APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FOLDING AND STACKING NAPKINS FROM A CONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL

摘要

A continuous web of paper which may be longitudinally folded in half is drawn around a rotating cylinder which cuts the web into pre-determined suitable lengths. Vacuum and air pressure means temporarily hold the severed portions of the web against the cylinder, but at an appropriate moment release the leading edge of the severed portion causing it to be lifted in its leading half away from the cylinder, the trailing half being retained by suction against the cylinder. The lifted leading edge folds backward against the trailing portion along a fold line, and subsequently the foldedtogether leading and trailing portions are released from the cylinder, transported away from the cylinder and into a stacking tray, for subsequent packaging. The cut and folded sections of the web are, at all times, held under control by a vacuum in one or more cylinders or conveyor belts until the very last moment when they are discharged into a receiving and stacking tray.