US1598177A - Machine for folding fabric - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1926.

J. H. THOMPSON ET AL MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC 5 Sheets -Sheet 1 Filed August 6. 1924 .ll I I II WI I lHl 1 m. mm

Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,177

J. H. THOMPSON ET AL I MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC I Filed August 6. 1924 5 Sheets-Shed 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. H. THOMPSON ET AL MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC Filed August 5. 1924 Aug. 31

Livia l- FI OU 8* MM QM Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,177

J. H. THOMPSON ET AL MA HINE FOR FOLDING manic Fiiea August 6. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,177

J. H. THOMPSON ET AL MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC Filed August 6. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 D. 2 8 Q; l fix Ki 1 i 3 1 x i N IN V TOR.

Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

f at S nseam Parser JOSEPH H. THOMPSGN AND JOHN, G. GGGAL, OF Pr'iS AlC, AND JAMES .I". ABER, OF CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY; SAID ABET; ASSXGNOTEL TO SAID 'lI-IOIVIPSON.

MACHINE FOR FQ LDING FABRIC.

This invention relates to an improved ma chine for folding sheets of fabric and in particular regular pie-determined sized sheets and the machine that is illustrated l and described is of the most commonlyused type for folding handkerchiefs, napkins and the like in mills where they are made or in the laundries where large quantities of fabric sheets are folded such as in hospitals 1 and hotels.

lVhile such articles as handkerchiefs, napkins and the like can be made in various 7 or from the last manufacturing step in a.

factory and are laid on the table of the ma chine. The machine picks up the handkerchief, folds it, and if desired it can be pressed or ironed so that it will remain foldedandflat, and the invention contemplates the usual use of such flattening or ironing means as part of the folding machine. The absence of the ir oner however, does not affect the operation of the folding mechanism.

The commercial operation of the machine also contemplates the use of a stacking device depositing the folded articles on a pile and in alignment so that they are assembled ready for being tied in bundles or for direct use.

The invention also consists of various details of construction that are more fully set forth hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims. I

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying our invention. Figure 2 is a side view thereof and Figure 3 is a front view of the machine. Figure 1 is a section on line l4 in Figure 3 andFigure 5 is-a section of theframe and 56 one of the folding guides, this section being taken on line 5 5 in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a detail section taken on line 6-6 in Figure 1 and Figures 7 and Bare detail sections showing the folding operation and beiiig taken on line 7-? in Figure 1, show- Application filed August 6, 1&24.

Serial no. 730,395.

rights or braces which are not described in.

detail but indicated in general by the reference numeral 10 and they support a table 11 on which table is laid the sheet to be folded, either the handkerchief or napkin or the like and to enable the operator to quickly place the articles in position, we ar-- range guides which consists of a guide 12 adjustable on the side plates 13 by any suitable means such as the pegs 14 fitting in holes 15 and the guide 12 is provided with a transverse guide 16 similarly adjustable so that theedges of the guide 16 and the guide 12 define a slightly raised and provide elements in which one corner of the article is seatedland it is then-in position to be folded. The guides are shown in Figure 1 in position to receive a. relatively smallsized article and the guides are, of course, properly treated to receive a larger size.

When the article is placed onthe table it is also placed over one of the members of the folding mechanism which, when the article is placed on the table, is depressed to be-approximately at the level of the table. This member of the folding mechanism comprises a standard or post 17 which has a vertical movement to a limited extent, the post 17 having transversely projecting bars 18 and 19 which are spaced apart and are substantially parallel and have no support at the other end so that the folder finger can pass between them. This construction will be evident from Figure 5,

.One mechanism for raising and lowering the folder guide by means of its post 17 is shown in Figure 5 and comprises a lever 20 pivoted at 21 and raised and lowered by a cam 22 on the shaft 23. The shaft 23 suitably driven and we show it as being operated by the gears 24: from a shaft 25 which is driven by means of the worm gear 26 in the worm 27 on the motor 28.

The folding mechanism, in addition to the folder guide just described, consists of a folder finger 29 which is propelled by suitable means but we illustrate a crank on the shaft 25, the crank being connected by a link 31 with the rocker arm 32 pivoted 33 to the frame of the machine and having a sliding: connection at its free end with the slide piece 34 sliding on a suitable tracker other guiding means 35 and having secured thereto the folder finger 29. i The folder finger 29 rests atits free, end on a plate 36, the end of the folder finger 29 just resting on the plate for support and short end enables ittoclearthe post 17 aswill be evident from Figure 1. i i

The. parts are so synchronized that the finger 29 is well in advance of the folder guide. with itsb arsltland 19 when an article is laid on the table ready t'o befolded and the folder. guide remains down the folder fingen oo nesfback', as" will be evident rom Figure 7 -When, however, the folder finger 29 has passed to the rear of the folder guideandis ready for its forward movement as shown at a in dotted out; line in Figure 7, the mechanism in this case, the cam 22, raises the folder guide so that as the folder finger comes forward itcarriesv the handkerchief or other article with it and gauging'it at the centre and carrying it between the bars 18 and 19 0f the folder guide as shown in Figure 8.

