US3361424A - Cross folder with sheet elevating means - Google Patents

Cross folder with sheet elevating means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3361424A
US3361424A US495770A US49577065A US3361424A US 3361424 A US3361424 A US 3361424A US 495770 A US495770 A US 495770A US 49577065 A US49577065 A US 49577065A US 3361424 A US3361424 A US 3361424A
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United States
Prior art keywords
conveyor
sheet
article
folding
folded
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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US495770A
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English (en)
Inventor
Eduard F Kamberg
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Chicago Dryer Co
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Chicago Dryer Co
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Publication date
Application filed by Chicago Dryer Co filed Critical Chicago Dryer Co
Priority to US495770A priority Critical patent/US3361424A/en
Priority to BE672775A priority patent/BE672775A/xx
Priority to DEC37496A priority patent/DE1235253B/de
Priority to GB51192/65A priority patent/GB1109553A/en
Priority to CH1677965A priority patent/CH448003A/de
Priority to SE15814/65A priority patent/SE329825B/xx
Priority to FR41280A priority patent/FR1466492A/fr
Priority to NL6515862A priority patent/NL6515862A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3361424A publication Critical patent/US3361424A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F89/00—Apparatus for folding textile articles with or without stapling
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S493/00—Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturing from a sheet or web
    • Y10S493/937—Textile

Definitions

  • a folding apparatus for articles such as sheets or the like has a lead-in conveyor communicating with a plurality of article conveyors in overlying relationship. Buckling folding means associated with the two uppermost conveyors effect a quarter fold in a conveyed article in the course of moving on said uppermost conveyors.
  • a cross-folder folds such quarter-folded article transversely to the initial folds while moving over a third conveyor.
  • the cross-folder comprises counter-rotating pinch rolls disposed beneath an article-support platform on which a quarter-folded article is deposited by the third conveyor.
  • Said third conveyor comprises spaced continuous belt portions adjustably positionable from a position above to a position below the plane of the supporting surface of the platform when an article on said third conveyor passes thereover.
  • Means for creating a blast of compressed air urges the central axial portion of an article disposed on said platform onto said pinch rolls between two belts whereby a cross fold is effected when an article is disposed over said pinch rolls.
  • the cross-folded article is carried into engagement with two additional buckling folder means which effect additional half-folds parallel to the cross fold as the article is discharged from the apparatus onto a stacking conveyor.
  • This invention relates to a folding apparatus, and more particularly pertains to apparatus adapted to automatically cross-fold flatwork, such as bed sheets and the like.
  • This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 416,815, filed Dec. 8, 1964, now abandoned.
  • folding means utilize pinch rolls in combination with a wedging blade or means for delivering an air blast which functions at the appropriate instant, i.e., when the middle of the sheet is opposite the bite of the pinch rolls.
  • the wedging blade or blast forces the middle of a sheet into the oppositely-rotating rolls which grip the sheet and fold the same as the sheet passes therethrough.
  • a large item of flatwork such as a bed sheet
  • buckling means such as are disclosed in my Patent No. 3,094,321, pinch rolls, or a combination of the latter two folding means, until the sheet is folded twice into quarters.
  • the quarter-folded sheet which is carried on a conveyor in a direction transverse to the folds made may then be cross-folded.
  • the latter fold is effected by directing a blast of air against the sheet axis equidistant from the sheet lateral ends as the sheet passes over the bite of a pair of oppositely rotating pinch rolls disposed beneath a longitudinal opening in the conveyor.
  • the sheet is cross-folded in two in the course of passing between the pinch rolls.
  • an article which may already be folded in half or quarter-folded, is automatically cross-folded without any starting and stopping of the article conveyor means heretofore occurring during the cross-folding operation.
  • a folding apparatus is provided with three vertically aligned, substantially horizontal conveyors in which the center conveyor runs in a direction opposite to the other two.
  • the conveyors are arranged so that a folded sheet dropping from each of the upper two conveyors is engaged by the conveyor beneath.
  • the upper two conveyors have arranged thereover, transversely to the directions of conveyor movement, folding elements.
  • the folding elements of the successive conveyors buckle the unfolded and once-folded sheet respectively upon itself to form a quarter-folded sheet which drops from the end of the second conveyor.
  • the bite of oppositely rotating pinch rolls Disposed beneath a longitudinal opening in the third conveyor means composed of spaced continuous tapes moving about spaced rollers is the bite of oppositely rotating pinch rolls which are arranged parallel to the direction of third conveyor movement.
  • Interposed between conveyor tapes straddling the pinch rolls are smooth-surfaced support rods arranged substantially parellel to and slightly below the normal level of the conveyor tapes.
  • One roller about which the third conveyor tapes rotatably move is adjustably positionable in the vertical plane and is automatically lowered when the quarter-folded sheet is disposed over the pinch rolls.
  • an air blast from an overlying a r tube forces the sheet center into the pinch rolls and the third conveyor tapes concomitantly drop below the level of the smooth support rods depositing the sheet thereon.
  • the sheet may then be pulled between the pinch rolls without the ends being carried forward by the third conveyor tapes, thereby avoiding wrinkling and jamming of the sheet in the rolls.
  • the once cross-folded sheet is then guided onto an underlying fourth conveyor leading to the apparatus exterior.
  • the latter conveyor is preferably disposed at substantially right angles to the upper three conveyors. Fold ing elements such as are employed with the upper two conveyors may be employed with the fourth conveyor to effect a second cross fold as the sheet exits the machine.
  • the smooth support rods may be adjustably positionable in the vertical plane while the tapes remain in a fixed plane, as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail.
  • the support rods may be fixedly positioned relative to the third conveyor tapes and slightly raised above the plane thereof.
  • the leading edges of the rods may be upwardly inclined so that momentum given to the carried article by the conveyor may be adequate to drive such article onto the support rods.
  • the tautness resulting in the quarter-folded sheet after the center portion is engaged by the pinch rolls may be suflicient to enable the fiatwork to completely clear the spaced conveyor tapes.
  • FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away and partly schematic in nature, of one embodiment of folding apparatus of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the relationship between four conveyor members of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly schematic in nature, of elements employed in effecting folds as a foldable article is carried on three of the conveyors in FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a foldable member illustrating the initial stages wherein the member is folded upon itself;
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a foldable member after it has been quarter-folded and crossfolded once upon itself;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the pinch rolls utilized in conjunction with the third conveyor of FIG. 2, as well as a portion of the lowermost conveyor of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of a folding apparatus made in accordance with this invention adapted to operate at high speed;
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating the ribbon elevating cylinders and associated parts utilized in the apparatus embodiment of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 11;
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, partly in elevation, illustrating a conveyor arrangement and stacking means which may be employed in the apparatus of FIG. 8 to effect two cross folds and automatic stacking of a foldable article following passage through the pinch rolls;
  • FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view, schematic in nature, illustrating the relationship between the conveyors and rolls of FIG. 11.
  • FIG. 1 wherein a'folding apparatus 10 made in accordance with the teachings of A this invention is illustrated.
  • the folder is adapted to fold large pieces of flatwork, such as bed linens and the like, into quarters by first folding the piece in two and subsequently folding the halved piece into quarters along folding axes transversely disposed to the sheet longitudinal axis.
  • the quarter-folded sheet is then folded twice alon axes disposed at right angles to the folds initially made.
  • the resulting sheet is thus folded into quarters along transverse folding axes and the resulting folded piece twice-folded again along axes transversely disposed to the initial folding axes.
  • the apparatus iii of FIG. 1 employs spaced side plates 12, which are maintained in fixed, spaced relationship by means of transverse brace members, ends 14 thereof bein illustrated in FIG. 1. Also spanning the interval between the opposed sides 12 of the apparatus 10 are roller 16 and 1 3, more clearly seen in FIG. 2, which cooperate with rollers and 22, as shown in FIG. 2, for purposes of enabling spaced tapes 24 to define a continuous upper conveyor 26.
  • conveyor 26 may be upwardly inclined and disposed exteriorly of the side walls 12 of the apparatus 1i beneath a discharging conveyor 28 of an ironer, whereby ironed fiatwork may be passed directly into the folder it
  • a conveyor 30 is disposed beneath upper conveyor 26 and moves about rollers 32 and 3d.
  • Conveyor 3i similarly to conveyor 26, is composed of spaced tapes 24.
  • a third conveyor 36 is disposed beneath the upper two conveyors 26 and 30 and moves about rollers 38 and A It will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the upper surface of the conveyor 30 moves to the left in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyors 26 and 36. It will be further noted from FIGS.
  • conveyors 36 and 36 are arranged relative to their overlying conveyors so that the folded article dropping from such overlying conveyors is engaged thereby and carried in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the overlying conveyors.
  • roller 18 comprising the drive roller for the tapes of upper conveyor 26 is keyed to a large sprocket 42, whereas drive roller 34 for conveyor 3% is rotatable with sprocket 44, and drive roller 40 for conveyor 36 is rotatable with sprocket 45.
  • the three sprockets 62, 44 and 46 are of decreasing size whereby drive chain 48, driven by sprocket 5i rotatable with wheel 52, which is in turn driven by motor 54, is able to drive conveyors 26, 3t and 36, respectively, at increasing rates of speed.
  • the leading edge L of a sheet S is driven up inclined, transversely aligned fingerlike members 60, which are secured to a pivot bar 62.
  • the transverse alignment of the fingers 6% is more apparent in FIG. 2.
  • the leading edge of the flatwork piece engages and deflects arm 64 of switch 66 from its normal position, thereby closing the same which is connected in series with switch 58.
  • the closing of the switch 66 completes an electrical circuit energizing a coil in a conventional four-way solenoid valve 76, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, which is in communication with a compressed air supply by means of a line 72.
  • Energization of the valve coil moves a springbiased valve within the device so as to allow compressed air to how into the bottom portions of air cylinders 74 and 76 through lines 73 and 31 respectively.
  • the pistons in these two cylinders instantaneously move upwardly; clevis 82 and piston rod 34 pivotally move link 86 in an upwardly direction.
  • the latter link is pivotally connected to arm 88 fixedly secured to transverse bar 90 from which spaced fingers 92 project to engage transverse clamp bar 94, more clearly seen in FIG. 2.
  • piston rod 96 of cylinder 7-5 moves upwardly with clevis 98 to pivotally move arm 1% attached to pivot bar 62, to which inclined fingers 63 are secured.
  • clamp bar 90 is pivoted downwarddly into engagement with the upper surface of anvil 162, which is fixedly positioned over uppermost conveyor 26 while inclined fingers 6b are dropped.
  • the leading edge L of the sheet S may then be clamped in position on surface Hi2 as the remainder of the sheet passes therebeneath.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a sheet member just after the leading edge L is dropped onto the terminal edge T of the sheet following release by the clamp bar 94.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 It is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2 that precisely the same folding elements of FIG. 3 are employed in conjunction with conveyor 3i) which is moving to the left in FIG. 1. Precisely the same folding operation is effected on conveyor 3%) as was above described with respect to conveyor 26.
  • the sheet, tollowin g the folding operation on conveyor 39, is quarter-folded and has the appearance of sheet S illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the quarter-folded sheet similar to sheet S drops from the terminal edge of conveyor 39 onto the initial edge portion of conveyor 36 and is carried to the right by the tapes 24 thereof in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. in the course of passing to conveyor 36, the sheet is inverted whereby the terminal or selvage edges of the sheet, instead of being on the bottom, as illustrated in FIG. 5, are now on top of the quarter-folded sheet as it moves to the right on the conveyor 36.
  • a longitudinal opening is provided in the conveyor 36 by the omission of a center tape 24.
  • pinch rolls 164 and 106 Disposed beneath this longitudinal opening is a pair of oppositely-rotating pinch rolls 164 and 106 which rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the pinch rolls are also illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein driving sprockets 168 and 110 utilized to rotate the rolls 164 and 106, respectively, are illustrated in engagement with drive chain 112, which also engages drive sprocket 114 and idler sprocket 116.
  • drive chain 112 which also engages drive sprocket 114 and idler sprocket 116.
  • only one of the two pinch rolls need be positively driven by chain 112, the other roll being springbiased toward the driven roll.
  • Such an arrangement facilitatfis passage of thick, folded articles between the pinch ro s.
  • the pinch rc-lls may be driven by means of motor 54, which also drives the upper three conveyors 26, 3t and 36, by means of rotating shafts 113 and 12a) which are connected by means of a universal joint 122.
  • Shaft 126 is rotatably driven by motor 54 through gear box 124, which is driven off of motor 54 through belt 126.
  • Shafts 118 and 128 are supported in bearings disposed in vertical supports 128 and 13%, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 1.
  • pinch rolls 104 and 106 it is the purpose of the pinch rolls 104 and 106 to cross fold a piece of fiatwork, such as sheet S of FIG. 5, which has been already quarter-folded.
  • the center of the quarter-folded flatwork piece moving over conveyor 36 is driven into the bite of pinch rolls 1M and 196 by means of compressed air emanating from air tube 134, more clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 7.
  • the compressed air is not discharged through the air tube 134 until the quarter-folded flat piece is properly located relative to the underlying pinch rolls.
  • the compressed air passing into the air tube 134 may be admitted by means of a solenoid valve at the instant that the quarter-folded sheet moving over the pinch rolls trips a switch actuator, such as actuator 136 of switch 138 illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • the air jets from air tube 134 drive the central portion of the quarter-folded sheet into the bite of the pinch rolls, enabling the pinch rolls to engage the sheet and drive it downwardly onto a S-shaped deflector 140, such as is illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • the sheet is next deposited on a fourth conveyor 142 also composed of tapes 24 which are driven to the left, over rollers 143 and 145, as illustrated in FIG. 2, at substantially right angles to the overlying three conveyors. It will be noted from FIG. 6 that the selvage edges of a cross-folded piece are desirably inwardly disposed and hidden from view when the apparatus 10 is employed.
  • the quarter-folded article may be removed from the tapes of conveyor 36 by means of smooth, transversely aligned support rods 144, more clearly seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. If the weight of the quarter-folded article is proper and the article is sulficiently stitf, it may be driven onto the support rods 144 by conveyor 36. The impetus given to the quarter-folded article by the conveyor 36 may drive the article up the inclined leading portions of the support rods, more clearly seen in 1 1G. 1, so that the article is completely supported on the rods and out of engagement with the underlying tapes 24 of the conveyor 36.
  • the sheet After the jets of air are emitted from the tube 134, the sheet is pulled between the pinch rolls and in the course of being so pulled it is rendered taut, thereby preventing sagging of the sheet portions between the support rods so as to engage the underlying tapes.
  • the support rods 14 i therefore, will enable a cross fold to be effected while the conveyor tapes overlying the pinch rolls continuously move, obviating any stopping or re starting of the conveyor motive means.
  • the tapes 24 of conveyor 36 may be dropped below the level of the support rods at the appropriate instant after the quarter-folded article has been carried by conveyor 36 over the support rods.
  • the dropping of the tapes may be effected by means of pivotal bearings 146 mounted on the supporting side walls 12 of the apparatus 14).
  • bearing 1% is able to pivot about bearing pivot 143 by means of a piston and cylinder unit 156, the position of the piston therein being regulated by solenoid valve 152.
  • solenoid valve 152 the air in cylinder 159 is regulated to either extend or retract piston and connected rod 154 of cylinder 15%. The latter movement regulates the position of the bearings 146 and the roller 4% of conveyor 36, which conveyor is either above or below the level of the support rods 144.
  • solenoid of solenoid valve 152 is spring-biased into a position which enables air to pass into the bottom of cylinder 150 so that the bearing for roller 40 of conveyor 36 is moved to position the roller above the level of the support rods 144.
  • switch actuator 136 of switch 138 a circuit is closed energizing the coil in solenoid valve 152, reversing the air flow therein so that the piston (not shown) and rod 154 of cylinder 150 are lowered simultaneously with the discharge of air through tube 134 leaving the quartenfolded sheet supported on the support rods 144 above the level of the tapes 24 of conveyor 36.
  • the pinch rolls 15M and 106 may efiiciently cross fold a sheet member having opposed end portions supported on the support rods as the sheet is driven onto the deflector 149 and through the pinch rolls.
  • the cross fold is effected substantially instantaneously by the rapidly rotating rolls, and the conveyor 36 is immediately raised after the sheet has lost contact with switch actuator 13%.
  • the support rods may be moved in the vertical plane relative to the conveyor 36 which is allowed to remain stationary.
  • a cylinder 1511a and a solenoid valve 152a are illustrated in FIG. 1, which are adapted to function in precisely the same manner as cylinder 15%) and solenoid valve 152 previously described
  • the coil in solenoid valve 152:: is normally springbiased into a position forcing the level of the support rods 144 to be normally below the level of conveyor 36.
  • the coil in valve 152a Upon closing of switch 138, the coil in valve 152a is energized so as to reverse the flow of air in cylinder 150a, forcing air into the bottom of the cylinder, thereby raising the support rods 144 above the level of the upper surface of conveyor
  • the framework supporting the pinch rolls and support rods 144 may be supported at the reciprocally movable end by means'of twin cylinders 15% mounted on opposed walls 12 of the apparatus 19,
  • opposed transverse channel 156 may be pivotally mounted at opposed end limits in the straddling walls 12 of the apparatus 1%).
  • a set of folding elements such as'are illustrated in FIG. 3, may be placed in the path of the article moving over the fourth conveyor 142, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • the leading bight edge of the once cross-folded article may be engaged by the folding elements in the manner previously described with respect to the folding elements of conveyors 26 and A second cross fold is thereby formed in the article prior to discharging the same out of the side of the apparatus 11) opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • Control switches may be employed to de energize specific folding operations if the size of the article being folded so warrants.
  • FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7 The above-described apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7 is adapted to effect a maximum of four folds.
  • a sheet which is discharged from the apparatus 19 is again cross-folded by an attendant in the course of lifting the foldable article along the article middle from a discharge platform disposed at the end of the discharge conveyor 14-2.
  • the attendant after lifting the folded arti 'cle, deposits the same, now folded five times, in a stack
  • the maximum speed of the apparatus previously de scribed is governed by the speed of the attendant in folding and stacking the discharged folded items.
  • the apparatus 11 of FIG. 8 is adapted to automatically fold a sheet or similar foldable items five times, effecting three cross folds, and automatically arranged the same in neat vertical stacks of desired height.
  • the apparatus described in FIGS. 8 through 12 needs no full time attendant; since the speed thereof is not dependent upon human dexterity, it may operate much faster than the apparatus of FIG. 1.
  • rolls, conveyors and other components having the same relative position in apparatus 1 1 as in apparatus 10 will bear the same identifying numeral, plus the adscript a.
  • a driven roll 164 Utilized in conjunction withfin'gers 1% is a driven roll 164, which with spaced rubber rings 161 snugly en gaging the periphery of roll 164, functions as a pinch roll in cooperation with roll 18a of conveyor 26a. It will be seen from FIG. 8 that fingers 16! extend between the rings 161 disposed on roll 164 as well as between the tapes of conveyor 390.
  • Roll 164 is rotatably dn'ven more rapidly than roll 18a, thereby tensioning and preventing wrinkling of the engaged pontions of a halved foldable 7 article as it leaves conveyor 26a to engage underlying conveyor 390 while traveling at a high rate of speed.
  • FIG. 12 readily discloses the roll disposition of the various conveyors employed in the apparatus 11.
  • a squeeze roll 166 rotatably engaging the moving tapes of conveyor 3%, as well as short tapes 165 extending about idler roll 167, is employed.
  • Roll 166 and the tapes 165 which taper to the surface of conveyor Silo, squeeze the air from the leading bight edge or elongate bubble of the rapidly moving fo-ldable article carried by the tapes of conveyor 30a.
  • the fiat leadin edge allows the article to be readily lifted by fingers 69a, held, and dropped by the folding elements 94a and 102a in the manner earlier described, in the process of effecting a second transverse fold.
  • the tapes of conveyor 30a and the tapes 165 should have the same speed.
  • Curved guide fingers 168 secured to transverse bar 170 mounted in the apparatus side walls are disposed adjacent the terminal end of conveyor 30a to facilitate passage of a quarter-folded article to underlying conveyor 36a.
  • pivotal by-pass plate 172 mounted on transverse bar 174 may be employed.
  • an end portion of plate 172 is substantially coplanar with the tapes of conveyor 26a which are retained in such horizontal position with the assistance of guide rollers 175.
  • the latter rollers also function to provide room for squeeze roll 166 and its cooperating idler 1-57 beneath conveyor 26a.
  • a by-passed article will slide over the plate 172, over auxilary by-pass plate 176, onto table 178, fragmentarily illustrated.
  • plate 172 is pivoted upwardly into the position illustrated in FIG. 8, a foldable item will pass onto the conveyor 30a.
  • FIG. 8 also illustrates a modified arrangement for moving the upper article-conveying surface of conveyor 35a relative to aligned article-support rods 144a.
  • Such arrangement includes the use of pivotal ribbon-lifting cylinders 180 and 189a, which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to pivotal transverse supporting bars or channels 182 or 182a.
  • the cylinders 180 and 18% may be pivoted into an upper position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein they slidably (or rotatably, if rollers are substituted for fixed cylinders) engage the undersurfaces of the tapes 2-4 of conveyor 36a.
  • the hollow cylinders 180 and 18% may also comprise solid rods.
  • Each embodiment of the tape-supporting elongate member should have smooth, outer surfaces to facilitate slidable engagement with the moving tapes of conveyor 36a. Because of the slack normally found in long continuous tapes, such as those illustrated, the cylinders are able to slidably engage and elevate the tapes of conveyor 36a above the plane of the article-su-port rods 1440, although the normal planar disposition of the tapes of conveyor 36a is below the level of support rods 144a.
  • a radial arm 1% which is connected by link B4 to clevis 1% of piston rod 198, see FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • Rod 128 is reciprocally movable in cylinder 2%.
  • Compressed air flow into cylinder 290 and the resulting piston disposition is controlled by solenoid valve 202, which may be mounted on wall 12a of apparatus 11, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • Valve 202 is in an electrical circuit with a switch, such as switch 138a disposed over pinch rolls 1 34a and 166:: (only roll 106a being seen in FIG. 8) employed in apparatus 11.
  • an air blast from tube 134a forces the midpoint of the quarter-folded sheet into the bight of pinch rolls 104a and 106a, which function in the manner previously described with respect to rolls 104 and 106.
  • spaced rubber grommets 205 are mounted on rods 144a. These grommets prevent forward slidable movement of the foldable article when deposited onto the rods 144a from the rapidly moving tapes of conveyor 360.
  • pinch roll 104a is spring-loaded, so as to move laterally with respect to fixedly positioned pinch roll 106a. This lateral movement enables the pinch rolls to accommodate folded articles of varying thicknesses and substantially eliminate jamming of pinch rolls which could lead to damaged foldable articles, and in some instances damaged apparatus.
  • a series of spaced tapes 212 are rotatably driven by the positively driven pinch rol-l Tilda which is in turn driven through chain or belt 214, which rotatably engages sprocket or pulley 216 of gear box 218.
  • Motor 226 drives the output shaft and pulley 216 of the gear box 218.
  • the driven belt 214 rotatably drives pulley 222, which is rotatable with pinch roll 166a.
  • Idler roll 224 cooperates with pinch roll 166a for purposes of supporting the tapes 212.
  • the tapes 212 are dis posed intermittently along the length of pinch roll Ethic.
  • the conveyor 226 has the tapes thereof arranged in desired position at one conveyor end by means of rotating driving roll 228 having a pulley 230 engaging the driving belt 214.
  • the tapes of conveyor 226 also rotatably engage roll 232 and auxiliary guide rolls 234 and 2%.
  • roll 232 has rubber rings 238 snugly engaging the end portions thereof (only one end portion being illustrated in FIG. 10).
  • the latter rubber rings rotatably engage rubber rings 24% which are of smaller diameter and secured at spaced intervals about the periphery of guide roll 242.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 interposed between the guide roll 242 and the roll 232 of conveyor 226 are a plurality of curved guide fingers 244 affixed at the lower end limits to transverse support bar 246.
  • the larger rubber rings 238 drive the smaller rings 240 at a greater surface speed thereby tending to eliminate wrinkling of the foldable article which has been twice cross folded at this stage.
  • the article is driven between the rolls 242 and 232 over the fingers 244 onto underlying conveyor 248 also employing spaced tapes 24, similarly to the remaining conveyors.
  • the single continuous drive belt 214 also engages a roll 256 and tensioning pulley 25% mounted on pivotal arm 269, which is biased by means of a spring 262 in a manner to take up slack which would otherwise be in the belt 214. It is apparent from FIG. 11 that sprocket members may be substituted for the pulleys and a chain may be substituted for the belt 214.
  • the foldable article Following passage through the folding station associated with conveyor 24%, the foldable article has been quarter-folded and in addition cross-folded three times. Such article may then be discharged from the interior of the apparatus 11 by means of discharge conveyor 262, the tapes thereof being rotatably mounted on roll 264 at one conveyor end and at the opposed end on rolls 266, 263 and 290.
  • Drive belt 214 may engage pulley 270 rotatable with roll 264, whereby the latter roll is positively driven.
  • Plate 272 facilitates passage of the folded article from conveyor 24-8 to conveyor 262. if it is not desired to automatically stack articles being discharged from the apparatus 11, as for instance when small articles are passed through the machine without being processed in each and every folding station, a pivotal by-pass plate 274- mounted on bar 278 may be pivoted downwardly into the dotted line position of FIG. 11. In this position foldable articles pass directly onto conveyor 2%, the belts thereof being rotatably mounted on rolls 282 and 28d, and pass over guide fingers 286 onto discharge table 288 where an attendant may further process the folded article or merely place the same in a cart or other receptacle.
  • the article passing over conveyor 262 is conveyed beneath by-pass plate 274-, which is normally in the elevated position.
  • the article is then carried over the tape portions of conveyor 262 disposed between roller 268 and guide roller 290.
  • Other tapes 24 rotatably mounted about rolls 292 and 294 cooperate with the right-hand terminal portions of the tapes defining conveyor 262 to squeeze the foldable articles in the course of driving the same onto stacking platform 2% similar to that disclosed in Kamberg and Roberts application Ser. No. 434,335.
  • Rolls 292 and 282 may be driven by means of a belt or chain-engaging sprockets attached to the latter two rolls, as well as a pulley or sprocket attached to and driven by roll 268 of the conveyor 262.
  • an auxiliary motor may be employed to drive a separate belt or chain which en ages sprockets attached to the rolls 282 and 292'
  • Various rolls of conveyors 226, 248 and 262 illustrated in FIG. ii may be journaled in bearings mounted in side walls W (see FIG. 8) transversely disposed to the longitudinal axes of the various rolls.
  • the automatic stacking station comprising the right hand portion of FIGS. 11 and 12 utilizes spaced fingers 298 and 309, which are fixedly secured to transverse bars 302 and 304, respectively. The latter bars are engaged at opposed end limits by pairs of rods 30% and 316, respectively.
  • the connecting rods 31% are reciprocally movable in sleeves 312 disposed in the side walls 314, which also support the overlying table 288.
  • Connecting rods 308 are supported by spaced sleeves 316 and 313.
  • Sleeve 318 is mounted in a box-like housing 320 mounted on wall 322.
  • Opposed wall 324 is apertured for reciprocal movement of the fingers 298 comprising a portion of the stacking platform 296.
  • the fingers 300 of platform 296 and the rod 31% connected thereto are reciprocally moved by piston rod 326 which is reciprocally movable in cylinder 328.
  • Air passage into the latter cylinder is controlled by solenoid valve 330, which is in communication with a source of compressed air or other actuating fluid.
  • connecting rod 333 for the fingers 238 is reciprocally moved by piston rod 332 which is reciprocally movable in cylinder 334. Passage of air into the 12 latter cylinder is controlled by solenoid valve 336.
  • Piston rod 332 is connected to connecting rod 308 by means of clevis 338; connecting rod 310 is similarly connected to piston rod 326 by means of a clevis 349.
  • the tamping bar 350 may comprise a foam rubber pad secured to the piston rod extending from the cylinder 34-3. in the course of its downward travel, the tamping bar 351) may engage. a switch mounted on wall 352 and break the circuit energizing the coil in valve 34650 that the air passage into cylinder 348 is reversed, withdrawing the tamping bar into the position illustrated.
  • tamping bar' 350 may strike a second switch on wall 352 which energizes coils in the solenoid valves 336 and 330 so that the air passage into the air cylinders 334 and 328, respectively, is reversed.
  • the piston rods 332 and 326 then extend, separating the fingers 298 and 389 of the platform 296.
  • the foldable article Since the foldable article, by virtue of the position of switch 344 relative to the platform 296, is always stopped at precisely the same spot on the platform 296, the folded articles fall into precisely the same spot on underlying conveyor 358.
  • the tamping bar prevents bouncing of the foldable articles varying distances from stop plate 352, thereby insuring a neat vertical stack beneath. If the foldable articles are driven at certain speeds and composed of soft materials, bouncing may not be a problem and the tamping bar eliminated.
  • the conveyor 358 comprises a plurality of tapes 24 mounted on opposed rolls 360, one being illustrated in FIG. 11.
  • the pintles of the rolls 360 may be mounted in bearings disposed in opposed supporting walls 324 and 334.
  • a pulley 362 may be mounted on one end limit of a pintle 361 of one roll 366 (see FIG. 12), and the latter pulley may be driven by a belt 364 which also engages the output pulley of a gear box 366.
  • An electric counter 368 may receive impulses each time actuator 378 of switch 38%) is contacted by bar 304 in the course of opening the platform 296. After a predetermined number of impulses have been received by counter 368, a relay 370 may be closed which then closes the circuit energizing motor 367.
  • Gear box 366 in addition to driving drive belt 364 also drives wheel 372 having a projectin pin 374 mounted thereon which is adapted to strike an arm of limit switch 376 in the course of its rotation. The striking of the switch 376 will break the circuit energizing the motor 367, thereby resulting in only a limited, desired energization of the motor 367 and rotational movement of the belts of the conveyor 358.
  • the automatic stacker of FIG. 11 is merely illustrative of one form of automatic stacker whichmay be employed with the apparatus 1-1. In view of the extreme speed in which the apparatus 11 may function, an attendant would be unable to process foldable articles discharged by such apparatus. Accordingly, it is intended that the automatic stacker, such as is illustrated in FIG. 11, or other auto- 13 matic stacking means, be employed with the apparatus 11.
  • a folding apparatus adapted to fold a foldable item as many as five times which is composed of simple and inexpensive parts.
  • various apparatus embodiment may be employed for removing a foldable article from belt tapes when approaching the vicinity of pinch rolls adapted to form the first cross fold in a foldable article.
  • the provided apparatus while performing its various functions and effecting various folds occupies a minimum of space and effects its folds in precisely the article center, the center of the article being determined without the need for complex measuring devices which are expensive and subject to failure.
  • the folding operations above described take place as a result of engagement of the foldable article in the course of being forced into engagement with the various folding elements.
  • the foldable article is always discharged with the selvage edge of the article innermost and hidden from view, thereby presenting an item of pleasing appearance.
  • a folding apparatus comprising an endless conveyor composed of spaced flexible belts, means spaced lengthwise of said belts for simultaneously engaging the upper run of said belts, a support having an upper support surface disposed adjacent to said upper run and intermediate the belt-engaging means, and means supporting said belt-engaging means for parallel, arcuate movement between a position in which said belt-engaging means maintain the upper run of said belts deflected above the uppermost portions of said support, and another position in which the upper run of said belts is permitted to descend below the uppermost portions of said support.
  • a folding apparatus comprising an endless conveyor composed of spaced flexible belts, support elements disposed between said belts and defining a support, means spaced lengthwise of said belts for simultaneously moving the upper run of said belts, and means supporting the belt-moving means for parallel, arcuate movement between a position in which said belt-moving means maintain the upper run of said belts deflected above the uppermost portions of said support, and another position in which the upper run of said belts is permitted to descend below the uppermost portions of said support.
  • a folding apparatus comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of spaced flexible belts, a plurality of support elements disposed between said spaced belts and defining a support, means spaced lengthwise of said belts for moving the upper run of said belts, means for actuating said belt-moving means whereby the belt portions interposed between said belt-moving means are moved in a plane substantially parallel to the lower run of said belts, and means supporting said belt moving means for arcuate movement between a position in which said belt-moving means maintain the upper run of said belts deflected above the uppermost portions of said support, and another position in which the upper run of said belts is permitted to descend below the uppermost portions of said support.
  • a folding apparatus comprising an endless conveyor of spaced flexible belts, support elements disposed between said belts and defining a support, means spaced lengthwise of said belts for simultaneously engaging the upper run of said belts, and means supporting the belt-engaging means for parallel arcuate movement between a position in which said belt-engaging means maintain the upper run of said belts deflected above the uppermost portions of said support, and another position in which the upper run of said belts is permitted to descend below the uppermost portions of said support, and folding means comprising counter-rotating pinch rolls disposed parallel to said belts and having the bite of said rolls interposed between two of said belts.
  • an apparatus for folding sheets or the like comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of spaced, flexible belts for conveying a sheet or the like, support elements defining a support disposed in substantially parallel relationship with the upper run of said belts, means spaced lengthwise of said belts for simultaneously moving the upper run of said belts, and means supporting said belt-moving means for parallel arcuate movement between a position in which said beltmoving means maintain said run deflected above the uppermost portions of said support, and another position in which said run of said belts is permitted to descend below the uppermost portions of said support whereby a sheet or the like may be deposited on said support when carried thereover by said belts, folding means disposed parallel to said belts and having an opening inter-posed between the spaced edges of two adjacent belts, and means for forcing a sheet or the like disposed on said support into said folding means, the forcing means being oppositely disposed to said folding means.
  • a sheet or the like engaged by said folding means initially engages a first conveyor and at least one transverse folding means disposed in the path of such sheet or the like while conveyed on said first conveyor whereby such sheet or the like is transversely folded prior to engaging said folding means; said transverse folding means engaging the leading edge portion of a sheet or the like and depositing the same on substantially the terminal edge of such sheet or the like while carried by said first conveyor.
  • the folding apparatus of claim 5 in whizh a sheet or the like passing through said folding means is conveyed into engagement with at least one transverse folding means while on a third conveyor whereby the sheet or the like is again folded; said transverse folding means engaging the leading edge of a sheet or the like and depositing the same on the terminal edge of said sheet or the like while carried by said third conveyor.
  • a folding apparatus comprising constantly moving conveyor means for moving foldable articles in one direction of movement, said conveyor means having a continuous longitudinal opening therein; means for folding a foldable article along a foldline substantially parallel to said direction of movement disposed beneath the longitudinal opening in said conveyor means and adapted to rapidly pull a foldable article beneath said conveyor means; article-support means disposed slightly 15 16 above the level of said conveyor means and adapted to References Cited support spaced portions of a foldable article as such fold- U N STATES PATENTS able article is being folded by the folding means; said support means being disposed over said folding means 11222 6/1956 Dexter 27081 and adapted to receive foldable articles thereon from the 5 29651213 12/1950 Kugler 19821 3,094,321 6/1963 Karnberg 270-68 constantly-moving conveyor means moving thereby; said article-supoort means and saidconveyor means being in FOREIGN PATENTS fixed relative positions, the 1n1t1al edge portions of the support means being inclined
US495770A 1964-12-08 1965-10-14 Cross folder with sheet elevating means Expired - Lifetime US3361424A (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US495770A US3361424A (en) 1964-12-08 1965-10-14 Cross folder with sheet elevating means
BE672775A BE672775A (xx) 1964-12-08 1965-11-24
DEC37496A DE1235253B (de) 1964-12-08 1965-11-25 Laengsfaltvorrichtung fuer Waeschestuecke od. dgl.
GB51192/65A GB1109553A (en) 1964-12-08 1965-12-02 Cross folder
CH1677965A CH448003A (de) 1964-12-08 1965-12-06 Faltapparat
SE15814/65A SE329825B (xx) 1964-12-08 1965-12-07
FR41280A FR1466492A (fr) 1964-12-08 1965-12-07 Machine servant à plier transversalement un article plat, tel qu'un drap de lit
NL6515862A NL6515862A (xx) 1964-12-08 1965-12-07

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US41681564A 1964-12-08 1964-12-08
US495770A US3361424A (en) 1964-12-08 1965-10-14 Cross folder with sheet elevating means

Publications (1)

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US3361424A true US3361424A (en) 1968-01-02

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US495770A Expired - Lifetime US3361424A (en) 1964-12-08 1965-10-14 Cross folder with sheet elevating means

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US (1) US3361424A (xx)
BE (1) BE672775A (xx)
CH (1) CH448003A (xx)
DE (1) DE1235253B (xx)
FR (1) FR1466492A (xx)
GB (1) GB1109553A (xx)
NL (1) NL6515862A (xx)
SE (1) SE329825B (xx)

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US3517919A (en) * 1967-09-11 1970-06-30 Maintenance Free Machines Inc Sheet folding machine
US3531102A (en) * 1967-07-13 1970-09-29 Sjostrom Automations Inc Combination folder having selective delivery to plural cross-folders
US3559983A (en) * 1967-05-12 1971-02-02 Sjostrom Automations Inc Large sheet folder including sheet securing means
US3572688A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-03-30 Dan D Mazzolla Final folder for flatwork
US3577665A (en) * 1969-09-08 1971-05-04 Chicago Dryer Co Laundry apparatus
US3578311A (en) * 1969-05-29 1971-05-11 Cities Service Co Folding method and apparatus therefor
US3680852A (en) * 1970-04-24 1972-08-01 Chicago Dryer Co Folder construction
US3706450A (en) * 1970-10-20 1972-12-19 Jensen Machinery Inc Folding apparatus
US3806007A (en) * 1971-06-01 1974-04-23 F Grantham Textile folder
US4073486A (en) * 1975-04-21 1978-02-14 Chicago Dryer Company Folder construction
US5079867A (en) * 1990-03-05 1992-01-14 Chicago Dryer Company Ironer-folder for flatwork, apparatus and method
US5624366A (en) * 1994-06-29 1997-04-29 Beeri; Avri A. Laundry sheet folding apparatus
WO2018122841A1 (en) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Foldimate Inc Domestic compact article folding machine having stacked conveyor layers and folding method therefor
WO2019052808A1 (de) * 2017-09-14 2019-03-21 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Fördereinrichtung für eine faltvorrichtung zum falten von textilien
US20220074125A1 (en) * 2020-09-07 2022-03-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Garment folding machine and method of controlling the same
US20220251776A1 (en) * 2019-07-04 2022-08-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Clothes folding machine
US20230148695A1 (en) * 2020-03-10 2023-05-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Clothes folding device

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GB749254A (en) * 1953-02-17 1956-05-23 Alec Arthur Ireland Improvements relating to folding mechanisms for sheet material and particularly laundered articles
US2751222A (en) * 1952-06-19 1956-06-19 Barkley & Dexter Inc Sheet-folding machine
US2965213A (en) * 1958-07-30 1960-12-20 Gen Electric Cross transfer conveyor system
US3094321A (en) * 1961-01-31 1963-06-18 Chicago Dryer Co Folding apparatus

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US2000063A (en) * 1933-12-22 1935-05-07 American Laundry Mach Co Folding machine
US2158896A (en) * 1938-03-15 1939-05-16 Roland W Charles Automatic folding machine
GB688224A (en) * 1950-08-09 1953-03-04 A & C Jenner Ltd Laundry apparatus for folding flat pieces of material
GB715548A (en) * 1952-05-13 1954-09-15 Manlove Alliott & Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to laundry folding machinery
GB793438A (en) * 1955-04-07 1958-04-16 Broadbent & