US2000062A - Fabric folding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935. F. J. COUCH FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1933 INVENTOR OR EYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Zia .02

May 7, 1935; v F. J. COUCH FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fy'z 4 3 4 M2 77 Z.. $0 I 23' 4 23 i 4 INVEN TOR ORNE yvj 1935. F. J. COUCH FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 7, 1935 1 UN TED STATES. 1 5

LJQF E- My invention relates to a folding machine for laundry articles such as towels,inapkins,,pillow cases, 'handkerchiefs, or the like. 'It also contemplates the provision of a stacking apparatus for stacking the articles afterthey have been foldedm I Itis the object of my invention to providean apparatus wherein articles such asthose above mentioned maybe fed into the apparatus direct from an ironing machineorotherwise and in a flat unfolded state and will then be"primarily folded commensuratelywith their size and type, being also cross folded if desired; and finally beingdelivered to a stackingmechanism'which automatically stacks the folded articles. I A further object of my invention'is-to provide a plurality of stacking'devices for accommodating articles'iofdifferent folded sizeywith means'for selectively causing delivery of r a" folded article from the folding means to the desired stacking apparatus. j

t Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the followingides'cription and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying "drawings wherein similar characters'of reference designate "corresponding parts, and wherein:

- Fig. l is a side view of a folding and'stacking mechanism P constructed in accordance withmy invention; "Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken'on theline 22 o f Fig. 1 and showingthe disposition of the centering means about which the'ar'ticles are wound as t'he' first'step in the folding operation, "and the relative position of the centering means with the article conveying "tapes; Fig. '31s a'view-taken on the line 3'3f0f Fig; 1 and showing particularly the means for removing the articles from" the centering means about which they are woundand delivering them to the second step of the folding operation; Fig.4 is a view, partly insection'. showingmor'e in detail the removal of the goods.

from thecentering means and its delivery'to the cross folding means; Fig. 5 isa view taken on the line 5 5 of l and showing details of the cross folding means; was is a view taken on the line 6-5-6 of Fig.2 and showing the-means for *guidingf the article around the centering means about which it is wound;-Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the article just before being removed fromthe' centering means and subjected to the'cr'oss 'folding means; Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line of Fig. 2 and showing the article guides in full inoperative position; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveying and stacking apparams for the folded articles; Fig. 10 is a' view'taken on the line 10--10 of Fig. '3; Fig. ll is' an' enlarged detail view of the shelves provided'in the stacking apparatus for receiving the folded articles; Fig. l2 'is a fragmentary view'showing the clutch means forming a part-of the automatieally operating means for the stacking apparatus, the clutch means being in disengaged position; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the clutch in engaged position; Fig. 14 isa detail view, partly in section, taken on the line 14-14'0f Fig. 12;Fig. 15 is adiagrammatic view showing theelectrical. circuits forming a part of the apparatus; and Fig. 16 is a ;view similar to Fig. 8 showing the article guideseor deflectors in two different positions :whereby to produce folds of different widths b'y'firstforming cylindersof different diameters.

-In the drawings, 1 have shown afolding and stacking apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention disposed in conjunctionwith and adapted to receive ironed articles fromjthe delivery tapes of an ironing machine including the usual ironing'roll l and ironingchest 2.

The work folding apparatus includes a suitable frame 3 carrying a plurality of spaced narrow stacking apparatus from the leftend toward'therightend. 1

