JP2000024400A - Fabrics folding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable sending out of fabrics being inclined depending on a difference in feeding timing when there is a difference in the thickness of the front and rear rim parts of the fabrics to be folded by sending out the fabrics to be folded with front and rear rim parts faster on the thick side thereof than on the thin side thereof when they are forced between two pinch rolls and when there is a difference in the thickness of the front and rear rim parts of the fabrics to be folded. SOLUTION: A reference side pinch roll 11 and a pressing side pinch roll 21 are arranged and the pressing side pinch roll 21 is displaced by operation means 51 and 52 in the direction of approaching or separating from the reference side pinch roll 11. By the operation means 51 and 52, the pressing side pinch roll 21 is kept separating from the reference side pinch roll 11 before the operation of forcing fabrics Y1 while immediately after the operation of forcing the fabrics Y1, the pressing side pinch roll 21 is displaced to the side of the reference side pinch roll 11. This enables sending out of the fabrics longitudinally in the overall length thereof at the same timing regardless of any difference in the thickness of the front and rear rim parts of the fabrics to be folded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cloth folding apparatus for folding large-area cloths such as sheets into small pieces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a laundry factory, cloths such as sheets are washed, dried, and pressed, and then, as shown in FIG.
To (D). Sheets brought into the laundry factory vary in size, and different sizes are processed together.

[0003] By the way, in fabrics, Y _0, such as bed sheets,
As shown in FIG. 9 (A), a folded stitch portion Yc for preventing the yarn from fraying is formed on the outer peripheral edge thereof. The folded seam Yc has a large thickness because two sheets of fabric are stacked. Also, even after washing, drying, and pressing, wrinkles may remain at the folded seam Yc. In this case, the folded seam Yc becomes excessively thick due to the wrinkles.

[0004] The stretched cloth Y ₀ after pressing is, for example, shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 (A) folds at three fold lines indicated by a symbol L, and FIG.
And cloths Y ₁ folding fourfold state (B), the next was folded about the fold line indicated by symbol M in FIG. 9 (B), the further fold line indicated by reference numeral N shown in FIG. 9 (C) folded to be processed into textiles Y ₃ fold final form.

[0005] By the way, as a cloth folding apparatus for folding such cloths, there is a conventional apparatus shown in Figs. The cloth folding apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 is folded in four at a folding line (folding line L in FIG. 9A) which is orthogonal to the conveying direction in the previous step as shown in FIG. 9B. It was folding cloths Y ₁ is for folded in transport direction parallel to the fold lines M. In the following description, the transport direction may be referred to as the length direction, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction may be referred to as the width direction.

[0006] This conventional cloth folding apparatus comprises a pair of sandwich rolls 11 which are oriented in parallel with the conveying direction of the conveyor 2.
1 and 121, and the pinching device 10
The folding position cloths Y ₁ a (folding line M portion) and a pressing device 4 of push Mutame between 1 both scissors rolls 111, 121.

Each of the pair of sandwiching rolls 111 and 121 uses one roll. One pinch roll 111 is fixed and serves as a reference side pinch roll,
The other sandwiching roll 121 is a pressing-side sandwiching roll that can be displaced in a direction close to or away from the reference-side sandwiching roll 111. Further, each end (arm) of the pressing-side sandwiching roll 121 is urged toward the reference-side sandwiching roll 111 by springs 151 and 151, respectively. Each of the sandwich rolls 111 and 121 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The pushing device 4 has a structure in which a plate-like pushing piece 42 is vertically moved by air cylinders 41, 41.

The conventional cloth folding apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 operates as follows. That is, in the cloth folding device portion, folding cloth of fourfold state in the conveying direction by the transport conveyor 2 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to this fourfold cloth) but Y ₁ is supplied, the quarto cloth Y ₁ has two folded suture portion Yc a side edge Yb after the conveying direction is located in a polymerized state. Therefore, in the quarto cloth Y _1, its front edge Ya Whereas a thickness of 4 sheets fabrics, the rear edge Yb has a thickness of 6 sheets fabric (folded suture portion If wrinkles are present in Yc, it becomes even thicker). Then, the 4-fold cloth Y ₁ is conveyor 2
When it is conveyed to a predetermined position on the pinching device 101 by the detector, it is detected by a detector, and the signal from the detector causes the air cylinders 41, 41 of the pushing device 4 to extend, and the four-fold cloth Y ₁ Push the middle part (folding position M) of the
Pushing between both sandwiching rolls 111, 121 in 2, and folded the fourfold cloth Y ₁ in the width direction (can be processed into a total of eight folded folding cloth Y _2). Incidentally, cloth Y ₂ fold which is folded in the width direction, for example, be placed on another conveyor 6 as shown in FIG. 12 is sent to the next folding step side,
Where it is further folded in two is a final folding cloth Y ₃ shown in FIG. 9 (D).

