US2317817A - Fabric edge-folding and pressing device - Google Patents

Description

ji zz 3-- J. SILVERMAN 2,317,817

FABRIC EDGE-FOLDING AND PRESSING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 kgiya. 18

f *1 1 l I I I I I a l I l J? l i I y 29 1 g I I I Q I) 12 7 M47 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STTES ATENT OFFICE FABRIC EDGE-FOLDING AND PRESSING DEVICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to portable edge folding and pressing machines being particularly adapted to formpatch pockets and like articles.

Machines for the above general purpose are Well known but require the use of both hands of the operator in their operation. Such machines are usually provided with means for clamping the article Worked on entailing the use of one operating handle and are also provided with edge folding means entailing the use of another operating handle. In addition, foot operated means are provided for the application of heat and pressure. Such machines keep both hands of the operator occupied until the operation is completed so that the handles may be released.

In the interest of expediting and speeding up the operation, the present invention contemplates the provision of a machine of the indicated character in which the clamping of the work and the folding of its edges occurs sequentially by the operation of a single handle leaving one of the operators hands free for preparing another piece of work for the machine.

The invention also contemplates means including the pressing parts of the machine for holding the machine parts in pressing relation whereby both hands of the operator are freed for other functions.

The invention further seeks to provide a machine of the character indicated, of novel mechanical design and arrangement and of simple structure.

The foregoing advantages, features, and purposes of the invention and others which will become apparent from the following detailed specification, are exemplified in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, said drawings forming the bases for said specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a machine incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the machine table showing the edge folding means.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the machine. 7

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary edge View of a portion of the edge folding means.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a work blank before folding.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of said work blank after folding.

In that embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, the machine comprises a support frame I ii for a table base plate I l which is formed with an opening l2 shaped in accordance with the shape of a work blank l3 shown in Fig. 6. This blank is somewhat larger than the opening l2 as will be later understood.

The table base plate II has superimposed upon it a table top l4, said latter member being pref erably spaced from the plate I! as at E5. An opening Iii, similar to the opening I2, is provided in the table top I l. 7

The edge folding means employed in the machine is disposed between the plate II and the table top It and, in the present instance, comprises folding plate members ii and I3 and a pusher plate Iii. In their normal position, as shown by the full lines of Fig. 3, the members I! and it have their inner lateral edges 26 and 2! coincidental with the lateral edges of the openings 12 and It. The inner edges 22 and 23 of said members i! and I3 are also' coincidental with the related edges of said openings l2 and I6.

lhe transverse leg portions 24 and 25 of the respective members I! and I 8 are preferably overlapped as at 26 and each of said leg portions is reduced in thickness to provide the relatively thinner parts 27 and 28 whereby they may fit in the space [5 without binding.

The folding plate members I! and [8 are preferably mounted as on studs 29 carried by the table base plate ll. Said studs are engaged in cam slots 3!] which guide the movement of the plate members as will be later described. Spring means, such as shown at 3|, are provided for urging the plate members into the normal position shown in Fig. 3.

The pusher plate i9 is preferably guided on guide studs 32 carried by the base plate H, said studs being engaged in slots 33 formed in said pusher plate. An edge of said latter plate is arranged to protrude beyond the forward edges of the plate H and the table top it. Spring means, such as shown at 35, may be provided for maintaining the pusher plate in projected position as shown in Fig. 3. As best seen in this figure, the folding plate members ii and #3 are each preferably formed with angled comer edges 36 which are engaged by similarly angled edges 37 formed on the pusher plate 59. It is evident that when the pusher plate It is, moved toward the left, the plates I? and 58 will both move toward the left and toward each other. The dotdasht lines of Fig. 3 show the extent of this move men Means are provided for guiding the positioning of a work blank, such as 3, with respect to the opening in the table top. In the present form this means comprises guide walls 38 mounted on the table top as best seen in Fig. l.

