GB2218680A - A garment folding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment is clamped at one end, e.g. by a bar 31 mounted on a carriage 30 of an endless conveyor, which draws it over a horizontal surface comprising a series of flaps 21 to 27 and releases it. Flaps 21 to 25 swing upwards in sequence to fold the garment. In this example flaps 21, 22 swing up and over to the left to fold the garment longitudinally, flaps 23, 24 then swing up and inwards to fold the garment again longitudinally, then flap 25 swings up and over to the right. Flaps 26, 27 swing open downwards to drop the folded garment into a reception area, e.g. onto a conveyor. The flaps 21 to 27 are swung by respective pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangements. <IMAGE>

Description

A GARMENT FOLDING MACHINE This invention relates to a garment folding machine.

Automated folding of garments, such as overalls, boiler suits and uniforms, is desirable after laundering of same and also at the end of the garment manufacturing process.

A garment folding machine is known in which the garment is arranged substantially vertically and held at certain positions intermediate its ends to enable folding.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved garment folding machine which is more versatile in the range of garments with which it can deal, and also potentially more compact and less expensive than hitherto, and which is also easy to use and reliable in operation.

Pursuant hereto the invention provides a garment folding machine comprising a substantially horizontal surface provided, for the most part, by a plurality of flaps, which are mounted so as to swing upwards from the surface and, in use, operate sequentially to fold a garment which is placed thereover, and means for clamping an edge portion of a garment and for drawing the garment into position overlying at least some of the flaps.

Preferably, at least some of the flaps are mounted so as to swing upwards in a direction perpendicular to other of said flaps so that the garment can be folded both longitudinally and transversely.

Preferably, the surface includes at least one further flap which is mounted so as to swing downwardly to enable the folded garment to drop therethrough, e.g.

for stacking, storage or collection. Such further flap or flaps may conveniently be located approximately centrally of the horizontal surface. Alternatively it or they may be adjacent one end.

For drawing the garment onto the horizontal surface, the clamping means is advantageously mounted upon a carriage which extends between respective endless conveyors, e.g. chains arranged at opposing sides of the surface.

In a preferred embodiment, pneumatic (or hydraulic) piston and cylinder arrangements are provided to operate the flaps and enable the upwardly swingable flaps to swing through more than 90 , and up to about 1800 relative to their initial position in the substantially horizontal surface. In this respect, the cylinders of the aforesaid arrangements are advantageously pivotally mounted to fixed support means, while the pistons thereof are pivotally connected to pivot points of the flaps by respective intermediate linkages.Then, in operation, the pistons are adapted to be alternately retracted to pull their respective flaps throught about 90 , then extended to push them over centre and through a further angle up to about 1800, then retracted again to move the respective flaps back to 900, and finally extended again to return them to their rest position.

In this way the flaps are moved positively through their over centre position in both their upward and return swings.

However, for even greater reliability and precision (and also as a failsafe) auxiliary piston and cylinder arrangements are advantageously provided, lying at an oblique angle to the aforesaid piston and cylinder arrangements and operative to exert extra impetus to move them through their overcentre positions when switching from retraction to extension of the pistons at the flap 900 positions.

Numerous other inventive features will emerge in the following detailed description of practical embodiments of the garment folding machine of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a practical embodiment of the machine; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view thereof with a side panel removed to reveal the mechanism; Fig. 3 is a schematic front end view thereof, with front panel removed to reveal the mechanism; Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial side view showing in detail the piston and cylinder assemblies for swinging some of the flaps; Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial plan view of the central region of the machine surface; Fig. 6 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a view in the direction of the arrow VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of a modified embodiment of the machine of the invention; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic cross-section along the line IX-IX in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross-section at the level X-X in Fig. 8 when the flap 22 has swung over 1800;; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic cross-section along the line XI-XI in Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sketch, to an enlarged scale, illustrating the mounting of one of the retention figures; Fig. 13 is a side view of the modified machine, comparable to Fig. 6, showing an additional cylinder; and Fig. 14 is a schematic view showing the cylinders of Fig. 13 during the operative phase of the final flaps.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, the machine comprises a housing consisting of an upper, substantially horizontal surface 10 (Fig. 1) supported upon legs (not shown) and respective side panels 11 and front and rear panels 12, 13 enclosing the region below the horizontal surface 10 where the operating mechanism of the machine is located. The upper surface 10 itself is of elongate rectangular form and consists of fixed edge panels 14, 15 and seven flaps, designated 21 to 27.

These flaps are preferably made of perforated metal as this renders them lighter and of lower air resistance than imperforated plates, both important factors in minimising the force needed to swing them through about 1800.

A transparent plastics cover 16 may be placed over the upper surface 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In use, an operator stands adjacent the front end of the machine and at location "A" clamps the shoulder region of a garment, e.g. a boiler suit (not shown) to a transverse carriage 30 by operating a lever to swing down a spring-loaded, padded bar 31 to appropriately secure the garment. Upon the operator pressing a "conveyor" or "operation" switch on a console 18, the carriage 30 moves rearwards and draws the garment across the aforesaid horizontal upper surface 10 of the machine. If the cover 16 is present, the garment passes therebeneath through an opening 16a in the front of the cover 16. The carriage 30 stops and the clamping bar 31 swings back to release the garment when said garment is spread flat overlying the flaps 21 to 27. The flaps 21 to 25 then operate in sequence to fold the garment.

In this respect, referring to Fig. 1, flap 21 swings first, the right hand edge swinging up and over through almost 1800 before swinging back to its initial position so as to fold the lower extremity, e.g. lower leg regions, of the garment over onto flap 22. Flap 22 then operates in substantially the same way, with the right hand edge (seen in Fig. 1) swinging up and through almost 1800 before returning to its rest position. Then the narrow side flaps 23 and 24 operate one after the other, swinging perpendicularly to the flaps 21 and 22, their respective outer edges going upwards and over onto flaps 25 to 27 before returning to rest. In this way the garment is folded inwards from its sides. Finally, flap 25 swings up in the opposite direction to flaps 21 and 22, i.e. its left edge rises and goes through an arc of almost 1800 and back again, so that the fully folded garment is positioned centrally over flaps 26 and 27.

The adjoining edges of these flaps 26 and 27 then swing downwards so that the folded garment falls through onto a reception zone, which may be one end of a belt conveyor 17.

How such operation is accomplished will now be explained in greater detail.

An endless conveyor in the form of a chain 32 is guided in a respective slotted tubular track 33 at each side of the machine, the upper run of each chain 32 travelling rearward and the lower run forwards, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The tubular tracks 33 are attached to or otherwise supported by the legs (not shown) of the machine housing. Three carriages 30 in the form of cross beams are mounted transversely between the chains 32 at equidistant spacings therearound. Each carriage 30 of course carries its respective clamping bar 31. The spacing between the carriages 30 is such that when one is at location "A", i.e. at the garment clamping location at the front of the upper surface 10, another is at location "B", a short spacing beyond the unclamping location, and the third is at location "C" in the lower return run of the conveyor. These positons are shown in Fig. 2.Upon each operation of the machine, the chains 32 are driven synchronously by respective rollers 34, by means of a belt drive 35 from a motor 36 (see Figs. 2 and 3) so that the respective carriages 30 move around from one position to the next, i.e. A to B, B to C and C to A.

Thus when the machine stops for the next garment to be loaded, one of the carriages 30 is always at position A to receive the next garment.

The motor 36 is preferably a variable speed motor which is adjusted so as to operate at slow speed initially and then accelerate to more rapid operation.

In this way the operator will have some time to make adjustments to the garment if need be as the conveyors 32 begin to move and draw the garment away only slowly at first.

Once the conveyors 32 are actuated by means of the aforesaid "conveyor" switch, the sequence of operation of the machine is automatic. This may be achieved by means of a programmed logic controller to which all the operational parts, including the motor 36 are connected.

In order to bring about unclamping of the garment when it overlies the flaps 21 to 27 and stopping of the conveyors 32 with the carriages 30 in the correct positions A, B and C, a pair of photo-sensors or limit switches are provided, the first just prior to position "C" and the second at position "C". When the first sensor detects a carriage approaching position "C", at a fixed distance therefrom, it signals the logic controller and the clamping bar 31 of the next carriage 30, which is approaching position "B" is released.

Shortly afterwards when the second sensor detects the same carriage at position "C", it signals the logic controller to stop the motor 36. Either sensor may be used to initiate the subsequent flap operation sequence.

The flaps 21 to 27 are each caused to swing out of their substantially horizontal, adjoining rest positions by respective pneumatically operated piston and cylinder assemblies, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 & BR< 7. Fig. 4 shows these assemblies for flaps 21, 22 and 25, the cylinders being designated 41, 42 and 45 respectively and the pistons 51, 52 and 55. It will be noted that in each case the cylinder 41, 42 or 45 is pivotally mounted on a supporting leg of the machine, while the piston 51, 52 or 55 is pivotally connected to a respective linkage lever 61, 62, 65, which is fixedly connected to a pivot pin 71, 72, 75 at the pivotal edge of the respective flap 21, 22 or 25. These piston and cylinder assemblies are sequentially operated by signals from the logic controller on the basis of information on flap position from respective photosensors (not shown).

For simplicity the full sequence will only be explained for the piston and cylinder assembly 41, 51 of the first flap 21. A first photosensor (not shown) on or adjacent to the pivot block 81 registers when this flap 21 lies in its horizontal rest position. In this position the piston 51 is extended from the cylinder 41. When actuation of this flap 21 is initiated by the signal from the second sensor at position etc", the piston 51 is retracted, thus drawing down the lever 61 and swinging up the right hand edge of the flap 21. A second sensor, also on or adjacent the pivot block 81, detects when the flap 21 is approaching its 900 position (in practice 160 prior to the 900 position has been found suitable) and this initiates extension of the piston 51 again to push the flap 21 through its over centre position to about 1800.A predetermined period of time after the second sensor signal has caused extension of the pistons 51, the latter is retracted again to bring the flaps 21 back over on its return swing. Again, as it approaches the 900 position from the other side, the piston 51 is caused to extend again and push the lever and the flap 21 through the over centre position back to rest. Thus on both the forward and return swings the flap 21 is moved positively through its 900 over centre position by a pull-push action of the piston and cylinder assembly 41, 51. This is particularly important on the forward flap which folds the overlying garment. This must be accomplished swiftly and decisively so that the garment end portion is fully folded and made to have a precise fold rather than sliding down the flap 21 and crumpling. The same applies for all the flaps 21 to 25.

To assist and ensure its rapid over centre movement there is for each flap 21 to 25 an auxiliary piston and cylinder assembly which is mounted obliquely to the main piston and cylinder assembly and is pivotally connected to the cylinder. This auxiliary assembly serves to pull the main assembly through the flap over centre position in one direction and push it in the other direction.

The second sensor therefore additionally actuates the auxiliary piston in the forward direction. A third sensor detects when the flap 21 is just past its over centre position (in practice 160 past centre has been found suitable). In the forward flap direction this third sensor serves to deactivate the auxiliary piston and cylinder assembly. In the reverse direction it reactivates the auxiliary piston and cylinder assembly so that the auxiliary piston pushes the main assembly back over dead centre. The second sensor then switches the auxiliary assembly off again.

The auxiliary piston and cylinder assemblies are not shown in the accompanying drawings.

When the first flap 21 has returned to its rest position, the second flap 22 is operated in exactly analogous fashion, then the flaps 23 and 24, although these swing in perpendicular direction transversely of the garment, and finally the top flap 25. Only the piston and cylinder assembly 43, 53 and associated lever 63 and pivot pin 73 for one of the transversely swinging flaps 23 are shown in Fig. 4.

To allow for the thickness of the folded garment, the pivot pins 71 to 75 are mounted eccentrically on respective pivot blocks 81 to 85. In this way the first flap 21, when swung fully over, overlies the second flap 22 with a gap therebetween of about 3mm.

The top flap 25, (so called because it deals with the top of the garment) is, in fact, mounted about 9mm lower than the two side flaps 23, as is clear from Fig.

4. The central flaps 26 and 27 are initially in line with the top flap 25, but as said top flap 25 approaches its 900 over centre position (as detected by its respective photosensor) the frontal edges of the central flaps 26, 27 are swung downwards in unison so that there is a gap of up to about 24 mm between the surface of these flaps 26 and the surfaces of the first to fourth flaps 21 to 24. This is accomplished by the central flaps 26, 27 being mounted on a common rectangular frame 38, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

This frame 38 is swung downwards as a whole, together with the flaps 26, 27 it surrounds by means of a piston and cylinder assembly 39 (Figs. 6 and 7).

Subsequently the mutually adjacent edges of the flaps 26, -27 are simultaneously swung down by respective piston and cylinder assemblies 46, 56 and 47, 57 (see Fig. 7) which have a common pneumatic valve and which are attached to the flaps by initially upwardly inclined linkages 66, 67, pivot pins 76, 77 and pivot block 86, 87. These flaps 26, 27 only require a 900 swing, compared to the other flaps 21 to 25 which have to be able to swing through about 1800. Thus, auxiliary piston and cylinder assemblies are not required here.

When the flaps 26, 27 open, the folded garment drops through onto the end of conveyor 17. In this way up to ten folded garments can be stacked before being transported away on the conveyor 17.

In a-modified embodiment of the machine, certain refinements are incorporated, as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14. For ease of reference the same reference numerals will be used in these drawings to designate parts which directly correspond to those of the abovedescribed embodiment.

Firstly, as shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the second flap 22 is provided with a rectangular, upstanding projection or blister 91, which, as the flap 22 swings over, serves to press the folded garment more precisely and firmly onto the central flaps 26, 27, which are at a slightly lower level than the side flaps 23, 24 thus forming a depression therebetween. At the same time this defines longitudinal crease lines in the garment (at 93 in Fig.

10) allowing more precise folds to be achieved when the side flaps 23, 24 swing over. The first flap 21 is, consequently, provided with a depression or recess 92, to accommodate the upstanding blister 91 when the flap 21 swings over onto the flap 22.

Secondly, to hold the garment, and prevent any slippage back towards the operator as the top flaps 25 swings over, to make the final fold, projectable fingers 95, 96 are provided under the side flaps 23, 24 (see Fig. 11). These fingers 95, 96 are mounted on the side members of the frame 38 and each slides outwards in contact with the face of its associated side flap 23, 24 and above the garment, when the relevant flap 23 or 24 has swung over and folded its side of the garment and while it still overlies the garment. This is best illustrated in Fig. 11. The side flaps 23, 24 operate in sequence, the second one 23 swinging over as the first one 24 swings back to its start position (to minimize process time) and the fingers 95, 96, likewise project one after the other.They remain projected, holding the garment onto the flaps 26 and 27 until the top flap 25 has completed the final fold, whereupon said fingers 95, 96 are retracted again.

The fingers 95, 96 comprise narrow metal stips, approx 25cm long and lcm wide which are mounted on the side members of the frame 38 so as to be movable inwards and outwards in a plane between the flaps 23, 24 and the flaps 26, 27, as shown in Fig. 11. The mounting of the finger at each side is by way of pivotal linkages 97 and a two-armed lever, 98 which is pneumatically operated by a cylinder (not shown) all of these components being mounted on a bracket 99 attached to the frame 38 (see Fig. 12). The pneumatic cylinders operating the fingers 95, 96 may be actuated in timed sequence from the sensors for the respective side flaps 23, 24.

To compensate for excessive garment thickness which can occur in the case of heavyweight garments in the region of the final fold made by the top flap 25, the air cylinder 39, which operates to downwardly incline the frame 38 carrying the flaps 26 and 27, has an additional cylinder 102 attached between it and the machine framework, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Whilst -cylinder 39 may have a stroke of 50mm and operate at a pressure of 80 p.s.i; cylinder 102 may have a stroke of say 25mm and be permanently maintained at a pressure of about 30 p.s.i, just sufficient to bear the weight of the frame 38. In effect the additional cylinder acts as a gas spring providing sufficient resilience to absorb any additional load owing to excess garment thickness between the flaps 25 and 26, 27, before the latter open.

Another refinement is the provision of small particles 104 (see Fig. 8) of simulated moleskin on the side flaps 23, 24 and the top flap 25 to reduce the tendancy of lightweight fabric garments to continue sliding when these are initially drawn onto the folding surface and released from the clamp 31.

A photosensor may be directed upwards through the perforated first flap 21 to detect the presence of material overlying said flap, thus to detect whether a long garment has been loaded onto the machine. If the garment is short, e.g. an overall in the form of a coat, rather than a boiler suit, so that this photosensor does not register, then the flap 21 does not operate and the folding sequence begins with the flap 22. This further reduces the process time for short garments.

Another photocell may be used to detect the level of stacked garments on the end of the conveyor 17 below the flaps 26, 27.

The side flaps 23, 24 may carry weighted stips along their free edges, in order to exert greater pressure when they swing over, fold, and press upon the folded garment.

Many other variations are possible particularly in the actual control system for the sequential operation of the components, the entire operation of the machine preferably being automated, as already mentioned.

Claims (10)

1. A garment folding machine comprising a substantially horizontal surface provided, for the most part, by a plurality of flaps, which are mounted so as to swing upwards from the surface and, in use, operate sequentially to fold a garment which is placed thereover, and means for clamping an edge portion of a garment and for drawing the garment into position overlying at least some of the flaps.

2. A garment folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of the flaps are mounted so as to swing upwards in a direction perpendicular to other of said flaps so that the garment can be folded both longitudinally and transversely.

3. A garment folding machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the surface includes at least one further flap which is mounted so as to swing downwardly to enable the folded garment to drop therethrough.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said further flap or flaps is or are located approximately centrally of the horizontally surface.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein for drawing the garment onto the horizontal surface, the clamping means is mounted upon a carriage which extends between respective endless conveyors arranged at opposing sides of the surface.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangements are provided to operate the flaps and enable the upwardly swingable flaps to swing through more than 90 , and up to about 1800 relative to their initial position in the substantially horizontal surface.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cylinders of the said arrangments are pivotally mounted to fixed support means, while the pistons thereof are pivotally connected to pivot points of the flaps by respective intermediate linkages, the pistons, in operation, being adapted to be alternately retracted and extended or vice-versa, so that the flaps are moved positively through their over centre position in both their upward and return swings.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the respective flaps, in operation, are alternately retracted to pull their respective flaps through about 90 , then extended to push them over centre and through a further angle up to about 1800, then retracted again to move the respective flaps back to 900, and finally extended again to return them to their rest position.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein auxiliary piston and cylinder arrangements are advantageously provided, lying at an oblique angle to the aforesaid piston and cylinder arrangements and operative to exert extra impetus to move them through their overcentre positions when switching from retraction to extensions (or vice versa) of the pistons at the flap 900 positions.

10. A garment folding machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.