Folding machine for both inside and outside three folding operations

Abstract: A folding machine for both inside and outside three folding operations comprising a cutter drum (1) having a saw blade (1a), a folding drum (2) having saw blade receivers (2a), needles (2b), and folding blades (2c), a first holding drum (21) having holding means (21a) and folding blades (21c), and a second holding drum (22) having holding means (22a), wherein raising means (23) for preventing the interference of web are disposed in proximity to said sax blade receiver (2a) on said folding drum (2) so that inside and outside three folding operations can be performed.

Description: This invention relates to the arrangement and the construction of drums which can perform both inside and outside three folding operations and are applied to folding machines. Figure 7 shows a conventional folding machine for both inside and outside three folding operations. The folding machine of this type has a cutter drum 1, a first folding drum 2, a first holding drum 3, a second folding drum 4, and a second holding drum 5. Each of these drums 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 has a saw blade 1a (a member composing a drum is indicated by attaching a, b, c, and so on to the drum number); saw blade receivers 2a, needles 2b, and folding blades 2c; first holding means 3a and second holding means 3b which are interchangeable with each other or folding blades 3c; a pawl 4a and a folding blade 4c; and pawls 5a and holding means 5b, respectively. When inside three folding operation is performed by using this folding machine, a web A is drawn into the machine through first-stage nipping rollers 10 and second-stage nipping rollers 11 as shown in Figure 8. The web A drawn into the machine is caught by the sticking of needle 2b, and at the same time the leading edge of web A is cut by the saw blade 1a on the cutter drum 1 and the saw blade receiver 2a on the first folding drum 2 (refer to Figure 8(a)). Next, the web A moves around the first folding drum 2 by being hooked by the needle 2b, and then is cut into a predetermined length by the saw blade 1a which has revolved one turn (refer to Figure 8(b)). After that, a first fold is made on the web A at the position one-third length distant from the needle-side edge (hereinafter called needle-side 1/3 position) with the folding blade 2c on the first folding drum and the first holding means 3a on the first holding drum 3 (refer to Figure 8(c)). Then, the web A is held by the pawl 4a on the second folding drum 4, and a second fold is made at the position one-third length distant from the first fold position (needle-side 2/3 position) with the folding blade 4c on the second folding drum 4 and the second holding means 3b on the first holding drum 3 (refer to Figures 8(d) and 8(b)). The above-described operation completes inside three fold of web A as shown in Figure 8(f). This three-folded web, as shown in Figure 7, being held by the pawl 5a on the second holding drum 5 in place of the holding means 3b on the first holding drum 3, is carried out of the machine through a carrying belt 6, an impeller 8, and a paper discharge conveyor 9. Alternatively, it is carried out of the machine through a carrying belt 6, a chopper 7, an impeller (not shown), and a paper discharge conveyor 9. When outside three folding operation is performed by using this folding machine, a web A is cut into a predetermined length in the same way as described above as shown in Figure 9. Then, a first fold is made at the needle-side 1/3 position with the folding blade 2c on the first folding drum 2 and the first holding means 3a on the first holding drum 3 (refer to Figures 9(a) through 9(c)). After that, the second fold is made in the direction reverse to the direction of inside three folding operation with the second folding blade 3c which replaces the second holding means 3b on the first holding drum 3 and the holding means 5b on the second holding drum 5 (refer to Figures 9(d) and 9(e)). This operation completes outside three folding as shown in Figure 9(f); the three-folded web is carried out of the machine. The changeover from inside three folding to outside three folding is performed as follows: First, a clutch (not shown) is released, which is installed on the shaft of the second folding drum 4 driven by the first holding drum 3. Then, while the second folding drum 4 is fixed, the second holding means 3b (or the second folding blade 3c) on the first holding drum 3 is replaced with the second folding blade 3c (or the second holding means 3b), and the position of the first holding means 3a on the first holding drum 3 where the web leaves the drum is changed. In addition, the timing is changed on the chopper 7, the impeller 8, or the impeller not shown (for chopper folding ) following the carrying belt 6. The changeover from outside three folding to inside three folding is performed in the way reverse to the way described above. The above-described conventional method has the following problems: (1) When the changeover from inside three folding to outside three folding or in reverse is performed, the second holding means 3b or the second folding blade 3c must be removed from the first holding drum 3, and replaced with the second folding blade 3c or the second holding means 3b. This replacing operation is complicated and time-consuming. In replacing, the position of the first holding means 3a on the first holding drum 3 where the web leaves the drum must be changed because some difference in position between the second holding means 3b and the second folding blade 3c arises. In order to adjust this position, a cam must be moved. The cam must be adjusted finely; if this fine adjustment is not made accurately, the accuracy of folding may decrease. In addition, a clutch must be installed to disengage the driving of the second folding drum 4 from the first holding drum 3. Further, the timing of components following the carrying belt must be changed in accordance with the adjustment of cam. (2) The second holding drum 5 is installed for outside three folding operation. Therefore, inside three folded web is discharged onto the carrying belt 6 from the drum 5 after it is received by the pawl 5a on second holding drum 5. This may cause easy shift in