GB1203043A - Folding apparatus e.g. for folding linen - Google Patents

Abstract

1,203,043. Folding sheets. E. & E. PETERS G.m.b.H. 10 Nov., 1967 [10 Nov., 1966], No. 51345/67. Heading D1S. A machine for folding sheets comprises a second folding apparatus is positioned downstream of a first folding apparatus, conveying means for conveying the sheets from the first to the second folding apparatus, the second folding apparatus being disposed approximately in the middle of the length of the outlet of the first folding apparatus, and means for controlling, independently of the length of a given sheet, the operation of the second folding apparatus so that the second folding is made exactly in the middle of the once-folded sheet. A sheet (not shown) is deposited on conveyor belts 8 driven at a speed dependant upon that of a previous mangle (not shown) and a first fold is made by a folding platform 31 having pivotable folding arms 12 carrying rollers 13. In the region of the arms 12, riser arms (not shown) are provided between the belts 8 to ensure that the sheet is fed onto the arms 12. When the sheet interrupts a light beam from a source 15 reflected by a reflector 16 to a receiver 14 measuring apparatus is actuated and either a cam disc 40, Fig. 3, or a toothed wheel 51, Fig. 4, starts to rotate. When a switch 45 or 53 is operated by a pin 44 or 55 the arms 12 are moved upwardly from the dotted line position of Fig. 2 to hold the leading edge of the sheet against the platform 31 whilst the remainder of the sheet continues travelling on the belts 8 until the leading edge is dropped onto the trailing edge. When the trailing edge of the sheet clears the light beam a quadruple speed drive is connected to the disc 40 or a toothed wheel 52 for a time until the disc 40 has turned once or a chain 50 running around the wheels 51, 52 has reached a position in which an attachment 56 thereon can again engage a locking member 57. During this movement a switch 46 or 54 is operated by the pin 44 or 55 to cause a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 17 to move a pronged folding blade 21 upwardly between the belts 8 to push the centre line of the once-folded sheet upwardly between belts 9, 10, 11 and onto the upper run of the belts 9. Additional guide arms (not shown) may be provided between guide rollers 3, 5 for the belts 9, 10, 11. The belts 10, 11 are arranged alternately. A third folding means 34 similar to the first means 31 may be provided over the belts 9. The distance between the sensing elements 14, 15, 16 and the blade 21 is one-half the length of the longest sheet to be folded. If it is desired to attain a "one-third" folding of the sheet after the first fold, the quadruple speed drive is replaced by a sextuple speed drive and the distance between the sensing elements 14, 15, 16 and the blade 21 is reduced by one-sixth of the length of the longest sheet to be folded.