f In accordance withmy invention-, 'thework in beingfoldedis first" changed from the flatstate 'to a cylindrical shape of predeterminedsize-"and wherein onehalf of the circumference of the cylinder of work'will beequivalent to the width of one of the sides of thefinished folded article. The means/for changing the work'from a flat state to a cylindrical shape consists of rotatable drums or cylinders. 14' carried by the side mas of the frame 3 'ahove'fthe tapes '4 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and having "their free ends extending inwardly towards the ce'nterof the frame from opposite. directions- "As shown, the rotating-drums or cylinders are journaled in the side rails of theframe 3 and are arranged to have portions thereof eXtendingoutw'ardl'y of the frame, these outwardly extending portions carrying {sheavepulleys liaboutwhich V belts =16 pass for driving the drums or cylinders? Suohbelts [6 pass around driven' s'pro'ck ets I! carried -by ashaft I8 journaled in the frame, the" shaft IB -haVinga. sprocket 1Q rigidly imounted threon which co-acts with the smocktapesllfis conveyed 'throughsthe folding "and 3 the shafts b y'means of links 3|. construction, rotation of the shaft 2'! will result in rotation of the shafts 24 and the simultaneous and synchronous movement ofthe deflectors .23 into or out of deflecting position relative to .the drums or cylinders .14.

In the operation of this part of the apparatus,

et chain It] hereinbefore mentioned and is driven thereby. Thus, a means for rotating the drums: or cylinders I4 in the same direction is provided, this means being preferably of a naends toward or away from the center of the frame for accommodating varying widths of work by being slidably journaled in the side rotation of the drums or cylinders to be finally rails and having the sheave pulleys l5 adjustably held upon their outwardly extending portions by means of set screws 20. Means are also provided for preserving the alignment of the sheave pulleys l5 and thereby the position of the drums or cylinders l4, this'means consisting .of retaining fingers 2l on the side rails of the outwardly whereupon the set screws are tightened which will fasten the sheavepulleys I5 in driving relation with the outwardly extending portions of the drums or cylinders and, at the same time, will maintain the drums or cylinders in their adjusted position. 1

. To direct the work in a flat stateffrom the tapes 4 upwardly and around the drums or cylinders I4 and into a cylindrical shape, a plurality of'deflectors 23 are provided, these de-'. flectors being mounted. on rotatable shafts 24' that extend transversely of the frame as shownin Fig. 3 andare journaled in bearings25- and 26; The deflectors themselves consist of a 'series of arms formed on the arc of a circle centering at or approximately at thecenters of the drums or cylinders l4 and arranged tordecrease in 'arcuate length from the outer ends -of the drums or cylinders, [4 towards the inner free endsthereof so that the shortest deflectors areilocated at the centerof the frameas shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4,5 and 6. By arranging the deflectors inthis manner, it was found, that an .article could be removed from the drums or cyl inders by the cross folding means hereinafter described more easily and with less tendency toward wrinkling. I v v Movement of the shafts 24 and swinging of the deflectors 23 into and out of deflectingposi- :tion relative to the tapes 4 and drums orcylinders I4 as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6, '7-and 8,15

accomplished by rotation of a shaft 21 extending transversely of the frame 3 by means of a handcrank 28 mounted thereon. A pair of crank-arms 29 are rigidly mounted on the shaft 21 andthe free ends of these crank arms are connected to crank arms 30 rigidlysecured to With this the tapes 4 having'been set in motion to deliver work in a flat state from the feed end of the frame toward the opposite end adjacent which 'tra-clockwise. direction. as viewed in Figs. 1, 6,

7 and 8, the crank 28 is operated to rotate the shaft 21 and the shafts 24 to swing the deflectors 23. from the inoperative position shown. in Fig. 8 wherein they are beneath the upper laps of the tapes 4' into the position" shown in Figs. 1,6 and 7 wherein they are in deflecting position relative to the tapes 4 and drums or cylinders'l4'." Then, the work in a flat state being conveyed through the apparatus by the tapes 4 strikes the deflectors and is curved upwardly around the drums or cylinders l4 by the continuation of movement of the work and the rolled into the cylindrical shape shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7 and the full lines in Fig. 4. I I? During operation of the apparatus, an inspection operator is stationed at a point-approximately intermediate the front of the foldingapparatus and the cross folding mechanism to observe the size and condition of each article .beingl folded. ,If the. article being folded isof a narrow;width;.the crank 28 isoperated to. ro-

tate the shaft 21, and shafts 24 and swing the deflectors 23. to the proper position nearer to or farther away: fromthe drums? or cylinders l4 and produceia cylinder of the proper diameter to .resultin a-folded article having the correct width fold when the cylinder is flat.- tenedp Inwthe 'samemanner, when a wide article, passes through, the operator, adjusts-the deflectors to. form a, cylinder of adiameter for a proper fold of that article. Various positions of the .deflectors are shown in Fig. 16. Also, when anarticle is observed that was not properly washed, commonly termed a wash overin the laundry, the operator manipulates the deflector adjusting mechanism to affect lowering of the deflectors below the feed apronswhich will; allow the article topass through the machine without being folded.

