JP2010116237A - Folding device of thick cloth or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fold thick cloths or the like which are easily affected by the weight and the difference in material, such as towel and mattress, constantly in a substantially correct manner. <P>SOLUTION: In order to fold thick cloth or the like hanging on the discharge side of a conveyor into a folding part between a returning side of an end of the conveyor and a lower conveyor by the operation of a folding member, the folding member 25 capable of pivotably supporting a fore end in a hanging manner above the folding part 21 so that the fore end can enter the folding part 21 between the returning side of the end of the conveyor and the end of the lower conveyor, formed in a curved shape bypassing the end of the conveyor, and having an engagement part 28 which locates the fore end below the end of the conveyor when starting the folding, and is engaged with the thick cloth or the like when being retracted therefrom in a lifting manner, and a stopping unit 30 which is brought into contact with the folding member 25 at the retraction to regulate the retracting position are arranged at the predetermined position outside the end of the conveyor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention operates a folding member with respect to thick fabric hanging down on the discharge side of a transport conveyor for transporting thick fabric, and a folding portion between the return side of the end of the transport conveyor and the lower conveyor The present invention relates to a folding device having a structure for folding thick fabrics.

  In the field of linen supply, thick fabrics such as sheets, face towels, bath towels, and bath mats are handled for thin fabrics such as sheets. It is almost impossible. It is not easy to fold one thick cloth. For example, it is not easy to fold a sheet of cloth twice and fold it twice. This is because the thick cloth is likely to move during the folding, or the folded portion is easily returned to cause a loss of shape.

  For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-182459, for example, a quarter length is calculated from the total length of the towel, and the length hanging from the end of the upper conveyor is 4 so far. Pull the quarter part outward using the folding plate, and when the length of 2/4 hangs down, hit the folding plate toward the position of the length of 3/4, However, there is a problem with this method. A configuration in which the center of rotation of the folding plate is arranged below the towel hanging down from the end of the upper conveyor so that the quarter length of the towel is pulled out one end and then sent between the ends of the upper and lower conveyors. This is because the folding plate that pulls out the towel to the outside draws the towel to the rear part of the towel on the conveyor side, and the cloth is likely to be displaced. If the displacement is constant, it can be adjusted if it is constant.However, in the above configuration, the amount of displacement due to the weight of thick fabric and the material is not constant. There is a problem that variations are likely to occur due to differences. As a result, the folding positions are not uniform, and the finished product is not uniform.

JP 2004-182459 A

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned points, and the problem is that folding of thick fabrics that are easily affected by differences in weight and materials, such as towels and mats, is always performed with almost accurate folding. It is an object to provide a thick cloth folding device that makes it possible.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention operates a folding member on thick cloth hanging down on the discharge side of a conveyor for conveying thick cloth, and a return side of the end of the conveyor About the folding device with a configuration that folds thick cloth into the folding part between the lower conveyor and the leading edge so that it can enter the folding part between the return side of the end of the conveyor and the end of the lower conveyor The base end is pivotally supported above the folding part and formed in a curved shape that bypasses the end of the conveyor, and the front end is located below the end of the conveyor at the start of folding. A folding member having an engaging portion that tends to be lifted by engaging with a thick cloth when retracted from the folding start position, and a start position where the leading end of the folding member is below the end of the conveyor. In order to contact the folding member and define the retracted position when the folding member is retracted from, a means is provided to comprise a stop portion arranged at a predetermined position outside the end of the conveyor. .

  The folding device of the present invention has a transport conveyor for transporting thick cloth, and a lower conveyor that is positioned below the end of the discharge side and sandwiches the thick cloth by cooperation with the return side of the transport conveyor. The folding member is operated on the thick cloth hanging from the discharge side of the conveyor, and the thick cloth is folded into the folding section between the return side of the end of the conveyor and the lower conveyor. It is assumed that

  In the apparatus of the present invention, the base end portion is suspended above the folding portion so that the front end portion can enter the folding portion between the return side of the end portion of the conveyor and the end portion of the lower conveyor. Is formed in a curved shape that bypasses the end of the conveyor, and at the start of folding, the leading end is positioned below the end of the conveyor, and when retreating from the folding start position, The structure provided with the folding member provided with the engaging part which engages and tends to lift is required.

