GB1015642A - Improvements relating to fabric folding - Google Patents

Abstract

1,015,642. Folding fabrics. J. R. ZIMMERMAN. March 15, 1963, No. 10258/63. Heading D1S. A fabric folding machine for folding a continuous strip of fabric back and forth and progressively from side to side in a container 117 comprises a frame 11, 12, Fig. 2, a first carriage 35, cooperating means 45, 43, respectively, on the frame 11,12 and the carriage 35 mounting the latter for back and forth movement, a drive roller 48 carried by the carriage 35 for driving the fabric strip 116, a second carriage 76, cooperating means 75 on the carriages 35, 76 mounting the carriage 76 for side to side movement on the carriage 35, combined fabric drive and guide means 110, 114 mounted on the carriage 76 for movement along the roller 48 and means for driving the carriages 35, 76 and the roller 48. The carriage 35 comprises side plates 36, 37 connected together by a channel member 38 and each carrying a wheel 43 to run on a rail 45 on one of the frame members 11, 12. The shaft 47 of the roller 48 is mounted on the plates 36, 37 by bearings 46. The carriage 35 is reciprocated by a driven chain 56 having one end end of a connecting link 59 secured thereto. The other end of the link 59 is connected to the shaft 47. Similar links 59 are provided at each end of the shaft 47. A main drive shaft 61, Fig. 2, is driven by a chain 61B driven by a suitable power source (not shown). The chains 56 are constantly driven from the shaft 61 by chains 63. The shaft 47 is driven from the shaft 61 by chains 71, 73, links 65, 66 and a pivot shaft 67 also being provided. As the roller 48 and its shaft 47 reciprocate longitudinally of the machine with the carriage 35, the links 65, 66 and a pivot about the shaft 67 which moves up and down. The carriage 76 in the form of an inverted channel member is reciprocated along a guide rail 75 extending between the plates 36, 37 by a chain 84 having a connecting link 87 secured thereto and to a bracket on the carriage 76. The chain 84 is driven from the shaft 47 by a chain 98 and a shaft 93 carrying a worm 99 which meshes with a worm wheel 100 carried by a shaft 80 carrying one of the sprockets 82 around which the chain 84 is entrained. To prevent the link 87 lifting the carriage 76 off of the rail 75 a guide 91 carried by a strap 90 is provided to receive a roller 92 on the carriage 76. In the machine shown to simultaneously fold three fabric strips 116, the strips 116 each pass through a J-shaped guide 103, over a fabric feed drum 106 driven from the shaft 61 by chains 63, 109, through a ring-type guide 110 welded to the carriage 76 and between the roller 48 and a clamping roller 114 which may be spring urged against the roller 48, the rollers 48, 114 pulling the fabric 116 from the drum 106 and allowing it to fall into a container 117. Specifications 1, 015, 643 and 1, 015, 644 are referred to.