as to receive at least one crown 
(17) made of flexible material and at least one cable-driving pulley (13). 
In the implementation illustrated nonlimitatively in FIG. 11, the first 
ring (18) has multiple staged parts (18.1-18.2-18.3-18.4) receiving 
respectively a first crown (17), a pulley (13), a second crown (17) then a 
spacing and support area for the second ring (19). This ring is designed 
and profiled with staged parts (19.1-19.2-19.3) so at to allow the 
successive positioning of a first pulley (13), a crown (17) and a second 
pulley (13). Each roller (4-5) is thereby constituted with the successive 
and alternating mounting of rings (18-19), the number of which varies 
according to the width of the ribbon driven. The pulleys are mounted in 
free rotation whereas the disks 12 and the associated rings (18) are 
driven according to the direction of rotation of the rollers (4-5) as a 
function of the position of the carriage. Each joining spindle or shaft 
(10) receives at its top end a bracing ring (20) on which is arranged and 
attached a horizontal profiled connecting plate (21) assuring the 
retention of the rollers (4, 5) and their attachment. The connecting plate 
(21) also receives in a rear plane two shafts (22-23) arranged vertically 
to allow the passage and guiding of the tape or ribbon for the purpose of 
its introduction between the rollers (4-5). 
In close relationship with the aforementioned assembly of the rollers, one 
obtains a multiplicity of the strands of cables constituting and defining 
together the belt (15) for advancing the tape or ribbon. The various 
cables are wound on the pulleys in successive stages planes which are 
parallel and horizontal. Thus, one thereby obtains five strands 
(14.1-14.2-14.3-14.4-14.5) in the nonlimitative illustrated example. The 
ends of these strands are attached to fixing means (24-25) at successive 
heights to preserve their parallelism and horizontality. For this purpose, 
the fixing means (24-25) are positioned at the discharge side of the 
folded and packaged tape or ribbon, and are offset angularly frontward in 
relation to the external generative plane of the two rollers (4-5). The 
two fixing means (24-25) comprise an attachment base (24.1-25.1) on the 
entablature which is possibly adjustable in position so as to adapt to the 
degree of angularity of the belt parts in relation to needs. Each base 
(24.1-25.1) is extended vertically by a block in the form of a 
parallelepiped (24.2-25.2) or some other form, provided notably with a 
plurality of channels (24.3-25.3) allowing engagement of the cables. Means 
(26) are associated with each channel to grasp, retain and lock each cable 
in position and provide the cables with perfect positional performance. 
Each block can be provided with a large number of channels to correspond 
to the number of cable strands defining the advancing belt or belts as a 
function of the width of the ribbon or tape being processed. 
The said cable strands can define in their continuity a single belt or two 
identical belts such as is shown in the drawings. 
In the first possible implementation, which is not illustrated, the various 
cable strands that are guided by the rollers (4, 5) are oriented and pass 
around return bars positioned in the rear part of the entablature in the 
manner described in Patent No. 88.12709. 
In the implementation illustrated in the drawings, the cable strands define 
two belts which are identical and mounted in opposition, the said belts 
being attached at one of their ends to the aforementioned fixing means 
(24-25) and at their other end to a wind-up reel (27) (35), attached to 
the rear part of the entablature, after being returned by the rollers (4, 
5). Each reel is mounted with the capability of rotation in the two 
directions in relation to the direction of movement of the carriage. The 
peripheries of the reels are smooth or possibly channeled, grooved or 
otherwise treated for for the guiding of the cable strands. In addition, 
each reel is equipped with a zone for attaching and holding (27.1) the 
second ends of the cables. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the operation of the device in the case of using two 
belts (15) with alternation of state. There is simultaneous winding up of 
one of the belts and unwinding of the other belt on their respective 
reels, depending on the position of the carriage. 
Thus, in accordance with this first implementation of the invention, one 
obtains adaptation of the device to the width of the ribbon being 
processed on the one hand and an adjustable advancement of the folded 
ribbon or tape parts on the other hand. 
This first characteristic also makes it possible to endow the device in 
accordance with the invention with other advantages by the employment of a 
supplementary means whose concept is simple but responsive to the problem 
posed by certain types of tapes or ribbons that have a certain 
"nervousness", i.e., a tendency to slacken and thus not remain in the 
desired folded form. 
To achieve this, a supplementary means (28) is employed, which is attached 
to the front part of the entablature in front of the rollers and 
advantageously in the extension of the fixing blocks (24-25). 
More specifically, this means (28) is in the form of a very long bar that 
is positioned between the aforementioned fixing blocks. This bar, e.g., of 
square section, is mounted such that it is elevated in relation to the 
entablature. For example, the bar is engaged by each of its ends on a 
threaded shaft (29) or similar means attached in an opening (30) provided 
for this purpose in the entablature. The said bar is supported on a washer 
(30) against an elastic return means (31) such as a coil spring mounted on 
each shaft. Locking and clamping means (32) of the nut type are adjusted 
in position on each shaft, with the capability of adjustment of the height 
of elevation of the bar in relation to the entablature. The bar is 
adjusted horizontally. The height of elevation of the bar is established 
in relation to the width of the folded ribbon or tape so as to allow at 
the outlet of the rollers (4,5) the introduction of the folded part of the 
ribbon under the bar and its discharge towards the discharge area. Thus, 
when the carriage moves laterally along the maximum course established in 
relation to the length of the folds, the cable strands of the unwinding 
part of the belt come into support and contact in the same plane of the 
aforementioned bar or the lower cable strands can be partially engaged 
under the bar. 
In accordance with a valuable original characteristic that can be employed 
for certain types of ribbons or tapes, the bar is designed to receive a 
vertical finger (33-34) positioned internally and close to the attachment 
zone of the bar. The finger established in the form of a shaft traverses 
the bar and constitutes by its bottom part an interior return means for 
the cable strands. Thus, these cable strands penetrate more deeply under 
the bar during the corresponding movement of the carriage, thereby 
promoting by advances the introduction of the folded ribbon or tape parts. 
These parts are then maintained by the bearing pressure of the bar and 
advanced by the cable strands. Thus, when the carriage moves in the 
opposite direction, the parts of the belt situated under the bar withdraw 
and the ribbon is always maintained. 
In the next cycle, when the new part of the ribbon is introduced under the 
bar, it induces the advance of the preceding part which thus could not 
slacken like the phenomenon which was encountered previously. The position 
of the finger (33-34) on the bar can be adjusted in relation to the width 
dimensions of the folded ribbons or tapes. 
The advantages of the invention have been demonstrated with emphasis on the 
simplicity of the device, the ease with which it can be assembled and its 
variability in relation to the characteristics of the ribbons or tapes to 
be processed. In addition, it is simple to implement, it can be assembled 
quickly and it is perfectly adaptable to all types of ribbons and tapes.