  Thick cloth when retracting from the folding start position, with the folding member pivotally supported at the base end above the folding part and formed in a curved shape that bypasses the end of the conveyor And can be lifted. Further, the folding member has a configuration in which the front end portion is directed toward the folding portion between the return side of the end portion of the transport conveyor and the end portion of the lower conveyor. Moreover, it does not prevent disposing an air injection nozzle, which will be described later, at the optimum position at the end of the conveyor.

  The air injection nozzle is positioned higher on the outer side of the discharge-side end portion of the transport conveyor, and injects air onto the thick cloth hanging from the discharge side of the transport conveyor. Air injection is performed to correct distortion and deformation of thick fabrics that hang down at the end of the conveyor, but in the present invention having a configuration in which a folding member is pivotally supported above the folding portion, folding is performed. Since the thick fabric tends to lift when the member is retracted, the downward force generated by the air injection is offset. When the folding member retracts from the start position where the leading end of the folding member is below the end of the conveyor, the folding member contacts the folding member and defines a retracted position at a predetermined position outside the end of the conveyor. Arranged stops are provided.

  In the apparatus of the present invention having such a configuration, the total length of the thick fabric to be transported is calculated based on the detection signal of the sensor arranged in the vicinity of the transport conveyor, and a quarter of the total length is found. When coming to the folding part, the folding member is moved backward to move the quarter of the full length outward as a tendency to lift, and when the quarter of the full length comes to the folding part By folding the folding member and weaving the three-quarters of the total length together with the quarters in the folding part, the thick fabric can be folded.

  Downstream of the folding mechanism section, there is a pair of dropping plates arranged in the conveying direction of the lower conveyor, and the pair of dropping plates are folded cloths conveyed from the upstream lower conveyor with their respective tips contacting each other. And a stacking portion having an opening and closing member that moves from the closed state to the left and right to open the folded cloth that has been supported by opening the tip. The structure that opens and closes the drop plate to the left and right thereby requires less space than the door-type opening and closing structure, and thus contributes to securing an extra stacking height.

  In the closed state of the opening / closing mechanism, a pressurizing member that presses the folded cloth conveyed to the dropping plate and stopped is disposed on the upper portion of the dropping plate. The pressurizing member applies pressure to the folded cloths to harden the folded state, and then drops the cloth to prevent it from collapsing. For example, face towels that do not require special pressurization can pass through the opening / closing mechanism and be conveyed to the end, and the second opening / closing mechanism can be set at that position.

  The present invention is configured and operates as described above, and engages with a thick cloth when retreating from the folding start position and tends to lift. Thus, the weight and material such as towels and mats are used. For thick fabrics that are easily affected by the difference in thickness, the thick fabric folding device can be folded almost accurately with the folding position kept constant without causing the thick fabrics to move during folding. It becomes possible to provide. Moreover, according to this invention, there exists an effect that it can pile up without destroying the shape of the thick cloth folded correctly as mentioned above.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a thick cloth folding apparatus 10 according to the present invention, and this folding apparatus 10 has an overall configuration in which a transport conveyor 12 is arranged above an airframe 11. The conveyor 12 includes front and rear rotating shafts 13 and 14, rollers 15 a to 15 d installed between them, and a belt 16 that goes around a path defined by them. The conveyor 12 conveys thick cloth from the input side 17 at the left end shown in FIG. 1 to the discharge side 18 at the right end, and at least one of the rotary shafts 13 and 14 is It is driven.

