GB627367A - Improvements relating to crimping or pleating - Google Patents

Abstract

627,367. Pleating. PILLINER, B. J. July 16, 1947, No. 19012. [Class 141] [Also in Group XXII] In a method of and machine for pleating materials such as thin metal sheet, metal gauze, woven textile and other materials, blades are moved angularly into engagement with the material alternately from opposite sides of the material, each blade picking up the material and carrying the material with it until the blade has been brought into a position substantially parallel to the preceding blade with a length of material between the two blades, the blades being moved forwardly with the pleated material and the parallel series of blades being simultaneously moved out of the formed pleats towards their respective sides of the material and permitted to remain parallel until free of the finished pleated material. In the embodiment described, the material is fed from a table 13, Fig. 1, through tension rollers 14 to a region between a pair of rotary members each comprising a pair of circular flanges 20 mounted upon one of the shafts 1, 2, between which flanges are pivotally suspended a plurality of blades 3. The shaft 1 is driven in a clockwise manner, a spring 7 preventing the blades on their downward movement from turning under gravity to a vertical position, and the shaft 2 is driven in an anti-clockwise manner. A pair of levers 4, 5, loosely mounted upon the shafts 1, 2 are rocked by a crank 11, whereby spring-loaded pawls 6, Fig. 4, are engaged alternately behind the blades of the upper and lower rotary members which in turn are alternately impelled to a vertical position, pleats of the material being formed therebetween. The blades are urged by the levers 4, 5, to a position beyond a pair of spring loaded check pawls 21, which thereafter prevent backward movement of the blades. Subsequent to the pleating operation, the blades move forwards and outwards whilst remaining in parallel relationship, the pleated material being directed by guides 18 into a box 15 against a spring-loaded bar 17. The pleats may be tensioned by advancing the point at which the blades complete the folding operation so that they slidably increase their overlap after the pleats have been formed, this being effected by adjusting the position of the check pawls 21, the throw of the crank 11 and the angle of set in the arms 4, 5.