In order to produce a change in the cylindrical shape to which the work has previously been wound and produce a-flat folded condition including a crossfold of the work, a crossfold blade 32 is provided which, at the proper predetermined time, is projected upwardlybetween adjacent tapes 4 to engage the cylinder of work at approximately its longitudinal center and between the free ends of the drums or cylinders 14 to pull the work off the drums or cylinders 14. and move it upwardly into the bite between suitable adjacent cross folding belts 33 and 34 .through which the, cylinder of work is pulled upwardly and thus reduced to a flat; crossfolded state. 1 i v The cross fold blade32'is moved upwardly and downwardly ina guide member 35 carried by ia supporting bracket 35 on the frame 3 by. means of a cylinder and piston arrangement 3.1:like wi se carriedby. the frame 3 and whose piston rod 38 is connected to the cross fold blade 32 as at 39. A suitable spring40 issecuredto the frame and to. the upper end of the piston rod 38 at its opposite ends to act to return the 1 .piston and the cross fold blade 32 downwardly -to their inoperative positions relatively fast when pressure is exhausted from beneath the piston in the cylinder 31.

An automatically-operating control means for controlling the operation of the .cross fold blade 32 bymovement of the work through the apparatus, or its: projection upwardly between adjacent tapes 4 to act on the work as shown in .Figs 3 and4, is provided which consists of an Cir arm 4| having its-free end disposed adjacent the tops of the upper laps of the tapes 4 and adapted, when raised-by the passage of work therebeneath, to actuate a switch- 42 and break an electrical circuit-to a solenoid 43 which, on

supply of fluidpressure to the cylinder 31 being cut off, fluid pressure beneath'the. piston the cylinder 31 may exhaust through the restricted port 46, and the piston and cross foldingblade 32' may lower to inoperative position work traveling toward the drums or cylinders will cause a'lowering of the cross fold bladebefore the work reaches, a position beneath the drums or cylinders N to thereby have the cross fold blade in a position wherein it will not interfere with winding of the work about the drums or cylinders ll.

Movement of the work throu h. the apparatus and winding of the workon the drumsor cylinders M will result in the rearward or trailin edge of the work passing out from under the free end of the switch actuating arm H; the parts being soarranged that the reare ec f the work passes out from under the switch arm Bl when the work is substantially entirely wound about the drums or cylinders Mas Shown in Fig.

"I. consequent dropping of the free end of the switch actuating arm 4! willoperate the. switch 42 to complete a circuit to the solenoid. 443, and operation of the solenoid 43 will open the valve 14 to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder 31 whereby to raise the piston therein and the=fo1d ing blade 32 in the manner shown in 21s.. 3 to thereby pull .the wound. article from the drums I at substantially its longitudinal center-and introduce such central portion of the-work in cylindrical form to the cross fold, producing belts 33 and 34 which will flatten out the cylinder of work to produce anarticle foldedin. one dimction with the width of the fold equal to one half the circumference of the cylinder of'work andrat;

the switch arm 4| to de-energizetbe solenoid 43 as hereinbefore described, r a V.

The cross folding belts 33 and 34. are carried by a supplemental frame 30:, mounted on the 7 frame 3 and are disposed immediately above the 582 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 9).

cross folding blade 32 and intermediate the free ends of the drums or cylinders It. These belts are driven from the constantly operating; sprocket'chain Ill by means of a sprocket chain fl is mounted on theshaft of a roller it around which the cross folding belt 33- travels and has on its opposite end agear 52 that meshes with Thus,

The bevel "geara gear 52 on theshaft carrying the: roller =53 about which the cross folding belt 34 travels -wlierel'ry'the rollers and 53 will bet-driven in opposite direotions'andthe adjacent surfaces of the cross. folding belts13'3 the same direction.

"As shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the shafts of the rollers 5.! and 53 have spacer links 54 loosely and 34 will travel in mounted thereon and extending upwardly and carrying rollers 55 rotatably mounted in their upper ends, the rollers 55 providing the upper rol1-' ers about which the cross. folding belts 33 and 34 traveL- These rollers 55 are connected together as by links 56 whereby, as shown by the full line and the dot-dash line position in Fig. 3; the uppermost ends of the crossfolding belts may be simultaneously'swung from right to left or vice versa to thereby deliver cross folded work in'one direction or the other from the vertical center line of the apparatus. Operator-operatedmeans consistinglof a link 51 '(seeFigl 3) connected at 7 one of its ends to one of the spacer links 54 and at its oppositeend to a bell crank arm 58*as at 59 is provided for swinging the "upper ends'of articles emerging from between the cross fold- V ing belts 33 and 34 are delivered to horizontally extending conveying'belts 6|, one to'the right hereinafter described inasmuch as the stacking The belts 51' travel aroundthe driven roller and an idler roller mechanisms are identical.

'Reierringto Figs; 9 andlfl, a stacking mecba; nism isrlocated adjacent the outermost ends of the conveyors formed by the belts which consistzof an article elevating means. 55 in the fonn of a U-shaped member straddling. the belt '61 and adapted to be raised at predetermined interyals governed by the presence of a folded article within the stacking mechanism to elevate the article above the belt BI. and; move it up? past pivotally mounted shelves wliich present a substantially horizontally resting surfor the articles when in their downward-. most position and maintain the articles in stacked position between the side railssoff'the supplemental frame t5 as shown in Fig. l.f--'

The U-shaped article liftingv member is mounted on the upper end of a vertically extend ing rod 6 1 that is'guided in itsvertioal move;-

ment in brackets Bland 69 on the frame 3, the

thereby. Such. gear: I2 meshes with. and is adapted todrive a gear 13 carried by the frame 3 and having 'a: crank arm 14 rigidly mounted on a shaft 15, the crank arm .14 being, inturn, connected with: a link I6 that has its opposite end connected to the lower end of-the rod:6l by a universal joint connectionas at "1 whereby rotation of thegear I3 will produce reciprocation of the rod 61 and stackingmember 65 upwardly and downwardly. r *Operation L of the :stacking device just described is controlledby. movement of the. folded article by the belt 6| into registry with the stacking apparatus 'just described. As the article moves into registry with the stackingap- .paratus, the forward end thereof strikes and movesv theoperating arm 1870f a switch'lfi. that is rotatably mounted invapair of brackets 86- carried by the supplemental frame 3a.; Movement of-the switchIQ by such movement of the' switch actuating arm 78, ingthisinstance con,- tra-clockwise movement, serves to complete a circuit to energize. a solenoid 8|..(see Figs. 12 and 13) whiclnwhen energized, will move an arm 82 through. a link, 83 in a clockwise directionas viewed in thesefigures. The arm 8 2;is pivoted on ashaft 84 and includes a trigger; arm 85 adaptedto set orwrelease theclutchmechanism on the shaft I8 for reciprocating the stacking. member 65. 1 1