  A roller is installed as a weight 19 for holding the thick cloth in the feeding portion 17 of the conveyor 12, and there is a portion raised by rollers 15a, 15b and a belt guide 15e on the conveying surface, and below that. , Has a structure in which stacked portions 35 to be described later are arranged. Further, the reverse side portion of the end of the discharge side 18 of the transport conveyor 12 between the rotary shaft 14 and the roller 15c is inclined upward at the end of the discharge side, and is between the end of the lower conveyor 20. (See FIG. 2). Further, sensors 22 and 23 are arranged on the input side 17 and the discharge side 18 of the conveyor 12, and the total length of the thick fabric in the conveying direction is measured by calculation in the control panel 24 provided in the base 11. is there.

  The folding device 10 according to the present invention operates the folding member 25 on the thick fabrics that hang down on the discharge side 18 of the conveyer 12, the return side of the discharge end of the conveyer 12, the lower conveyor 20, and the like. A thick cloth is folded into the folding part 21 between the two. The folding member 25 has a front end portion 26 sized to press the thick fabric to be conveyed over the entire width, and the front end portion 26 is located between the return side of the end of the transport conveyor 12 and the end of the lower conveyor 20. In order to be able to enter the folding part 21, it is pivotally supported at the base end part 27 at a higher position than the folding part 21 and is formed in a curved shape that bypasses the end part on the discharge side 18 of the conveyor.

  The folding member 25 has a hanging type configuration in which the shaft fulcrum of the base end portion 27 is set at a position above the discharge side end portion of the conveyor 12 so that the center of rotation is positioned above the folding portion 21. The distal end portion 26 is arranged to face the folding portion 21 opened rearward. Because of this positional relationship, when the folding member 25 rotates about the shaft fulcrum, the tip end portion 26 moves without generating a downward component force. Although it is necessary to take the lowest position when the front end portion 26 faces the folding portion 21, it may be in a suspended natural state or set by a driving operation.

  As described above, the folding member 25 has a leading end 26 positioned below the end of the conveyor 12 at the start of folding. Further, when the folding member 25 is retracted from the folding starting position, the folding member 25 tends to be lifted by a thick cloth. An engaging portion 28 is provided. The engaging portion 28 is disposed at a position slightly retracted from the distal end portion 26 of the folding member 25, and at the folding start position, it is located on the inner side (closer to the feeding portion) than the position where the thick fabric to be conveyed hangs down. ) And has a dimension that allows the thick fabrics to be retracted over the entire width.

  When the front end portion 26 of the folding member 25 is located at the lower folding start position of the end portion of the conveyor 12, and when the folding member 25 is retracted from the position, the folding member 25 is contacted to define the retracted position. In addition, the stop portion 30 is disposed at a predetermined position outside the end portion of the conveyor 12. The illustrated stop portion 30 is installed on an attachment member 29 provided in the airframe 11. When the thick fabric W is engaged with the engaging portion 28, the thick fabric W contacts the stop portion 30. A member having elasticity such as a sponge or a brush is used so as to cope with a change in the thickness of the cloth.

  It is equipped with an air injection nozzle 31 that is located on the upper side outside the discharge-side end of the conveyor 12 and that injects air onto the thick fabric W hanging from the discharge side of the conveyor 12 (see FIG. 3). The air injection nozzle 31 can inject air from the upper side to the lower side with respect to the thick fabric in the natural sagging state shown in FIG. 3B, but whether or not to inject can be selected in the control panel 24. To do.