To take out any wrinkles that might occurin the cloth and to keep it taut while it is being folded, we place a tension plate 37 so that it projects forwardly, the bar 18 beingslightly pivoted thereon, this plate extending the full width ofthe bar appron i mately, and preventing the cloth from falling down and resting in the path of the forward movement ofthe folder finger in advance of the folder finger. and thejcloth carried by it r n This tension plate is preferably of smooth metal and offers no obstruction to the packing of the cloth sufficient to make the oper ation of the machinedifficult and'is usually of a length sothat when the folderffinger has ged t an s h ly ifted t to Pas under it, the edge of the cloth as shown at b in Figure 8,has passed upon the tension plate and, is thus out of the pathof the folder finger. e I 1 A second tension. plat-e38 is piVOiQQl at to the table and rests on thebiar 19 'an d provides a smooth flat surfaee over whichthe cloth in rear of the foldei finger when the folding begins is kept taut an'd is pressed smooth on its passage'through the folder guide and is prevented from falling down into the trough or hole that is made the table for the reception of the folder mechanism when itis .C epressed.

In the operation of this folder, as the finger 29 sweeps forward carrying the folded article from the guide operator of the m i ndsr ad Put anther ar is e,

install the rollers 59 and 60 of which may be heated, which rollers are,

in position on the table which is done as soonas the finger 29, is out of; the way. The guide on the post 17 has, in the meantime, d'e'scended'and the new article is laid over it. The finger then slides back and operates as before to carry andfold the article in the opening in the folder guide.

In the usual'machine it is necessary to fold twice, once as above described and then across at right angles to the first fold. For aceo npl-i hingw this weshQW a second folder which is, illustrated assub stantially a duplie cate of; the first ones The second folder has the post 4Q W ih is a duplicate of the post 17, the post 40 being raised, by the cat1141- operating on the lever 42 Which is pivoted at 4,3, andhas its end resting under the post 40. The folded piece is now narrower so that the bars 44ai1d 45 are shorter than the bars 18'and 19. The finger 46 operates the same as the finger 29 being carried by the slide 47fon the track 48 and swung by the later ,9,. he link .0 and the rank 1, a on theshaft 23. The tension plates 52 and 3 (ite ate a? Same a h tnsion P at s 37 and 38.

In the ease of this second folder the finger 46 when itleaves th space between the bars 44 and 45 it passes over second table 54 (see Figure 6). The table 54 is elevated and supported at its front edge 55 so that there is a clear. space underneath. This space is necessary beeause the first fold of One article isbeing made when the second foldrof the preceding article is being made, that is, aftenthe folded article carried by the fin er 46 has been carriedacro ss the top o th tab e 5.4 d t fin r is return ing to its starting position the finger 29 is lidin t e sex; 54 and" over the guide on the post 40, which in the meantime hasdescended. These movernentsvof'the respective fingers and guides are performed in their proper sequence by the synchronized movements of the cams 22 and 41 and the cams 30, and 51. i

When the folded article is carried forward the finger 29 it is held against re treating by. the spring clamp 55 held downv by a s "ring andhinged at 56 to the table 11. Te slide'34 (see Figure 10), has a spring lip 57 which raises the finger 58 of article under the table the clampr55 and allows, the front edge of the finger 29. to put the folded edge under the clamp 55%. The'finger 5S and the lip 57 are of thinspring I netal'and' the lip 57 passes under past the finger 58 and on the return strokdas the finger retreats, the lip rides over the finger 58 and holds, the clampi55 down. while the folder finger 29 slides out from the folded edge of the article.

In case the folded article is to be pressed one or both.

n: we;

disposed so that the finger 46 on the end of its folding stroke delivers the folded goods far enough forward to let the rollers get a bite on the folded edge and they then draw it through. The screw 60 provides for pressure adjustment. The rollers are shown as driven by the belt 61, connecting pulleys 62 and 63 which latter is driven by the shaft 64 which in turn has the pulley 65, the belt 66, and the pulley 67 on the shaft 23 to drive it.

To receive the folded articles in piles or stacks, I provide a tablet 68 which receives each article in turn from the swinging plate 69 which has an adjustable stop 70 to receive the folded article which slides from the rollers 59 and 60 over the shield 61 onto the swinging plate (39. The plate is pivoted as at 72 and is reciprocated by means of the pinion 78 and the segmental rack 74 which rack is pivoted on a shaft 75 and is rocked by a rocker arm 76 which is provided on its end with a roller 77 in contact with the cam 78 on the shaft 23.

The throw of the segmental gear can be regulated by the screw connection 79. This cam 7'8 operates the rocker arm'76 in one direction the segmental rack being operated in the other direction by the spring 80. To provide against jamming in case the spring 80 becomes inoperative for any reason, the emergency roller 81 adjacent the cam 78, is engaged by this cam to push the rocker arm back but a smoother operation is performed by the spring 80 and the roller 81 is only operative if the mechanism should stick.

