US2921725A

US2921725A - Drape folding machines

Info

Publication number: US2921725A
Application number: US724454A
Authority: US
Inventors: Torrice Fred J Di
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-27
Filing date: 1958-03-27
Publication date: 1960-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1960 F. J. DI ToRRlcE DRAPE FOLDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 27, 1958 .wf hm QM Jan. 19, 1960 F. J. DI 'roRRlcE DRAPE: FOLDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1958 w .rmt ww T om QW mmm United States Patent O 2,921,725 DRAPE FOLDING MACHINES Fred J. Di Torrice, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 27, 1958, Serial No. 724,454

2 Claims. (Cl. 223-30) This invention relates to -improvements in drape folding machines, and more particularly to a novel drape folding machine having mechanical means for endwise removal of a folded and pressed drape or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type which will compress a drape into folds in multiples of ve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for endwise removal of the drape in easy stages whereby paper wrappings may be applied at intervals on said folded drape while it is being removed from the machine.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a drape folding machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is la front view in elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the multiple plate iron used in aligning the folds of a drape between the separated plates of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the machine partly in section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a pair of slip clutches.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the drape folding table 10 has side elements 11 and 12, the end portions 13 and 14 and four legs 15. A pair of angle members 16 and 17 surmount the side elements 11 and 12 and angle members 18 and 19 traverse horizontally the ends of the table 10. Three pairs of vertically spaced horizontally disposed rods 20 cross the table 10 and are aixed to the side elements 11 and 12. A plurality of traveler plates 21 are provided with vertically spaced apertures as at 22 and 23 receiving the rods 20. A plurality of coil springs 24 are placed about the rods 20 to separate all the traveller plates 21. The coil springs 24 are tapered so that when compressed between neighboring traveller plates they will compress to the thickness of the rod spring material.

The machine has a plurality of narrow elongated press plates 30, disposed horizontally and riveted as at 31 to the top of the traveller plates 21. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the press plates 30 are twenty-six in number, and the first press plate frontally disposed on the table 10 is atlixed to the angle iron 16 and is stationary. The remaining press plates 30 are mounted on the traveller plates 21 and every flfth traveller plate is attached to the limiting chain 32 which limits the separating movement of the plates. Each fth trav- .Patented 19, 1960 ICC eller plate 30 has :a longitudinally disposed angle iron 33, the latter being affixed to the related traveller plates 21. The limiting chain 32 -is connected to each of the angle irons 33.

Chains

35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 are each attached to separate angle irons as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The last mentioned five chains pass over the rear sprockets 40 and the front sprockets 41 which are provided with the slip clutches 42 on shaft 43 which latter carries the driven sprocket 44 in mesh with the chain 45 on the driving sprocket 46 of the gear reducer 47 connected with the electric motor 48.

A channel table 50 mounted on legs 51 carries the metal channel 52 and a sliding platform 53 movable on the

tracks

54 and 55 and actuated by the chain 56 operable by the cog 57 on the shaft 58 of the electric motor 59. The platform 53 has a plurality of pegs 54 mounted on its top surface 55.

A Wooden shelf 56 surmounts the rear portion of the table 10.

In use, a drape 6i) is laid over the top of the table 10 and the edge of the drape closest to the operator is clamped to the stationary press plate 61. The switch 62 has been utilized to place the press plates 30 in open or spread position. The operator then tucks the drape 60 between the succeeding press plates 30, and the plate iron 63 is used to make the folds uniform `as to depth before the switch 62 is again used to force the press plates together in folding the drape. The operator then attaches a looped element to the left end of the folded drape and connects the loop to one of the pegs 54. The switch 59A is utilized to move the platform 53 to the left on the

tracks

54 and 55, thus drawing the drape endwise from the press plates 30 after they have been again placed in spread position.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modifications in structure and design, without departing from the spirit of the invention, Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A drape folding apparatus comprising a rectangular frame, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of rods disposed transversely in said frame, a plurality of vertically disposed traveller plates having vertically spaced apertures receiving said rods for sliding movement thereon, a plurality of relatively narrow elongated press plates each mounted on edge on at least two of said traveller plates, a plurality of sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on each side of the frame, and endless chain means on said sprocket wheels connected to certain of said traveller plates for movement of the latter during the folding operation.

2. The structure as in claim l, and conical coil springs on the rods `between all adjoining faces of all traveller plates to normally uniformly space the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,049 Stamm et al Sept. 6, 1949 2,708,059 Petzal et al May l0, 1955 2,817,468 Brown Dec. 24, 1957 2,837,257 Gibson et al lune 3, 1958 2,850,218 Gibson et al Sept. 2, 1958