In this conventional cloth folding apparatus, both ends of the pressing side sandwiching roll 121 are always urged against the reference side sandwiching roll 111 by the front and rear springs 151 and 151, respectively. Before pressing _1, the sandwiching rolls 111 and 121 are close to each other in a parallel state. When the pressing device 4 is operated, as shown in FIG. 11, but quarto cloth Y ₁ folding position M is pushed between the two pinch rolls 111 and 121, then the cloth Y
_Since the rear edge Yb (for six cloths) of the cloth ₁ is thicker than the front edge Ya (for four cloths), the rear edge Yb of the cloth Y1 (thick side). ) Is earlier (shorter) by a very short time than the front edge Ya side, and the two pinching rolls 111, 1
21. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the rear edge portion Yb having a large thickness is formed between the two sandwich rolls 111 and 1.
At the moment of contact with the front roll 21, the front edge Ya has not yet contacted the sandwiching rolls 111 and 121.

[0010]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in the conventional cloth folding apparatus described above, quarto cloth Y ₁ of the front and rear each edge Ya, if there is a difference in the thickness of the Yb, during pushing,
Fourfold side edge Yb side after cloth Y ₁ is slightly earlier contact from the front edge Ya side with respect to the roll 111 and 121 sandwiched as shown in Figure 11. Therefore, both pinching rolls 111,
The feeding action by 121 is slightly faster on the rear edge Yb side than on the front edge Ya side. Thus, quarto if there is a difference in start timing infeed before and after the cloth Y _1, feed cloth Y ₂ fold passing between rolls 111 and 121 sandwiching both as shown in FIG. 12 by both scissors rolls would be inclined as indicated at Q to the direction extension P _0, there is a problem that delivery accuracy is deteriorated. Incidentally, cloth Y ₂ fold delivered in an inclined state (code Q) as shown in FIG. 12, for example, be sent to the next folding step side is further folded at the conveyor 6 as shown in FIG. 13 ,
When the traveling direction P the posture of the cloth Y ₂ fold relative to the _first conveyor 6 is inclined as indicated by reference numeral Q, the folding cloth Y
₂ when folded the conveyor advancing direction P ₁ in the direction perpendicular to the fold line N in the next folding step, no longer clean polymerized so that the folded portion is chain line shown (reference numeral Yd), folding accuracy is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cloth folding apparatus capable of accurately folding even cloth having a difference in thickness before and after the cloth. And

[0012]

The present invention has the following structure as means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the folding position of the cloth is pushed into the sandwiching device side by a pushing device while the cloth such as a sheet is being conveyed, and the cloth is folded in two. It is intended for such a cloth folding device.

The sandwiching device has a reference-side sandwiching roll and a pressing-side sandwiching roll that can be displaced in a direction close to and away from the reference-side sandwiching roll. The reference side sandwiching roll may be fixedly attached at a fixed position, or may be movable and biased toward the pressing side sandwiching roll by an appropriate biasing means. In the case where the reference side sandwiching roll is urged toward the pressing side sandwiching roll, it is preferable that the stopper does not displace the pressing side sandwiching roll beyond the predetermined position.

The pressing-side nip roll can be displaced in the direction of approaching / separating from the reference-side nip roll by operating means. As the operating means, an air cylinder is preferable, but a cam-type operating means may be employed. When an air cylinder is used as the operating means, the air cylinder can be shared with the urging means.

In the cloth folding apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating means separates the pressing-side nip roll from the reference-side nip roll before the pressing operation of the cloth and immediately after the cloth pressing operation. Then, the pressing side sandwiching roll is displaced to the reference side sandwiching roll side.

The cloth folding apparatus according to the first aspect is suitable for a halfway folded cloth in a state in which a large area cloth such as a sheet is folded a plurality of times in the transport direction in advance (for example, a state where the cloth is folded in four). . For example, in the case of cloths such as sheets, it is often folded up to four at a time in the previous process,
In this four-folded cloth, two folded stitches are located in the overlapped state at the rear edge in the transport direction, and the folded stitch does not exist at the front edge. Therefore, the half-folded cloths (four-folded cloths) conveyed to the cloth folding device have a small thickness on the front edge side and a large thickness on the rear edge side.

