GB465220A - Improvements in or relating to folding machines for shirts or like articles of wearing apparel - Google Patents

Abstract

465,220. Folding shirts after ironing. COMBARETTE, G. B. Feb. 12, 1936, No. 4261. [Class 138 (ii)] The shirt is placed, front downward and tail to the left, on a table b having a recess in which are mounted a stationary shoulder a, Fig. 1, and two pivoted shoulders d, e all approximately at the same level. Initially the shoulders are held in the dotted line position adjacent the fixed shoulder and against the force of a spring t<1>. The collar band of the shirt is slipped over the shoulders and the catch holding the movable shoulders is released by depressing a push-button y whereby the shoulders d, e move outwardly and hold the collar band securely. A frame 5, Fig. 4, is now swung normally counterclockwise so as to overlie and contact with the back of the shirt and is held in this position by a pawl 47 engaging a ratchet 4. The arms of the shirt are manually folded and a cam shaft 17 is now clutched to a constantly running motor 108 whereby arms 21, 24 are rocked by cams 113, 114 in succession to fold longitudinal plates 20, 23, Fig. 7, over which the sides of the shirt extend, and to withdraw them whereby the sides of the shirt are left folded longitudinally on to the frame 5 over the back of the shirt. Further rotation of the cam shaft moves an arm 34, Fig. 4, relatively to a frame 32 through the cam 123 and link and lever system 31, 49, 491, 31<1>. The arm carries a rack 35, Fig. 5, at its free end engaging a pinion 36'on the shaft of a tail folding frame 37 pivoted on the frame 32 whereby the frame 37 rotates and folds the shirt tail back on itself. Continued movement of the cam shaft swings the frame 32 clockwise about its pivot so that the bottom part of the shirt, with the tail already folded in, is folded back over the folded sides on the frame 5. The movements of the side plates 20, 23 and of the frame 32 are arranged to exert a slight stretching action on the shirt to avoid wrinkling the front. The frames 32, 37 are now withdrawn and the detent 47 freed from the ratchet 4 so that the frame 5 carrying the folded shirt is swung clockwise by its restoring spring, arms, not shown, on the under side of the frame coming into operation to prevent the back of the shirt falling off the frame as it swings past the vertical position. A lever 126, Fig. 15, operating an ejector mechanism 61 is now coupled to the motor automatically through a clutch mechanism 128, 133 whereby the shirt is pushed off the frame 5 on to a table 81 or into a wrapper. As the cam-shaft 17 completes its rotation the cam 101 thereon shifts a rod p<1> to the right to swing the shoulders d inwardly where they are latched until again released by the operator. The frame 5 may be swung by the motor and the various frames may be adjustable in size. Instead of the operations being automatically performed in sequence by the motor they may be manually controlled.