The clutch includes .a' disk" 85- rigidly secured to the shaft I8 and having a plurality of rollers -86 circumferentially spaced on its one 'side surface. The spur'gear I2 hereinbeforementioned is loosely mountedonthe shaft I8:and has a dog 8'lpivotall-y mounted on its side surface as at 88 adjacent the side surfaceof the disk 85' carrying the rollers 86. One end of this dog. 81 is adapted to be moved into contact with .therQll'ers-BB- on the disk 85' by means of a spring 89 to thereby connect the looselymounted spur gear with the rigidly mounted disk 'asshown in, Fig. 13 when the solenoid 8 I.:is. energized-to hold the:trigger arm 85 in the position shown. Reversely, when the solenoid BI is deeenergized by reason of no article striking the switch arm I8 and is. in the position shown in Fig. 12, the trigger arm 85 is moved upwardlyby a'springllfl. to contact with one end of the dog Blas the spur gear l2zrotates and move the dog to a position wherein one ,end thereof will not contactlwith the rollers 86 whereby the spur gear 'I2 is disconnected from driving relation with the disk '85. With the mechanism in, the position shown in Fig." 12, the stacking mechanism .isin the unoperated position shown in Fig.'10.- J Referring to Fig. 15, I have shownthe circuits forthe operation of the solenoids-"43 and. 8I-to control operation of the cross folding blade :32 and the stacking. member 65' respectively, wherein a line 'filel'eadsfrom L2 to one contact of the switch 42,. a-line 93 leads from the other side ofithe switch 42 to the solenoid-43, and a line 94 leads from the solenoid 43 to LI, thus operation ofthe solenoid .8I1when the switch I9 is in operative position. The switch mecha- 'nism's 42 and l9care preferably of the wellknown mercurytype. Indthe operationof this'appara'tus, arr-ironed article of flat work is delivered to the tapes 4 and carried toward the drums or cylinders I4 and'the deflectors 23 by movement of the tapes, the deflectors 23 being assumed to be in the operative position shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7.

.Such deflectors cause a winding of the article about the drums or cylinders and the article itself causesactuationof the cross fold blade 32 by passing, out from under the operating arm 4I of the switch 42 as hereinbefore described whereupon such cross fold blade will be projected upwardly-betweenthe free ends of the drums or cylinders 14 as shown in Figs. Band 4 to pull the article-from the drums or cylinders and feed the center thereof into the bite of the cross folding belts 33 and 34. 'in'addition to cross folding the article, to flatten the cylinder and produce a longitudinal These cross folding belts serve,

foldedarticle; The folded article passes up- .war'dly from between the cross folding belts and wound about the drums or cylinders I4, as would occur -if'the deflectors 23 were in the inoperative positionshown in Fig. 8, means have been provided for maintaining the switch operating lever 4I in a raised position similar to the position it assumes when work is passing thereunder with the deflectors in operative position as shown in Figs; 6 and '7.

" Referring to Figst l and 2, arms 88 and 99 having rollers I00 thereon adapted to ride on the upper side of the links3I which form a part of theactuating mechanism for moving the deilectors 23 into andout of operative position relative to the drums or cylinders I4 are rigidly fixed to shafts II and I02 that are journaled in the side'jrails of the frame 3. The arms I03 extending' outwardly from each side of the switch 42' are "journaled in insulating blocks I04 of fibrous or other non-conductive material in the free ends of the shafts IOI and I02 as shown.

In Fig. 8,- it will be noted that when the deflectors 23 are in their inoperative position below the'belts 4, the links 3I are in substantially a straight line between the shaft 24 and the shaft Z'L bOth links being in the same position inasmuch as they operate in unison, whereby the shafts IIl'I and I82 have been rotated contraclockwise which will rotate the switch member 42 to inoperative position and raise the switch operating arm M to such position that an article may passthereunder without affecting the position of the switch member 42.

This feature of theinvention has the advantage of permitting articles to be passed directly through"the:iapparatus without being wound about the drums or cylinders I4 or acted upon by the cross fold'blade 32. Such complete passage of the articles through the apparatus is desirable, for example, where a piece of workis noted by the operator to be unsatisfactorily laundered, he may operate the crank 28 to move ,the. deflectors 23 to their inoperative position which, will simultaneously render the. control meansfor. the operation of the cross fold blade ineffective whereby the Work may pass completely through the apparatus without interference.

Means have been provided into which these articles passed entirely through the apparatus may be delivered consisting of a receptacle formed by an apron M having one of its ends attached to a cross bar Hi6 and its opposite end attached to a cross bar H31. A series of cords I08 (see Fig. 2) are provided as a means for conveying the articles over a stationary frame brace member I89 and into the receptacle formed by the apron Hi5. It will be noted that these cords are also trained around the idler roller 6 which, of course, is rotated when the tapes 4 are moved which serves to move the cords I08 and thus deliver the articles from the tapes 4 to the container formed by the apron.

What I claim is:

1. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for winding an article into cylindrical shape, means for conveying an article in a flat state to said winding means, means for cross folding the cylinder, and means sensitive to movement of the article in a flat state for controlling operation of said cross folding means.

2. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for winding an article into cylindrical shape, means for conveying an article in a flat state to said Winding means, means for cross folding the cylinder, and means sensitive to the trailing edge of the conveyed article for controlling operation of said cross folding means.

3. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for winding an article into cylindrical shape, means for conveying an article in a flat state to said winding means, means for cross folding the cylinder, means sensitive to movement of the conveyed article for controlling operation of said cross folding means, and means for flattening the cross folded cylinder.

4. Article folding apparatuacomprising means for conveying an article in a flat state, means including a plurality of rotating elements and article deflectors for winding the article into cylindrical shape, and means for removing the wound article from the winding means and producing a cross fold therein.

5. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for conveying an article in a flat state, means including a plurality of rotating elements and article deflectors for winding the article into cylindrical shape, and means for removing the wound article from the winding means and flattening it to produce a folded article.

6. Article folding apparatus, comprising a conveyor, oppositely disposed, rotatable article winding means about which an article is wound into cylindrical shape, deflectors for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, and means for flattening the article cylinder.

7. Article folding apparatus, comprising a conveyor, rotatable article winding means about which an article is wound into cylindrical shape, deflectors consisting of a series of arms formed approximately on the arc of a circle centering at substantially the center of rotation of the article winding means for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, and means for flattening the article cylinder.

8. Article folding apparatus, comprising a conveyor, rotatable article winding means about which an article is wound into cylindrical shape, deflectors consisting of a series of arms formed approximately on the arc of a circle centering at substantially the center .of rotation of the article winding means and arranged to decrease in arcuate length from theends of the winding means toward the longitudinal center thereof for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, and means for flattening the article cylinder.

9. Article folding apparatus, conveyor, rotatable article winding means about which an article is wound into cylindrical shape including oppositely disposed drums terminating on each side of the center of said conveyor, de

flectors for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, andfmea'ns for flattening the article cylinder.

10. Article folding apparatus, comprising a conveyor, rotatable article winding means about which an article is wound into cylindrical shape, deflectors for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, means for producing a cross fold in the article cylinder, means governed by article movement for controlling operation of said cross fold means, and means for flattening the article cylinder.

ll. Article folding apparatus, comprising a conveyor, rotatable article winding means about which an article is Wound into cylindrical shape, deflectors fordirecting an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, means for producing a cross fold in the article cylinder, means governed by the position of the trailing edge of an article for controlling operation of said cross fold means, and means for flattening the article cylinder.

12. Article folding apparatus comprising a I conveyor, rotatable article-winding means about which an article is wound in cylindrical shape, a deflector for directing an article from said conveyor and about said winding means, and adjusting means for moving said deflector toward and away from said article-Winding means.

13. Article folding apparatus comprising article-winding means oppositely disposed on either side of a center line, a series of deflectors oooperating with said article-Winding means and having progressively decreasing article-engaging surfaces toward said center line, and centrally disposed article-engaging means for moving the article off said article-winding means,

14. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for winding an article into cylindrical shape, a stacking device, and means for flattening the article cylinder to produce a folded article and for delivering the folded article, said delivering means being adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said stacking device.

15. Article folding apparatus, comprising means for winding anarticle into cylindrical shape, means for cross folding the cylinder, a stacking device, and means for flattening and delivering the cross folded article cylinder, said delivering means being adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said stacking device.

FORREST J. COUCH.

comprising a

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