Automated machine to fold in a zigzag manner and stack a creased tape made of a sufficiently rigid material

Abstract

Automated machine to fold in a zigzag manner and stack a creased tape made of a sufficiently rigid material and provided with a plurality of transverse creasings equidistant with respect to each other, comprising feed means suitable to feed the creased tape in a determinate direction of feed toward a folding device of the rotary type suitable to fold it in a zigzag manner and to convey it toward collection means. The folding device comprises four parallel pairs of main arms, having the same length and disposed in a cross, which rotate in a direction of rotation consistent with the direction of feed of the creased tape around a central axis of rotation perpendicular to the latter, four corresponding parallel pairs of secondary arms, pivoted to the peripheral ends of the main arms, toward the inside thereof and rotatable in an opposite direction to the latter, and four folding rods pivoted to the peripheral ends of the secondary arms, so that each of the four folding rods is suitable to describe in space a substantially elliptical trajectory. The folding rods are suitable to intercept the creased tape in correspondence to every two of the transverse creasings. The major axis of the trajectory is substantially horizontal and the central stacking axis of the collection means is substantially vertical and parallel to the minor axis of the trajectory.

1 . An Automated machine to fold in a zigzag manner and stack a creased tape made of a sufficiently rigid material and provided with a plurality of transverse creasings equidistant with respect to each other, comprising feed means suitable to feed said creased tape in a determinate direction of feed toward a folding device of the rotary type suitable to fold it in a zigzag manner and to convey it toward collection means, wherein said folding device comprises four parallel pairs of main arms, having the same length and disposed in a cross, which rotate in a direction of rotation consistent with said direction of feed of said creased tape around a central axis of rotation perpendicular to the latter, four corresponding parallel pairs of secondary arms, pivoted to the peripheral ends of said main arms, toward the inside thereof and rotatable in an opposite direction to the latter, and four folding rods pivoted to the peripheral ends of said secondary arms, so that each of said four folding rods is suitable to describe in space a substantially elliptical trajectory, said folding rods being suitable to intercept said creased tape in correspondence to every two of said transverse creasings, wherein the major axis of said trajectory is substantially horizontal and the central stacking axis of said collection means is substantially vertical and parallel to the minor axis of said trajectory. 
     
     
         2 . The machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said feed means comprise a terminal slide positioned in proximity to said folding device so that said direction of feed of said creased tape intersects said trajectory in a fourth quadrant of the latter, and in that said collection means are positioned so that said central stacking axis intersects said trajectory in a second quadrant of the latter, opposite to said fourth quadrant with respect to said central axis of rotation of said folding device. 
     
     
         3 . The machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said collection means comprise a horizontal support plane, vertically movable between two vertical containing sides, which define a stacking compartment centered on said central stacking axis. 
     
     
         4 . The machine as in  claim 3 , wherein a conveyor belt is mounted on said support plane on which the stack which said creased tape is suitable to form after being folded by said folding device is suitable to rest, said conveyor belt being selectively driven to discharge laterally said stack of creased tape folded in a zigzag manner, when said support plane is in a lower position. 
     
     
         5 . The machine as in  claim 3 , wherein said collection means also comprise, in the upper part of said stacking compartment, two lateral walls disposed opposite one another and on the side in which said creasings of said creased tape are found when it is folded in a zigzag manner, and in that a motorized mechanism is associated with each of said two lateral walls, able to make them oscillate with respect to corresponding horizontal pins. 
     
     
         6 . The machine as in  claim 3 , wherein a horizontal support is disposed above said collection means, suitable to temporarily support the beginning of the stack of said creased tape during the removal steps of the previous stack formed in said stacking compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The machine as in  claim 6 , wherein said horizontal support is movable both horizontally, between a forward position and a retracted position, and also vertically between a raised position and a lowered position. 
     
     
         8 . The machine as in  claim 1 , wherein between said folding device and said collection means an interception element is disposed, which is movable between a first operating position in which it is suitable to intercept the head of said creased tape coming from said feed means, and a second operating position not interfering with said creased tape. 
     
     
         9 . The machine as in  claim 1 , wherein it also comprises cutting means disposed between said folding device and said collection means and suitable to selectively cut said creased tape even without stopping the functioning of said folding device. 
     
     
         10 . The machine as in  claim 9 , wherein said cutting means comprise two horizontal shutters, opposite each other and each movable between an open position, in which they are retracted with respect to the zone of passage of said creased tape, and an operating position, in which they are suitable to pinch said creased tape so that it can be cut on the fly by a cutting unit mounted on the lower part of one of said two shutters. 
     
     
         11 . The machine as in  claim 10 , wherein said cutting unit comprises a rotary blade and a counter roller, which are mounted on a slider selectively sliding in a transverse direction to the direction of feed of said creased tape toward said collection means.