The machine is provided with a work blank clamping plate 39 which also is the member about which the edge folds are made. This plate is shaped in accordance with the shape of the openings l2 and i and is somewhat smaller than said openings so as to more freely therethrough. The plate 39 is preferably mounted upon a relatively thick metal plate 3%), which through spacer blocks 4! is carried, by means such as the studs 32, by a lever 53 pivoted, as at 44, to the machine frame it. Slight relative movement is afforded between the lever 23 and the parts 39, 40 and 41 by making the holes 35, through which the studs 42 project, somewhat oversize as shown best in Fig. a

The free end of the lever, 63 pivotaliy carries at %6 a pusher plate operating arm 4"! which is provided with an operating handle 38. Spring means such as #8 is provided to hold the arm 4'! normally out of operating engagement with the pusher plate E9. Spring means 55 is preferably provided for maintaining the lever 33 in an elevated position as can be well understood. An adjustment 5! for the latter spring is provided so that its tension may be regulated to .elevate the lever 63 and yet be less than the'tension oi the spring 39. It can be seen that by this a'rrangement, depression of the handle &3 wiil first move the lever 43 on its pivot M to clamp a work blank and that continued movement'of said handle will stretch the spring and bring the arm 41 into operating engagement with the'pushor plate l9.

The machine is provided with means for applying heat and'pressure to the work blank. In its present form this means is preferably foot operated as by a pedal (not shown) 'conn'ected'by a member 52 to a lever 53. This lever 'is pivotally mounted upon a stud 5t secured 'to atransverse frame member 55. Another frame member 56 carries a stud 5'1. The studs "Hand 5'! form guides for a plate 58 which is engaged by the nose 59 of the lever 53. Depressing the member 52 will cause the nose 59 to raise the plate 58, the lever '53 fulcruming on the stud St.

A pressing or ironing plate'eil is'provided, said plate being supported upon'studsti carried by the plate 58. This condition holds true when pressure is being applied. Normally, however,

In operation, the levers 43 and 53 both being raised, a work blank such as I3 is placed to cover the opening IS in the table top, the walls 38 guiding the positioning thereof. The handle 48 is depressed. Inasmuch as the spring 49 is stronger than the spring 50, the lever 43 and the arm 47 move as a unit until the plate 39 clamps the work blank 13 against the ironing plate 60 which at that time rests upon the member 55 and the studs 62. The peripheral portions of the blank assume a, position at right angles to the body thereof because of their engagement with the edges of the openings l2 and I5. Continued pressure on the handle 48, will overcome the spring 99 to bring the arm 41 into engagement with the edge 33 0f the pusher plate l9 which is thus moved to the left as shown in Fig.2 to cause the folding plates I! and I8 to fold the mentioned peripheral blank portions about the edges of the clamp plate 39. Figs. 2 and 4 show this condition. The lever 53 is then depressed by foot to raise the ironing plate upwardly against the pressure exerted on the handle '43. This foot pressure serves to wedge the folding plates l l and i8 in their contracted position whereby pressure on the handle 38 may be released. So long as the foot pressure is maintained the clamping, edge folding, and pressing or ironing parts will maintain their positions as shown in Fig. 2 to leave both hands of the operator free to prepare a work blank for the next operation.

Upon release of'the foot pressure, the ironing plate will drop back to its normal supports so that the springs 3| and 35 can become effective to restore the folding plates to their normal retracted position. The clamp plate 35 being released, the spring 53 becomes effective to'raise it and the lever 43.

The work piece 13, with its edges folded about the plate 39, is raised with that plate and may easily be stripped therefrom. The finished'work piece is shown at Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a sim ple, portable, efiicient, and compact m'acl'iine has been provided in which the objects of the invention are realized. It also is evident that, depending upon the work to be done, changes in arrangement, design, and proportion may well operating handle, an edge fold mechanism actuator secured tosaid handle, an operating lever pivotally carrying said actuator and said handle, aclamp plate carriedby said lever, and spring means connecting said lever and said actuator.

JACOB SILVERMAN.

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