the position of web, decreasing the accuracy of chopper folding and the accuracy of carrying to the impeller. As a result, some problems may arise with the postprocessing equipment. (3) When inside three folding operation is performed, the needle hole comes inside. When cutting of the needle hole portion is needed as with catalogs, cutting is made to remove the needle hole portion. This requires cutting of remaining two pieces of paper overlapping with the needle hole portion, excessive paper being consumed (loss of paper). A folding machine for both inside three folding and outside three folding is also known from the European application EP-A-0 019 202. This patent application discloses a machine consisting in a saw drum having two saw blades, a folding drum having three folding blades, a saw blade receiver, needles means, a cover preventing the interference between needles and a web and a holding drum having two holding means and folding blade means. Furthermore, the folding machine has a cover to prevent the interference between needles and web during inside three folding, said cover being so structured as to be driven by a cam. The above described prior art has the following problems: Because of a saw drum having two saw blades, two folded sheets are cut during one rotation of said saw drum. Therefore, due to the difference in fixing in the circumferential direction of the saw blades, the length of cutting of the folded sheet is sure to become different. Because of this structure, the precision of cutting becomes worsened or its adjustment is required. Furthermore, the relationship of combination between folding blade means and holding means is 3:2 so that the relationship between respective folding blade means and holding means will be always variable insomuch that the relationship between folding blade means and holding means is likely to change at all times. Because of this tendency, it is necessary to make the relationship between all folding blade means and holding means always constant (3x2 = 6 places). Such being the case, it is difficult to make sure of high folding precision and also to adjust all the members accordingly. This invention aims to solve the above-described problems with the prior art. The objects of this invention, therefore, are as follows: (1) Both inside and outside three folding operations are performed by using two pairs of folding blade and holding means. (2) In both inside and outside three folding operations, folding is performed so that the needle hole comes outside. To achieve the above objects, this invention provides a web folding machine as defined in claim 1. The inside and outside three folding operations are performed by changing the position of first fold from the needle side. By the above-described construction, this invention is carried out as follows: (1) A web A is cut into a predetermined length with the saw blade 1a on the cutter drum 1 and held by the needle 2b on the folding drum. On the web A, a first fold is made with the folding blade 2c on the folding drum 2 and the holding means 21a on the first holding drum 21, and then a second fold is made with the folding blade 21c on the first holding drum 21 and the holding means 22a on the second holding drum 22. Thus, both inside and outside three folding operations are performed with the needle hole being outside. In the inside three folding operation, the first fold is made at the needle-side 2/3 position, whereas in the outside three folding operation, the first fold is made at the needle-side 1/3 position. For changeover from inside three folding to outside three folding or in reverse, the saw blade 1a on the cutter drum 1 and the saw blade receiver 2a and the needle 2b on the folding drum 2 are moved in relation to the folding blade 2c on the folding drum 2. (2) The raising means for preventing interference raises the web A which is being three-folded, so that the leading edge of web B which follows the web A and the tip of needle 2b which holds the leading edge of web B do not come into contact with (not interfere with) the web A which is being three-folded. This provides satisfactory folds without edge folding or paper tearing of the web which is being folded. The folding machine for both inside and outside three folding operations according to this invention produces the following effects: (1) Because the inside and outside three folding operations are performed by using two pairs of folding blade and holding means, the number of drums can be decreased as compared with the conventional folding machine for both inside and outside folding operations, resulting in a simplified construction of machine. In addition, because the number of operations to change holding is decreased, the shift of web is minimized, resulting in the increase in chopper folding accuracy and the carrying accuracy. (2) The changeover from inside three folding to outside three folding or in reverse is performed merely by moving the needle and saw blade receiver and saw blade which have no direct effects on the folding accuracy; there is no need for replacing the holding means and folding blade which have effects on the folding accuracy as with the conventional folding machine. Therefore, the cam for adjusting the folding timing of these members requires no frequent adjustment, good folding accuracy being maintained. (3) By using the raising means for preventing interference, the leading edge of web following the web which is being folded does not interfere with the latter web. This eliminates the problems of edge folding and paper tearing. (4) The needle hole comes outside for both inside and outside three folding operations, so that only a sheet of the outside folded portion with needle hole is cut for the folds on which the needle hole portion must be cut in inside three folding operation, such as catalogs, resulting in the saving of paper (decrease in paper loss). Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement and construction of drums of a three-folding machine according to an embodiment of this invention. Figures 2(a) through 2(e) are schematic side views showing the process for performing inside three folding operation by using the machine shown in Figure 1. Figures 3(a) through 3(e) are schematic side views showing the process for performing outside three folding operation by using the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side view of a raising means for preventing interference installed on the folding drum of this machine. Figure 5 is a plan view of the raising means for preventing interference shown in Figure 4. Figures 6(A) through 6(D) show the operation timing of the raising means for preventing interference. Figure 7 is a side view showing the arrangement and construction of drums of a conventional three-folding machine. Figures 8(a) through 8(f) are schematic side views. showing the process for performing inside three folding operation by using the conventional folding machine shown in Figure 7. Figures 9(a) through 9(f) are schematic side views showing the process for performing outside three folding operation by using the conventional folding machine shown in Figure 7. Figure 1 shows a folding machine for both inside and outside three folding operation according to this invention. This folding machine has a cutter drum 1, a folding drum 2, a first holding drum 21, and a second holding drum 22. Each of these drums 1, 2, 21 and 22 has a saw blade 1a; saw blade receivers 2a, needles 2b, folding blades 2c, and raising means for preventing interference 23; first holding means 21a and folding blades 21c; and holding means 22a, respectively. When inside three folding operation is performed by using this folding machine, a web A drawn into the machine through nipping rollers 10 or other means as shown in Figure 2, is caught by the sticking of needle 2b, and at the same time the leading edge of web A is cut by the saw blade 1a on the cutter drum 1 and the saw blade receiver 2a on the folding drum 2 (refer to Figure 2(a)). Next, the web A moves around the folding drum 2 by being hooked by the needle 2b, and then is cut into a predetermined length by the saw blade 1a which has revolved one turn (refer to Figure 2(b)). After that, a first fold is made on the web A at the needle-side 2/3 position with the folding blade 2c on the folding drum 2 and the holding means 21a on the first holding drum 21 (refer to Figures 2(b) and 2(c)). Then, a second fold is made at the needle-side 2/3 position with the folding blade 21c on the first holding drum 21 and the holding means 22a on the second holding drum 22 (refer to Figures 2(d)). The above-described operation completes inside three folding of web A with the needle hole being outside as shown in Figure 2(e). The inside three folded web is carried out of the machine from the second holding drum 22 through a carrying belt 6, an impeller 8, and a paper discharge conveyor 9. When outside three folding operation is performed, the saw blade 1a on the cutter drum 1 and the saw blade receiver 2a and the needle 2b on the folding drum 2 are moved from the needle-side 2/3 position to the needle-side 1/3 position in relation to the folding blade 2c on the folding drum 2. In this condition, as shown in Figure 3, a first fold is made at the needle-side 1/3 position with the folding blade 2c on the folding drum 2 and the holding means 21a on the first holding drum 21 (refer to Figures 3(a) and 3(b)). Then, a second fold is made at the needle-side 2/3 position with the folding blade 21c on the first holding drum 21 and the holding means 22a on the second holding drum 22 (refer to Figures 3(c) and 3(d)). The above-described operation completes outside three folding of web A, and the folded web is carried out of the machine as described above. In the inside three folding operation, as described above, the first folding portion is as long as 2/3 the length from the needle side. Therefore, the web B hooked by the next needle 2b may come into contact with the web A which is hooked by the preceding needle 2b and subjected to the first folding (refer to Figure 6(C)). To avoid this contact, raising means for preventing interference 23 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are installed at the positions of the saw blade receivers 2a on the folding drum 2. On this raising means for preventing interference 23, an arm is installed at the position of saw blade receiver 2a (refer to Figure 4) with its tip swaying outward from the folding drum 2 at the position of saw blade receiver 2a as shown in Figure 6(D) at the time of Figure 6(C). The construction of the raising means for preventing interference will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. An arm 24 for raising the web is fixedly secured to a shaft 25 rotatively disposed on the drum 2. At one end of the shaft 25 an arm 26 is fixedly secured, to which a cam roller 27 is installed. The cam roller 27, being urged against a cam 28 disposed at the side of the drum 2, rotates the shaft 25 in response to the irregularity of cam 28, and in turn sways the arm 24. In the above construction, a brush can be used in place of the arm 24.

Claims: A web folding machine for both inside three folding and outside three folding, comprising an arrangement of a saw drum (1) having a saw blade (1a); a folding drum (2) having folding blade means (2c); a pair of means, each means consisting of a saw blade receiver (2a) and a needle (2b), and raising means (23) for preventing interference of the web; a first holding drum (21) having holding means (21a) and folding means (21c); and a second holding drum (22) having two holding means (22a), characterized in that said saw drum (1) has one saw blade (1a), said folding drum (2) has two folding blade means (2c), said first holding drum (21) has two holding means (21a) and two folding means (21c), and in that a shifting from inside three folding to outside three folding can be achieved by moving the saw blade (1a) of the saw drum (1) and the saw blade receiver (2a) and needle (2b) of the folding drum (2) in relation to said folding blade means (2c) on said folding drum (2). A folding machine for of inside three folding and outside three folding according to claim 1, characterised in that said raising means (23) for preventing interference of web comprises an arm (24) outward by means of a cam (28).

Inventors: MOTOOKA MIKIO C O MIHARA MACHI, MOTOOKA, MIKIO, C/O MIHARA MACHINERY WORKS
Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD, MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65H45
IPC codes: B65H45, B41F13