Abstract: A bag carrying mechanism for a bag and insert combining apparatus for combining a stream of inserts with a stream of bags is provided. The bag carrying mechanism includes a plurality of bag holding arrangements operably coupled to one another for rotation about a rotational axis. Each bag holding arrangement includes first and second segments movable relative to one another and forming a receiving cavity therebetween. First and second holding features hold opposite sides of the bag within the receiving cavity and selectively hold the bag in an open position for receipt of an insert through an open end of the bag. Methods of using the bag carrying mechanism and systems incorporating the bag carrying mechanism are provided.

Abstract: A web processing roll for handling a web of material using vacuum is provided. The web processing roll includes a roll body. The roll body defines an outer periphery against which the web of material is held. The roll body defines a vacuum passage. At least one first vacuum hole fluidly connects to the vacuum passage provides vacuum proximate the outer periphery of the roll body to hold the web of material against the outer periphery with vacuum supplied to the at least one first vacuum hole by the vacuum passage. A first flow path of the vacuum hole extends at a first angle that is non-perpendicular to the rotational axis and is directed, at least in part, axially toward one of the first and second ends at the first outlet end of the at least one first vacuum hole.

Abstract: A bag carrying mechanism for a bag and insert combining apparatus for combining a stream of inserts with a stream of bags is provided. The bag carrying mechanism includes a plurality of bag holding arrangements operably coupled to one another for rotation about a rotational axis. Each bag holding arrangement includes first and second segments movable relative to one another and forming a receiving cavity therebetween. First and second holding features hold opposite sides of the bag within the receiving cavity and selectively hold the bag in an open position for receipt of an insert through an open end of the bag. Methods of using the bag carrying mechanism and systems incorporating the bag carrying mechanism are provided.

Abstract: A system for forming and wrapping a plurality of stacks of sheet like product is provided. The system includes a separator apparatus for converting a stream of spaced apart sets of stacks into a repeating stepped configuration. The system includes a mechanism for merging the stepped configuration of stacks into a single file stream of stacks. The system includes a cutoff apparatus for cutting a plastic sleeve in which the stacks are wrapped. The system includes a turner apparatus for changing the direction of travel of individual units comprising of a stack of product within a length of the sleeve 90 degrees while maintaining the orientation of the units.

Abstract: A web processing roll for handling a web of material using vacuum is provided. The web processing roll includes a roll body. The roll body defines an outer periphery against which the web of material is held. The roll body defines a vacuum passage. At least one first vacuum hole fluidly connects to the vacuum passage provides vacuum proximate the outer periphery of the roll body to hold the web of material against the outer periphery with vacuum supplied to the at least one first vacuum hole by the vacuum passage. A first flow path of the vacuum hole extends at a first angle that is non-perpendicular to the rotational axis and is directed, at least in part, axially toward one of the first and second ends at the first outlet end of the at least one first vacuum hole.

Abstract: A system for forming and wrapping a plurality of stacks of sheet like product is provided. The system includes a separator apparatus for converting a stream of spaced apart sets of stacks into a repeating stepped configuration. The system includes a mechanism for merging the stepped configuration of stacks into a single file stream of stacks. The system includes a cutoff apparatus for cutting a plastic sleeve in which the stacks are wrapped. The system includes a turner apparatus for changing the direction of travel of individual units comprising of a stack of product within a length of the sleeve 90 degrees while maintaining the orientation of the units.

Abstract: A system for forming and wrapping a plurality of stacks of sheet-like product is provided. The system includes a stack aligner for squaring up leading and trailing ends of the stack as well as sides of the stacks is provided. The stack aligner is also configured for controlling the position of the stacks along the stack travel path such that the stacks exit the stack aligner with tight positional tolerances for being fed to the stack wrapping arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided, for alternatively producing either small or bulk packs of napkins from a stack of folded napkins produced by one folding machine, through use of a pack dispatching arrangement having an inlet, a small pack transfer station and a bulk pack transfer station, and configured for operation in a small pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart small packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the small pack transfer station, and alternatively operable in a bulk pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart bulk packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the bulk pack transfer station.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: A system for forming and wrapping a plurality of stacks of sheet like product is provided. The system includes a separator apparatus for converting a stream of spaced apart sets of stacks into a repeating stepped configuration. The system includes a mechanism for merging the stepped configuration of stacks into a single file stream of stacks. The system includes a cutoff apparatus for cutting a plastic sleeve in which the stacks are wrapped. The system includes a turner apparatus for changing the direction of travel of individual units comprising of a stack of product within a length of the sleeve 90 degrees while maintaining the orientation of the units.

Abstract: A log accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets, a feed arrangement and a transport system and methods are provided. The feed arrangement loads logs onto the buckets. The transport system transports the buckets past the feed arrangement for loading of the buckets. The transport system and the feed arrangement are configured to maintain the feed arrangement in a fixed relative position with one of the buckets for an extended period of time while the feed arrangement loads the one of the buckets. The accumulator may include an unload arrangement that operates to unload logs in substantially the same manner as the feed arrangement.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided, for alternatively producing either small or bulk packs of napkins from a stack of folded napkins produced by one folding machine, through use of a pack dispatching arrangement having an inlet, a small pack transfer station and a bulk pack transfer station, and configured for operation in a small pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart small packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the small pack transfer station, and alternatively operable in a bulk pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart bulk packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the bulk pack transfer station.

Abstract: A bulk pack napkin separator and method utilize various combinations of simultaneous compression of several bulk packs and various forms of bulk pack accumulators for improving speed and functionality of the separator.

Abstract: A log accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets, a feed arrangement and a transport system and methods are provided. The feed arrangement loads logs onto the buckets. The transport system transports the buckets past the feed arrangement for loading of the buckets. The transport system and the feed arrangement are configured to maintain the feed arrangement in a fixed relative position with one of the buckets for an extended period of time while the feed arrangement loads the one of the buckets. The accumulator may include an unload arrangement that operates to unload logs in substantially the same manner as the feed arrangement.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.