US3640522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet folding apparatus
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
•
Filing: 1970-03-12
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1990-03-12
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for folding flexible material to form folded products such as dressings or surgical sponges at high production rate. The apparatus employs rotary drums to fold the flexible material in the longitudinal or machine direction and moving belts to fold the material in the lateral or cross machine direction. There are a number of rotary drums to cut and fold the material with transfer drums to move the material from one folding drum to the next.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Oelmann
- 👤 Peter Weisshuhn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:24
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; B65H45/16; B65H45/162; B65H45/168; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/15707; A61F13/15747; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible material comprising: feeding means, first rotary means for receiving said sheet fed by said feeding means, and for rotating it about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition therewith, and leading and trailing folding means for folding leading and trailing portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with said sheet, means for rotating said first rotary means about said axis, means for actuating said leading and trailing folding means as said first rotary means rotates, transfer means for receiving said sheet from said first rotary means after said leading and trailing folding means have folded the leading and trailing folded portions of said sheet, second rotary means operating in conjunction with said transfer means whereby said transfer means is effective to present said sheet to said second rotary means from said first rotary means, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, said second rotary means having means for retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, and folding means for folding at least one portion of said sheet in overlapping relationship to the remainder of said sheet, and means for operating said apparatus in a time related sequence whereby when said sheet is fed to said first rotary means, the leading and trailing portions of said sheet are folded onto the sheet during rotation of the first rotary means by said means for rotating it and thereafter the transfer means transfers the folded sheet from the first rotary means to the second rotary means with the folding means of the second rotary means subsequently folding at least one further portion of the sheet while the means for rotating the second rotary means rotates it.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible material comprising: feeding means, first rotary means for receiving said sheet fed by said feeding means, and for rotating it about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition therewith, and leading and trailing folding means for folding leading and trailing portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with said sheet, means for rotating said first rotary means about said axis, means for actuating said leading and trailing folding means as said first rotary means rotates, transfer means for receiving said sheet from said first rotary means after said leading and trailing folding means have folded the leading and trailing folded portions of said sheet, second rotary means operating in conjunction with said transfer means whereby said transfer means is effective to present said sheet to said second rotary means from said first rotary means, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, said second rotary means having means for retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, and folding means for folding at least one portion of said sheet in overlapping relationship to the remainder of said sheet, and means for operating said apparatus in a time related sequence whereby when said sheet is fed to said first rotary means, the leading and trailing portions of said sheet are folded onto the sheet during rotation of the first rotary means by said means for rotating it and thereafter the transfer means transfers the folded sheet from the first rotary means to the second rotary means with the folding means of the second rotary means subsequently folding at least one further portion of the sheet while the means for rotating the second rotary means rotates it.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
274 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible material to form a folded sheet product comprising means for feeding a web of material from a supply thereof, metering means for metering a predetermined length of said web, means for severing a metered portion of said web to form a sheet blank, first rotary means for receiving said sheet and rotating said sheet about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said rotary means, means for rotating said rotary means about said axis, and leading and trailing folding means for folding a portion of the leading and a portion of the trailing portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet, and means for actuating said folding means as said first rotary means rotates, second rotary means for receiving and retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, transfer means for transferring the folded sheet from said first rotary means to said second rotary means, said second rotary means having folding means, said last-mentioned folding means including means for transversely folding said folded sheet upon itself to form a multiple folded sheet product, and means for operating said metering means, said cutting means, said first and second rotary means, each of said folding means and said transfer means in time related sequence whereby said metering means meters a predetermined amount of web material, said cutting means severs said predetermined amount of material and each of said folding means folds portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
274 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible material to form a folded sheet product comprising means for feeding a web of material from a supply thereof, metering means for metering a predetermined length of said web, means for severing a metered portion of said web to form a sheet blank, first rotary means for receiving said sheet and rotating said sheet about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said rotary means, means for rotating said rotary means about said axis, and leading and trailing folding means for folding a portion of the leading and a portion of the trailing portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet, and means for actuating said folding means as said first rotary means rotates, second rotary means for receiving and retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, transfer means for transferring the folded sheet from said first rotary means to said second rotary means, said second rotary means having folding means, said last-mentioned folding means including means for transversely folding said folded sheet upon itself to form a multiple folded sheet product, and means for operating said metering means, said cutting means, said first and second rotary means, each of said folding means and said transfer means in time related sequence whereby said metering means meters a predetermined amount of web material, said cutting means severs said predetermined amount of material and each of said folding means folds portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for creating a source of humidity, said means for feeding a web of material being adapted to pass said web through said source of humidity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus of claim 2, wherein there is included means for feeding at least two separate webs of sheet material, and guiding means adapted to combine the webs of material into a single continuous length of juxtaposed material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
300 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible matErial to form a folded sheet product comprising means for feeding a web of material from a supply thereof, metering means for metering a predetermined amount of said material, rotary cutting means for severing a metered length of said web to form a sheet blank, first rotary means comprising a rotatable drum for receiving said cut sheet and rotating said sheet about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum, leading and trailing folding means for folding the leading and trailing edges of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet, said first rotary means further including gripping means for gripping said sheet while said sheet rotates about said axis, second rotary means comprising a rotatable drum, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, transfer means comprising a rotatable drum, means for rotating said transfer means about a fixed axis for receiving a folded sheet from said first rotary means and for transferring the folded sheet to said second rotary means, said second rotary means including means for retaining a folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, folding means associated with said second rotary means for folding a portion of said sheet into juxtaposition with the balance of said sheet, and means for operating said rotary means, said cutting means, said feeding means, all of said folding means and said transfer means in time-related sequence whereby said metering means meters a predetermined amount of web material, said cutting means severs said predetermined amount of material, said folding means folds the leading and trailing edges of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet and said third folding means folds the sheet material in sequence.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
300 words
An apparatus for folding a sheet of flexible matErial to form a folded sheet product comprising means for feeding a web of material from a supply thereof, metering means for metering a predetermined amount of said material, rotary cutting means for severing a metered length of said web to form a sheet blank, first rotary means comprising a rotatable drum for receiving said cut sheet and rotating said sheet about a fixed axis, said first rotary means including means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum, leading and trailing folding means for folding the leading and trailing edges of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet, said first rotary means further including gripping means for gripping said sheet while said sheet rotates about said axis, second rotary means comprising a rotatable drum, means for rotating said second rotary means about a fixed axis, transfer means comprising a rotatable drum, means for rotating said transfer means about a fixed axis for receiving a folded sheet from said first rotary means and for transferring the folded sheet to said second rotary means, said second rotary means including means for retaining a folded sheet in juxtaposition therewith, folding means associated with said second rotary means for folding a portion of said sheet into juxtaposition with the balance of said sheet, and means for operating said rotary means, said cutting means, said feeding means, all of said folding means and said transfer means in time-related sequence whereby said metering means meters a predetermined amount of web material, said cutting means severs said predetermined amount of material, said folding means folds the leading and trailing edges of said sheet into juxtaposition with the main body of said sheet and said third folding means folds the sheet material in sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes first pressing means for pressing a folded sheet produced by said first rotary means, said pressing means operating in conjunction with said transfer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes pressing means adapted to press a folded sheet produced by said second rotary means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes first pressing means adapted to press a folded sheet produced by said first rotary means and said pressing means operating in conjunction with said transfer drum, said apparatus further including second pressing means for pressing a folded sheet produced by said second rotary means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes first pressing means comprising a rotatable roller, means for rotating said roller in time relationship to the transfer drum, said apparatus further including second pressing means for pressing a folded sheet produced by said second rotary means and comprising a pair of rotatable rollers, means for rotating said rollers in timed relationship, one of said rollers including means for receiving a folded sheet produced by said second rotary means, and means for retaining the folded sheet in juxtaposition with said one roller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means for supplying a continuous length of web material to said feeding means, means for cutting a predetermined amount of said web, and means for presenting cut portions of said web to said first rotary means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means for feeding a continuous length of web material, cutting means subsequent to said feeding means to cut a predetermined amount of said material to form individual sheets, said cutting means comprising a rotatable roller having a first cooperating cutting component, means for rotating said rotatable roller, said rotatable roller being spaced from said first rotary means and rotating in time-related sequence therewith, second cooperating cutting means mounted on said first rotary means whereby said first and second cooperating cuttiNg components operate to cut a predetermined amount of said web material into individual sheets with said first rotary means assuming control of the cut sheets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said first and second cutting components comprise cooperating cutting blades, each cutting blade being mounted in one of said rotatable cutting rollers and said first rotary means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said rotating cutting roller and said first rotary means include a plurality of cooperating cutting blades, each pair of cooperating cutting blades being adapted to meet in operating relationship upon rotation of said cutting roller and said first rotary means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said cooperating cutting components comprise at least one cutting blade mounted on saId rotating cutting roller and at least one rigid cutting surface on said first rotary means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, including positioning means subsequent to said feeding means in the feeding direction of said web material, said positioning means including means for receiving said web material as said web material is advanced by said feed means, means for directing said web material to said first rotary means and means for intermittently halting the forward movement of said web material to said first rotary means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, including positioning means in advance of said feeding means in the feeding direction of said web material, said positioning apparatus including means for receiving said web material as said web material is advanced by said feed means, means for directing said web material to said first rotary means and means for intermittently halting the forward movement of said web material to said first rotary means, said means for intermittently halting said web comprising at least one rotatable arm over which said web material passes in the feeding direction of said web material to said first rotary means, means for displacing said arm in a direction opposed to the feeding direction of said web material at a speed and to an extent sufficient to substantially halt movement of said web to said first rotary means, and means for operating said last-mentioned means for displacing said arm in time-related sequence to the rotation of said first rotary means whereby said web material is intermittently fed in predetermined amounts to said first rotary means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said feed means comprises means for receiving and advancing a web of sheet material from a supply thereof, said means including a pair of spaced-apart rollers, at least one of said rollers having drive means for rotating said roller to advance said web at a predetermined speed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means folding the free side edges of a sheet or web of material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means for folding the free side edges of a web of sheet material as said web is being advanced in the feeding direction thereof, said means for folding said side edges including means for downwardly tucking a portion of the side edges of said web and placing said portions into juxtaposition with the main body of said web.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises a rotatable drum mounted between said first and second rotary means, means for rotating said transfer drum in time-related sequence to the rotation of said first and second rotary means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises a rotatable drum, means for rotating said drum about a fixed axis in a direction reversed to the direction of rotation of said first and second rotary means, said transfer drum including a source of vacuum adapted to retain a folded sheet transferred from said first rotary means to said transfer drum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises a rotatable drum, means for rotating said drum about a fixed axis in a direction reversed to the direction of rotation of said first and second rotary means, said transfer drum including a source of vacuum adapted to retain a folded sheet transferred from said first rotary means to said transfer drum, said transfer drum further including means for causing removal of said vacuum at a predetermined point in the rotation of said transfer drum whereby said second rotary means assumes control of the folded sheet from said transfer drum, and means for aiding transfer of said folded sheet from said transfer drum to said second rotary means comprising a source of pressurized air adapted to displace said folded sheet from said transfer drum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes supplementary transfer means operating in conjunction with said first transfer means, said supplementary transfer means comprising a rotatable roller located between said transfer roller and said second rotary means and being adapted to retain a portion of a folded sheet under positive control when said sheet is being transferred from said transfer means to said second rotary means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first rotary means comprises a rotatable drum rotatable about a fixed axis, said means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum comprising a source of vacuum in said drum acting on said sheet to retain said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum, and means for removing said vacuum at a point during rotation of said drum whereby a folded sheet on said drum may be transferred to said transfer means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
133 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first rotary comprises a rotatable drum rotatable about a fixed axis, said means for retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum comprising a source of vacuum in said drum acting on said sheet to retain said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum, and means for removing said vacuum at a point during rotation of said drum whereby a folded sheet on said drum may be transferred to said transfer means, said drum further including first gripping means adapted to receive and retain a portion of said sheet in juxtaposition with said drum together with said vacuum means, and second cooperating tucking means operating in conjunction with said gripping means to place a portion of said sheet in operative relationship to said gripping means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for folding the leading and trailing portions of said sheet into juxtaposition with said sheet comprises a pair of spaced-apart folded bars mounted beneath the surface of said rotary means, and means for causing said bars to operate through a forward and return stroke to lift a portion of said sheet in juxtaposition with said rotary means onto the main body of the sheet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second rotary means comprises a rotatable drum, said means for retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition with said second rotary means comprising a source of vacuum in said drum, and means for removing said vacuum at a predetermined point of rotation of said drum.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
183 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second rotary means comprises a rotatable drum, said means for retaining said folded sheet in juxtaposition with said second rotary means comprising a source of vacuum in said drum, and means for removing said vacuum at a predetermined point on rotation of said drum, said second rotary means further including a source of pressurized air operative to lift a folded sheet on said second rotary means, after said vacuum has been removed, to remove a folded sheet from said second rotary means, said second rotary means further including gripping means adapted to cooperate with said vacuum means in retaining said sheet in juxtaposition with said second rotary means, said gripping means operating in conjunction With tucking means located on said transfer roller whereby said tucking means is effective to place a portion of said sheet into gripping engagement with said gripping means when said sheet is being transferred from said transfer roller to said second rotary means, and means for releasing said sheet from engagement with said gripping means when said vacuum is removed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the folding means of said second rotary means comprises first cooperating gripping means on said second rotary means, second cooperating complimentary means on said transfer means adapted to place a portion of the folded sheet at said transfer means into gripping engagement with said first gripping means of said second rotary means, said transfer means having means for rotating said transfer means about a fixed axis in a first direction, said means for rotating said second rotary means being adapted to rotate said second rotary means in a direction opposite to that of the rotating of said transfer means, whereby a portion of the sheet product transferred from said transfer means of said second rotary means is folded onto a further portion of the sheet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means for receiving a folded product from said second rotary means and for discharging said product therefrom.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes discharge means comprising a rotatable roller, means for rotating said roller in timed relationship to said second rotary means, said second rotary means including means for displacing a folded product thereon into operative relationship with said discharge roller and means associated with said discharge roller for retaining said folded product in juxtaposition therewith, said discharge roller including means for removing said folded product therefrom at a predetermined point upon rotation of said discharge roller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
126 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a further rotatable roller operating in timed relationship to said second rotary means, said further roller comprising a rotatable drum, means associated with said rotatable drum for receiving and retaining a product associated with said second rotary means, a pressing roller spaced from said further rotatable roller, means for retaining said pressing roller in timed relationship to the rotation of said further roller, a discharge roller, said discharge roller being mounted in spaced relationship to said further roller and being adapted to receive a folded product from said further roller, means for rotating said discharge roller in relationship to said further roller, and means for retaining a folded product in juxtaposition with said discharge roller.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes means for subjecting said sheet or web to a source of humidity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said apparatus including additional folding means for laterally folding the product, said additional folding means including means for dividing the product into at least two lateral portions, and means for placing the lateral portions into juxtaposition with each other.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein means for laterally folding a product is located after said second rotary means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein the apparatus includes a discharge roller, said means for laterally folding a product operating in conjunction with said discharge roller.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |