GB693935A - Method and means for folding shirts - Google Patents

Abstract

693,935. Folding shirts after ironing. AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY CO. Feb. 5, 1951, No. 2835/51. Class 138 (ii). [Also in Group XVII] Apparatus for folding a shirt or like garment comprises spacing means 18, right and left connecting members 25, 26 hingedly connected to the edges of the spacing means, and right and left folding wings 27, 28 hingedly connected to the members 25, 26 respectively. In one example, Fig. 1, the spacing means comprises a plate 18 pivoted at 19 to the top of a table 10 and having an inclined extension 20 which swings downwardly to contact the table when the plate 18 is raised. A spring biased latch finger, Fig. 2 (not shown), is disposed to engage the extension 20 and hold the plate 18 and its associated members in an inclined position until released by a lever 23. Operation. With the plate 18 &c. in raised position a shirt is laid, button strip down, on the top of the table and a collar form 13 in a depression 12 in the table is contracted by means of a foot pedal (not shown) mounted on a lever 15. The collar is dressed on the form 13 and the button strip is aligned by means of a light 33. The operator then releases the foot pedal to expand the form 13, and disengages the latch by means of the lever 23. The plate 18 drops to contact the edge of a rectangular cardboard stiffener 24 which has been laid on the shirt. The arms 25, 26 and wings 27, 28 are swung outwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The lower sleeve portions hang downwardly over flipper arms 29, 30 pivoted to the sides of the table. The arm 29 is swung upwardly to throw the right sleeve and cuff to the position shown in Fig. 4. Arm 30 may be moved simultaneously and the two arms 29, 30 are then returned to idle position (Fig. 1). Wings 27, 28, and then arms 25, 26 are swung inwardly to fold the shirt to approximately the width of the plate 18, the tail of the shirt being given an "S" fold preferably before movement of the arms 25, 26. The folded shirt is then encircled by a paper strip housed in a slot 31 in the table. The operator releases the collar form and raises the plate 18 etc. before slipping the shirt off these elements. Modification. Fig. 3 shows a simplified form made from cardboard and bendable along the four lines X. The rearwardly extending edge of the portion 18<SP>1</SP> can be slipped under the rear edge of the collar for stability in starting the folding operation. The device may remain in the shirt as a stiffener or may be removed for re-use.