  In the thick fabric folding apparatus 10 according to the present invention, a stacking section 35 is installed downstream of the lower conveyor 20. In addition, in order to pressurize the folded cloths at the transition portion to the stacking portion 35, the roller 15c biased by the biasing means 15f such as a spring and the inside of the lower conveyor 20 are attached via a beam member. The pressurizing plate 32 is provided, and the folded cloths are sufficiently pressed and then conveyed to the stacking unit 35 (see FIG. 2). The stacking unit 35 has a pair of drop plates 33 and 34 disposed downstream of the lower conveyor 20, and the pair of drop plates 33 and 34 are in contact with each other with their tips abutted and conveyed from the upstream lower conveyor 20. A closed state for supporting the folded cloth, and an opening / closing mechanism 40 that moves from the closed state to the left and right to open the folded cloth that is supported by the front end being opened.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 7, the opening / closing mechanism 40 includes two pairs of left and right parallel links 36, 37, and 38, each having a tip end pivotally supported on the plates 33 and 34 and a base end portion pivotally supported on the machine body side. It is configured to be translated by 39 and to be separated from each other. Among the two pairs of left and right parallel links, the inner links 38 and 39 are connected by a connecting rod 41 mounted at an equidistant position from the pivot points 38a and 39a, and further via a crank 42 provided on one link 38. It is attached to the piston tip 43a of the piston cylinder mechanism 43 (see FIG. 7A).

  On the upper part of the pair of drop plates 33, 34, in a closed state, the folded cloth conveyed to the drop plates 33, 34 is detected by the sensor 44 and pressurized, and the cloths are paired with the pair of drop plates. A pressing member 45 is disposed on the 33 and 34 to stop. The dropping plates 33 and 34 are operated by an upper pressure mechanism 46 to press the folded cloth W onto the dropping plates 33 and 34.

  For example, face towels that do not require special pressurization pass through the opening / closing mechanism 40 and are transported to the tip, and are processed by the second opening / closing mechanism 47 installed at that position. A discharge conveyor 48 is installed below the opening / closing mechanism 40, and the folded cloth is discharged below the second opening / closing mechanism 47 in a direction different from the discharging mechanism 48 by 90 degrees. A second discharge conveyor 49 is provided.

  Next, the operation of the thick fabric folding apparatus 10 according to the present invention configured as described above will be described. When the thick fabric is loaded on the conveyor 12 (FIG. 4) and reaches the sensor on the loading side 17 and then on the discharging side 18 (FIG. 5), the control panel 24 uses the pulse count value obtained by the sensor detection signal in the conveying direction. The total length is calculated, and at the same time, a length of 1/4 to 3/4 is obtained. In a state where the leading end of the thick fabric has not reached, the folding member 25 is in the folding start position where the leading end portion 26 is positioned below the end portion on the transport conveyor carry-out side (FIG. 3A). When the quarter P1 of the full length comes to the folding part 21, the folding member 25 is moved backward to move the quarter P1 of the full length outward as a tendency to lift (FIG. 3B). At this time, the folding member 25 engages with the thick cloth W with the folding start position as the lowest position, and moves backward so as to lift the thick cloth W along with the retreat. Since it acts in the direction of lifting the cloth, it is prevented from slipping down. Further, the folding member 25 in contact with the stop portion 30 and in the retracted position engages the portion P1 that is a quarter of the full length when the portion P3 that is a quarter of the full length comes to the folding portion 21. The three-quarter spot P3 of the total length is woven into the folding portion 21 together with the quarter spot P1. As a result, the thick fabric is folded in four, and the folded fabric W is carried out to the stacking section 35 (FIG. 3C).

  The folded fabric W folded in this way passes between the roller 15 c and the pressure plate 32, is pressurized again after being folded, and is conveyed to the stacking unit 35. Next, the folded cloth W is conveyed onto the drop plates 33 and 34, and when detected by the sensor 44 (FIG. 8A), the pressurizing member 45 is lowered (FIG. 8B), and is pressed again in the four-fold state. Thereafter, the opening / closing mechanism 40 is operated, and the dropping members 33 and 34 are simultaneously moved to the left and right and slightly downward to open (FIG. 8C), and the folded fabric W in a state of being left behind is discharged by the discharge conveyor 48. Fall on top. The reason why the folded cloths are pressed on the dropping members 33 and 34 is to fix the cloths so that they are not pulled when the dropping plates 33 and 34 are opened. It is also the purpose of separating from the driving force of the conveyor return portion 12a that is being conveyed. The above-described operation is repeated, and the thick fabrics W that are correctly folded into four are stacked on the discharge conveyor 48, and are transported out of the apparatus 10 when the constant is reached. Further, the above-mentioned face towels pass through the opening / closing mechanism 40 and are conveyed to the tip, and are stacked on the second discharge conveyor 49 by the second opening / closing mechanism 47 installed at the same position, and are carried out. Is.