The cloth folding apparatus operates as follows. That is, since the pressing-side nip roll and the reference-side nip roll are separated from each other before the pressing operation of the cloth, when the fold position of the cloth is pressed by the pressing device toward the nip device side, the feeding by each of the nip rolls is performed. No jamming action occurs. Since the pressing-side nip roll is displaced to the reference-side nip roll side by the operating means immediately after the cloth is pressed, the cloth can be simultaneously pinched over the entire front and rear length. Therefore, the feeding operation is simultaneously performed over the entire length of the cloth, so that the cloth is sent out without being inclined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cloth folding apparatus according to the first aspect, a belt having a predetermined length is wound around each of the reference side sandwiching roll and the pressing side sandwiching roll. The foldable cloth is guided between the belt on the side sandwiching roll side and the belt on the pressing side sandwiching roll side.

In the case of the second aspect, since the cloth folded between the two sandwiching rolls is sent out while being sandwiched between the left and right sides by the belt, the sending posture of the cloth is stabilized.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIGS. 1 to 6 show a cloth folding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 shows a cloth folding apparatus according to the second embodiment. The cloth folding apparatus according to each of the embodiments is suitable for folding a large area cloth such as a sheet. Further, for example, FIG. 9B
It is suitable when folded a fourfold cloth Y ₁ shown in the width direction. FIG. 9 (A) shows a cloth such as a sheet.
As shown in the figure, a folded stitch portion Yc is formed at the outer peripheral edge, and the thickness of the outer peripheral edge is increased. or,
In the state where the cloth is folded in four in the length direction as shown in FIG. 9B, two folded stitches Yc overlap with the rear edge Yb in the transport direction, and the rear edge Yb of the rear edge Yb is overlapped. The thickness is greater than the front edge Ya.

The cloth folding apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a pair of sandwiching rolls 1 oriented parallel to the conveying direction of a conveyor 2 and a pair of sandwiching rolls of the sandwiching apparatus 1. the folding position cloth Y ₁ to (code M portion of Fig. 3)
And a push-in device 4 for pushing-in.

The pair of nip rolls include a reference nip roll 11 fixed at a fixed position, and a pressing nip roll 21 that can be displaced in a direction close to or away from the reference nip roll 11.
It is composed of

As the reference side sandwiching roll 11, one roll is used. In addition, this reference side sandwiching roll 11
Has a length of about 700 to 1000 mm.

The scissors pressing-side roll 21, in this first embodiment, the roll 2 sandwiched front divided sandwich the front side of the cloth Y ₁
It is divided into a side split scissors roll 23 after sandwiching the 2 and the rear side of the cloth Y _1.

Below the reference side sandwiching roll 11 and the pressing side sandwiching roll 21, drive side rolls 14 and 24 are disposed, respectively. Each of the drive rolls 14, 24 is fixed at a fixed position. A plurality of narrow belt-shaped belts 15 are wound between one driving-side roll 14 and the reference-side sandwiching roll 11, and a narrow width is formed between the other driving-side roll 24 and each of the divided sandwiching rolls 22, 23. A plurality of belt-like belts 25 and 26 are wound one by one.

The front split pinch roll 22 and the drive roll 2
4 are connected by two front and rear arms 27,27. Also, the rear split pinch roll 23 and the drive roll 24
Are also connected by two front and rear arms 28, 28. Air cylinders 51, 51, 52, and 52 are connected to the arms 27, 27, 28, and 28, respectively, and by expanding and contracting the air cylinders 51 and 52, the divided sandwich rolls 22 and 23 are referenced. It can be displaced in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the side sandwiching roll 11. or,
Each of the air cylinders 51 and 52 has its air pressure set such that an equal and appropriate urging force is generated when it is extended. Each of the air cylinders 51 and 52 corresponds to an operation means in claims 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving rolls 14 and 24 are driven by a driving device 3 including a motor 31, each sprocket 32, and a chain 33. And
Reference side nip roll 11 and each divided nip rolls 22 and 23
Is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow by each of the belts 15, 25, 26.

The pushing device 4 has a structure in which a plate-like pushing piece 42 is moved up and down by air cylinders 41, 41. The pushing piece 42 is positioned immediately above each of the sandwiching rolls 11 and 21 and parallel to the sandwiching rolls. When the air cylinders 41 and 41 are extended, the pushing pieces 42 are pushed in as indicated by reference numeral 42 'in FIG. It can be moved down to the position.

A detector (photoelectric tube) 7 for detecting when cloths (four-fold cloths) Y ₁ are conveyed to a predetermined position on the sandwiching device 1 is provided on the conveyor 2. I have. When the detector 7 detects the cloth Y _1, the air cylinder 4 of the pressing device 4 by the detection signal
1, 41 are extended.

The cloth folding apparatus according to the first embodiment operates as follows. In other words, this is cloth folding device portion, textiles of fourfold state in the conveying direction by the conveyor 2 (4 folded cloth) Y ₁ is supplied thereto. Incidentally, the 4-fold cloth Y _1, two of the folded suture portion Yc are located in the polymerised state in a side edge Yb after the transport direction, the rear-side edge Yb becomes thicker than the front edge Ya I have.

Until the four-folded cloth Y ₁ is conveyed to a predetermined position on the sandwiching device 1, the air cylinders 51 and 52 serving as operating means of the front split sandwich roll 22 and the rear split sandwich roll 23 are operated. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the divided pinch rolls 22 and 23 is waiting at a retracted position (a position separated from the reference side pinch roll 11). Then, quarto the cloth Y ₁ is conveyed to a predetermined position on the pinching device 101 by the carrying conveyor 2, detected by the detector 7 it, the air cylinder 41 of the pressing device 4 in a signal from the detector 7 , 41 is extended, pushing piece 42 'moves downward as indicated by, pressing write piece 42' code 42 in quarto cloth Y ₁ in the width direction intermediate portion (folding position M) sandwiched both rolls 11, Press down between 21. At this time, since the divided sandwich rolls 22 and 23 are separated from the reference-side sandwich roll 11, the feeding action by the sandwich rolls 11 and 21 does not occur. Immediately after the cloth is pushed in, the air cylinders 51 and 52 extend and simultaneously displace the divided sandwich rolls 22 and 23 toward the reference sandwich roll 11 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the roll 2 front edge Ya side of the cloth Y ₁ is sandwiched front divided
2 (belt 25) and the reference side sandwiching roll 11 (belt 1
5) During, also roll 11 (belt 15 sandwiched between the reference-side side edge Yb side is the rear split scissors rolls 23 (belt 26) after the cloth Y _1), respectively it is held simultaneously between. At this time,
Interval T between the front divided scissors roll 22 and the reference side pinch roll 11 to clamp the front edge Ya side of the cloth Y ₁ (small thickness side)
₁ is small, and side edge Yb side after cloths Y ₁ (large thickness side)
Although interval T ₂ of the the side division sandwiched roll 23 and the reference side scissors roll 11 is increased after clamping the, the front divided scissors roll 22 and the rear split scissors rolls 23, each cloth Y ₁ equivalent of the biasing force Is pressing.

As described above, the two split sandwich rolls 22 and 23
In but simultaneously and each edge Ya before and after each equivalent biasing force cloth Y _1, when pressed against the roll 11 side sandwiching reference side of Yb side, simultaneously and constant velocity cloth such Y ₁ is over the full length back and forth The cloth is fed and moves in a normal posture (in the same direction as the feeding direction by both pinching rolls) as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 (reference Y ₂ ). At this time, since the folded cloth Y ₂ sent between the sandwiching rolls 11 and 21 is guided by the left and right belts (15 and 25, 15 and 26), the cloth Y ₂ is sent out. The posture becomes stable.

The air cylinder 41 of the pushing device 4 is contracted immediately after the air cylinders 51, 52 of the respective sandwiching rolls 22, 23 are extended, and the pushing piece 42 is kept at the original upward movement position. On the other hand, the air cylinders 51 and 52 of each of the divided sandwich rolls 22 and 23 have the folded cloth Y ₂ folded in half.
Are reduced when they pass between the left and right belts (15 and 25, 15 and 26), and the divided sandwich rolls 22 and 2 are respectively reduced.
3 is parked in the original retracted position. The above operation is repeated each time the detector 7 detects the cloth Y ₁ sequentially conveyed by the conveyor 2, and continuously folds the cloth Y ₂ in the next step (next folding step). Side.

In the cloth folding apparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one roll is used as the pressing-side sandwiching roll 21, and each end of the pressing-side sandwiching roll 21 and the driving-side roll 24 are used. To the ends of the arms 27, 27, respectively.
Are connected by Then, by pushing and pulling the arms 27, 27 with the air cylinders 51, 51, respectively, the pressing side sandwiching roll 21 can be displaced between the separated state and the close state with respect to the reference side sandwiching roll 11. I have.

The cloth folding apparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has no function due to the division of the pressing-side nip roll 21 in the first embodiment, but before the cloth pressing by the pressing device 4. Each air cylinder 51,
51 is reduced and the pressing-side nip roll 21 is separated from the reference-side nip roll 11, and immediately after the cloths are pushed in, each of the air cylinders 51 and 51 is extended to hold the pressing-side nip roll 21 in the reference-side nip. so that the (sandwiching the pushing portions of both sandwiched by rolls 11 and 21 quarto cloth Y ₁₎ is close to the roll 11. Therefore, even if the thickness of the front and rear fabrics, Y ₁ is different, it is possible to start the action infeed simultaneously over the front and back the entire length of the fabric such Y _1.

In the other embodiment of the present invention, the following modifications can be made as corresponding to the first aspect. First, the sandwiching device 1 may be a roll (11, 22, 23) without a belt. In addition, the air cylinder 5
A spring can be used in place of the first and the second 52. In this case, the pressing side sandwiching roll 21 is
In place of the air cylinders 51 and 52, appropriate means such as a cam type may be adopted as the operation means for displacing the air cylinders in the approaching / separating direction.

[0038]

The cloth folding apparatus according to the present invention has the following effects.

According to the cloth folding apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention , the pressing side sandwiching roll 21 is operated by the operation means 51 and 52 to the reference side sandwiching roll 11.
The pressing means 21 and 52 are used to separate the pressing-side nip roll 21 from the reference-side nip roll 11 by the operating means 51 and 52 before the pressing operation of the cloth. Immediately after the pressing operation, the pressing-side sandwiching roll 21 is displaced toward the reference-side sandwiching roll 11.

Therefore, in the cloth folding apparatus of the _{first aspect} , even if the thickness of the cloth Y1 is different before and after, the feeding operation can be started simultaneously over the entire length of the cloth Y1. Thus, there is an effect that the sending accuracy of the cloth can be improved (the posture of the cloth does not tilt with respect to the sending direction).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cloth folding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the reference side nip roll 11 and the pressing side nip roll 2 are provided.
A belt 15, 25, 26 having a predetermined length is wound around each of the belts 1, and two-folded cloth is sandwiched between the belt 15 on the reference side sandwiching roll 11 and the belts 25, 26 on the pressing side sandwiching roll 21. I am trying to attach it.

Therefore, in the cloth folding apparatus according to the second aspect, the cloth folded between the sandwiching rolls 11 and 21 is sent out while being sandwiched between the left and right sides by the belts (15, 25 and 26). Therefore, there is an effect that the sending posture of the cloth is stabilized, and the folding accuracy in the next folding step can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cloth folding device according to a first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the cloth folding apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a state change diagram of FIG.

6 is a view corresponding to the view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 in the cloth folding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to the view along arrow VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a drawing of a folding process of cloth.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional cloth folding apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows XI-XI in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to an arrow XII-XII in FIG. 11;

13 is an explanatory diagram of the cloth folded by the cloth folding apparatus of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a clamping device, 2 is a conveyor, 4 is a pushing device, 11
Is a reference side sandwiching roll, 15 is a belt, 21 is a pressing side sandwiching roll, 22 is a front split sandwiching roll, 23 is a rear split sandwiching roll, 25 and 26 are belts, 41 is an air cylinder,
42 push piece, 51 and 52 an air cylinder serving as operating means, Y ₁ is a cloth.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cloth such as sheets (Y ₁₎ said fabric such while conveying the (Y ₁₎ pressing device folding position (4) by pinching device (1) the fabric such by pushing do the side (Y ₁ ) A cloth folding apparatus which folds the above-mentioned 2) into two, wherein the clamping apparatus (1) is displaced in a direction close to and away from the reference side clamping roll (11) and the reference side clamping roll (11). A pressing-side nip roll (21) to be obtained, wherein the pressing-side nip roll (21) can be displaced in a direction close to or away from the reference-side nip roll (11) by operating means (51, 52); Before the pressing operation of the cloth (Y ₁ ) by the operating means (51, 52), the pressing side nip roll (21) is separated from the reference side nip roll (11), and the cloth (Y ₁ )
Immediately after the pushing operation, the pressing-side sandwiching roll (21) is displaced toward the reference-side sandwiching roll (11). 2. The reference side sandwiching roll (11) and the pressing side sandwiching roll (21) according to claim 1.
And a belt (15, 25, 26) of a predetermined length is wound around each of the belts (15) on the reference side sandwiching roll (11) side.
And the belt (25, 26) on the pressing side sandwiching roll (21) side
Cloth (Y ₂ ) in a folded state is sandwiched between the folded cloths (Y ₂ ).