The tablet G8 descends as the pile of folded articles increases in height on its top face by any suitable means for permitting it to descend, the form shown comprising a rack 82 held against downward movement by the pinion 83 which is operated by the balance lever or pawl 84 operated by the rod 85 from the small arm 86 and the shaft 75 of the segmental gear.

It will thus be seen that as each article is deposited on the tablet 68 by a swinging of the plate 69, the balance pawl 84 permits the pinion to rotate one tooth which permits an increase in descent by gravity of the rack 82 and the tablet 68.

To permit a rapid re-setting of the tablet, we provide the ratchet connection 87 shown in Figure 3. This ratchet holds the rack and pinion supporting the tablet from descending except by a gradual step-by-step movement but permits it to be raised to the position from which it starts its descent.

1. A fabric folding machine comprising a vertically movable folder guide, a horizontally movable folder finger, and synchronized means for raising the guide and advancing the finger through the guide to fold apiece of fabric deposited on the guide.

2. A fabric folding machine comprising a Vertically movable guide, a horizontally movable folder finger, tension plates on the guide, and means for raising the guide and advancing the finger through the guide to fold a piece of fabric deposited on the guide. 7

3. A fabric folding machine comprising a guide with spaced bars and which is mov able to slightly raise a piece of fabric deposited thereon, and a finger to pass through the guide and fold and carry the said fabric when the guide is raised.

4:. A fabric folding machine comprising a folder guide with an opening therein, a folder finger to pass laterally through the guide, and means for placing the guide and finger out of alignment when the finger retreats and to place the finger in line with the opening in the guide when the finger advances.

5. A fabric folding machine comprising a vertically .inovable guide including spaced bars and tension plates adjacent thereto, a folder finger to pass between the bars to carry a sheet of fabric and fold it by passing it between the bars and plates means for moving the guide to placeit in ane out of the path of the finger, and means for reciprocating the finger.

6. A fabric folding machine comprising a table to hold a piece of fabric, a folder guide to rest close to the table and also to be elevated to raise a part of the fabric where the fold is to be, a folder finger to pass through the guide to carry the fabric so raised and fold it on its passage through the guide, means for reciprocating the guide and means for reciprocating the finger.

7. A fabric folding machine comprising a table to holda piece of fabric, a folder guide to rest close to the table and also to be elevated to raise a part of the fabric where the fold is to be, a folder finger to pass through the guide to carry the fabric so raised and fold it on its passage through the guide, means for reciprocating the guide and means for reciprocating the finger, a second folder to receive the folded piece, said second folder including a guide, and a finger operating transversely to the direction of motion of the finger of the first folder, and means for operating the second folder.

8. A fabric foldingmachine comprising a table to hold a piece of fabric, a folder guide to rest close to the table and also to be elevated to raise a part of the fabric where the fold is to be, a folder finger to pass through the guide to carry the fabric so raised and fold it on its passage through the guide, means for reciprocating the guide and means for reciprocating the finger, a second folder to receive the folded piece, said second folder including a guide, a finger operating transversely to the direction of motion of thelinger of the first folder, means for operating the second. folder, a pair of rollers to receive and press the folded fabric, the second finger being propelled until its folded fabric is the said rollers.

9. A fabric folding machinecomprising a table on which a sheet of fabric is supported, :1 folder guide on the tableand hav! vances so that the finger carries the fabric,

between the elements on' the guide to fold it, second table, a second folding means as the first but operating at right angles thereto and including a folder guide and a folder finger, the parts being disposed'so that the first finger passes beneath the second table and the second linger passes above it.

11. In a machine for folding fabric, a table,,a foider guide Vertically movable on the table, the guide including a post apair of parallel bars extending from thepost, a1

grasped by tension; plate extending forwardly from one bar and a second tension plate secured to the table and extending forwardly between the bars, and a folder finger slidable between the bars and between the plates to carry a sheet of fabric between the bars and platesjand thus, keep it taut and fold it.

12,15 fabr c folding machine comprising folder guide on which apiece of fabric is adapted to be laid, the folder guide elevating sald piece intermediate its ends and a horizontally movable fingeradapted to pass through the guide and to carry and fold the piece by said passage, and means for reciprocating the finger.

'3. A fabric foldin machine c0n1pris-' ing a folder guide disposed so that a piece of fabric can be laid substantially flatthereon, a,hor-izontally movable finger disposed so as to. pass through the guide and carry and fold the fabric by the said passage and means for reciprocating the finger;

141A fal ic folding machine comprising a guide with a space therein, the guide being adapted to allowa pieceof fabric to be laid thereon, a finger disposed so as to move above the fabric and then through the guide to carr" and fold the fabric b 1 the said passage, and means for reciprocating the finger.

in testimony tl at weclaun the foregoing, we have hereto; set ourhands, this it-h day of -Xugust, 1-924.

JosnPnn. TI-IoMPson,

JoHN e. GOGAL. nuns P. Anne;

Images