Patent GB-1493853-A (GB)
Title: Multi-layer article and a process and an apparatus for its manufacture
IPC: B65H45/20
Filed: 1975-02-26
Abstract: 1493853 Laminates COMPAGNIE DES ETABS DE LA RISLE-PAPETERIES DE PONT-AUDEMER 26 Feb 1975 [1 March 1974 12 Feb 1975] 8065/75 Heading B5N [Also in Division B8] A process for continuously manufacturing an article comprising at least two thicknesses of pliable material, e.g. of paper comprises folding a single continuous strip or web (hereinafter strip) of the material regularly on itself to form alternate folds in zig-zag formation, each upper portion of one of the folds partially covering a lower associated portion of the same fold and being partially covered in the same proportion by the lower portion of the following contiguous fold, the folds being flattened and the overlapping zones of the portions being fixed to one another to form a multi-layer strip. Zig-zag formation is defined as meaning that the folding occurs in such a manner that the folding lines constitute alternately part of one edge and part of the other edge of the multi-layer strip and that the longitudinal edges of the starting strip each form a zig-zag line, the second portion 6<SP>11</SP> of one fold partially covering the first portion 6<SP>1</SP> of the same fold and being partially covered in the same proportion by the first portion 7<SP>1</SP> of the following contiguous fold 7. In a preferred embodiment, heat bondable filaments, e.g. on parallel to the longitudinal edges of the strip are applied to each face of the strip prior to folding to form a reinforcement of crossed filaments after the folds have been formed, a strip of pliable or flexible material being optionally applied to at least one face of the multi-layer strip. An apparatus for carrying out the process comprises means for continuously supplying and guiding the continuous strip, means for folding and displacing the strip alternately on either side of the general mean plane of the strip, means for supporting and transferring the folds in a direction at an angle relative to the direction of supply, means for flattening the folds and means for fixing to one another those parts of the overlapping fold portions. In the embodiment described, rows of filaments 18, 19 coated with adhesive, e.g. an aqueous dispersion of a vinyl resin at stations 22, 23 are applied to each face of a paper strip 16 and the assembly dried by heated cylinders 25, 26, the composite strip 24 being conveyed and guided by means 30 to fold forming means 31, means 32 for supporting and transferring the folds, means 33 for flattening the folds and means 34, 35 for fixing the overlapping fold portions. Means 30 comprise two opposed sets of parallel belts 36, 37 driven by pulleys 38 and between which strip 24 is gripped. Means 32 comprise a conveyer band 41 having a plurality of holes 42 communicating with a suction chamber 43. The means 31 comprise two sets of pivotable compressed air nozzles 45, 46 acting alternately in opposed directions and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip and sheet metal deflectors 47, 48 disposed above the conveyer band 41 for limiting the size of the folds. Alternative constructions of the apparatus are also described.