  As described above, the thick cloth folding apparatus according to the present invention can suitably fold thick cloths such as face towels, bath towels, and bath mats into four, and is new in the field of cloth folding. It brings about a great extension. Further, the present invention can be applied to clothing made of thick fabric as well as thick fabrics.

It is side explanatory drawing which shows an example of the folding apparatus of the thick cloth which concerns on this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of an apparatus same as the above. In the operation explanatory view same as the above, A is an explanatory view of a state in which the folding member is waiting for the thick cloth at the folding start position, and B is a part of the total length that is lifted by the retraction of the folding member. FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the cloth is moved in a direction, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of thick cloth addition similarly in the apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which similarly shows the length measurement state in the apparatus of this invention. It is a top view which similarly shows the example of the opening / closing mechanism in this invention apparatus. Corresponding to FIG. 6, A is a side view and B is a side view of the pressure member. It is explanatory drawing which shows process A, B, C, D of the stacking part in the apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thick cloth folding apparatus 11 Airframe 12 Conveyor 13, 14 Rotating shaft 15a-15d Roller 16 Belt 17 Input side 18 Discharge side 19 Weight 20 Lower conveyor 21 Folding part 22, 23 Sensor 24 Control board 25 Folding member 26 Tip part 27 Base end portion 28 Engagement portion 29 Mounting member 30 Stop portion 31 Air injection nozzle 32 Pressure plate 33, 34 Drop plate 35 Stacking portion 36, 37, 38, 39 Two pairs of parallel links 40 Opening / closing mechanism 41 Connecting rod 42 Crank 43 Piston Cylinder mechanism 44 Sensor 45 Pressure member 46 Pressure mechanism 47 Second opening / closing mechanism 48 Discharge conveyor 49 Second discharge conveyor

Claims (3)

Operate the folding member on the thick cloth hanging on the discharge side of the conveyor to convey the thick cloth, and place the thick cloth on the folding section between the return side of the end of the conveyor and the lower conveyor. A folding device having a configuration for folding,
The base end is pivotally supported in a suspended manner above the folding section so that the front end can enter the folding section between the return side of the end of the conveyor and the end of the lower conveyor. It is formed in a curved shape that bypasses the end of the conveyor, and at the start of folding, the leading end is positioned below the end of the conveyor, and when it is retracted from the folding start position, it engages with thick fabrics and tends to lift. A folding member with a joint,
When the front end of the folding member is retracted from the folding start position below the end of the conveyor, the folding member is arranged at a predetermined position outside the end of the conveyor to contact the folding member and define the retracted position. A thick cloth folding apparatus comprising a stop portion. 2. The thick cloth folding device according to claim 1, wherein the air injection nozzle is located above the discharge side end of the transport conveyor and jets air to the thick cloth hanging from the discharge side of the transport conveyor. Closed state with a pair of drop plates arranged downstream of the lower conveyor, the pair of drop plates being in contact with their tips and supporting the folded fabric conveyed from the upstream lower conveyor A pressing member that has an open / close mechanism that allows the folded fabric that has been moved from left to right and opened and supported to be dropped can be dropped, and pressurizes the folded fabric conveyed to the drop plate in the closed state The thick cloth folding device according to claim 1, wherein the thick plate is disposed on an upper part of the dropping plate.

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