Machine configured to produce stacks of folded wipes

Abstract

A machine configured to produce stacks of folded pop-up wipes includes a holder, a first tension unit, a folding unit, and a control unit. The folding unit includes two or more folding rollers each including a hub including grippers to grip and release the material and infeed plates to feed the tissue to respective grippers of the other roller. Positions of the infeed plates are adjustable in relation to positions of the grippers Distances between the grippers and the infeed plates adapt a width of the produced stacks of wipes. The control unit is communicatively coupled to the first tension unit and the folding unit and includes a processor, and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor. The material is threaded along a path through the machine via the first tension unit and the folding unit. Executing the instructions causes the control unit to control the machine.

1 . A machine configured to produce stacks of folded pop-up wipes from material, wherein the material is threaded along a path through the machine, the machine comprising:
 a holder of the section of material,   a first tension unit,   a folding unit, the folding unit comprising:
 two or more folding rollers configured to receive a section of the material and generate folded stacks of pop-up wipes having an adaptable format, 
 wherein each folding roller comprises: 
 a hub, wherein the hub comprises one or more grippers configured to grip and release the material, and 
 one or more infeed plates configured to feed the tissue to respective grippers of the other roller, 
 wherein positions of the one or more infeed plates are configured to be adjustable in relation to positions of the respective grippers, wherein the distances between the grippers and the more infeed plates adapts a width of the produced stacks of wipes, 
   a control unit communicatively coupled to at least the first tension unit and the folding unit, the control unit comprising a processor, and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor,   wherein the material is threaded along a path through the machine via at least the first tension unit and the folding unit,   wherein executing the instructions by the control unit causes the control unit to control the machine to obtain predetermined characteristics,   control angular velocity of the rollers comprised in the folding unit dependent on the predetermined characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the produced stacks of folded pop-up wipes comprise a continuous web. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more infeed plates are mounted on a surface module, wherein the surface module is configured to be releasably attached to the hub. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more infeed plates are arranged as parts of the hub and are arranged movable in relation to the respective one or more grippers. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more infeed plates are provided with a respective locking arrangement configured to lock the respective infeed plates in a position on the hub. 
     
     
         6 . A method for producing pop-up wipes performed by a machine, according to  claim 1 , the machine configured to produce stacks of folded pop-up wipes from material, wherein the material is threaded along a path through the machine, the method comprising:
 obtaining predetermined characteristics,   controlling angular velocity of rollers comprised in the folding unit dependent on the predetermined characteristics.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the produced stacks of folded pop-up wipes comprise a continuous web. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined characteristics comprises a selection of one or more of characteristics of the rollers, characteristics of desired pop-up wipes and characteristics of desired stacks. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the angular velocity is controlled between a maximum angular velocity and a minimum angular velocity dependent on the characteristics of the rollers. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the characteristics of the rollers are indicative of distances between grippers and respective infeed plates, and the angular velocity is controlled in proportion to the predetermined distances. 
     
     
         11 . The method according  claim 9 , wherein controlling the angular velocity in proportion to the predetermined characteristics comprises:
 determining that the first roller is synchronized to the second roller,   determining a first distance between a gripper and a respective infeed plate of the first roller,   determining a second distance between an infeed plate and a respective gripper of the second roller, and   if the first distance is greater than the second distance, controlling angular velocity of rollers comprises controlling the first roller to a relatively high angular velocity and controlling the second roller to a relatively low angular velocity, or   if the first distance is smaller/less than the second distance, controlling angular velocity of rollers comprises controlling the first roller to a relatively low angular velocity and controlling the second roller to a relatively high angular velocity.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein controlling angular velocity of rollers comprises controlling in a ramp-up phase and a stationary phase and/or controlling in a ramp-down and stationary phase. 
     
     
         13 . A stack of folded pop-up wipes comprising continuous material in a length direction of the material and using perforations, wherein the stack of folded pop-up wipes uses the perforations to delimit the wipes in the length direction, wherein the material is folded in a direction orthogonal to the length direction in alternating directions at a distance to form a stack with a width and a length. 
     
     
         14 . The stack according to  claim 13 , where the distance between perforations seen in the length direction of the material is uniform to produce wipes having a uniform format, or, the distance between perforations seen in the length direction of the material is varied to produce wipes having varying formats, such as in a care pack.