GB661570A - Folding apparatus for towels, napkins and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

661.570. Folding fabrics. MALOTT, C. S. Feb. 3, 1949, No. 3021/49. Class 42 (ii). In apparatus for folding limp, flat articles such as towels, napkins or pillow-cases, an article is advanced along a forming plate with a portion of the article supported in inclined position on the plate and a side wing of the article depending from a longitudinal edge of the plate, and the depending side wing is progressively folded inwardly and upwardly around the side of the forming plate by engagement with a stationary folding plate having a folding portion of twisted form which progressively changes from vertical disposition to an inclined disposition in.a plane parallel to the forming plate and which supports the side wing of the article during the whole of the folding operation. As shown, a towel &c. placed by the operator on conveyer belts 22, 23 is carried forward by belt 23 over a forming plate 71, the side wings of the article dropping down on both sides of the plate. The article passes beneath belts 28 which frictionally grip it against plate 71 and advance it thereover, the plate being grooved to assist sliding of the article. The depending wing portions of the article contact guide plates 72, 73 respectively, which are shaped to fold them, one after the other, inwardly and upwardly under plate 71. The advancing article successively trips switches 77, 78, which actuate an electronic timer controlling a cross-folding blade 39 according to the length of the article. As the longitudinallyfolded article continues to advance it crosses a gap 90 on to a pan 91; when the mid-point of the article is opposite gap 90, the timer energizes a solenoid 67 to produce one revolution of a shaft 42 and cause a cam 41 to advance folder blade 39 through gap 20 and force the article, centrally cross-folded, between folding rollers 29, 36. From rollers 29, 36 the article is guided by a plate 44 on to conveyer belts 45 and thence by a belt 48 to a stacking machine. Energization of solenoid 67 also produces one complete operation of the stacking machine, so that each article is stacked as the following article is cross-folded.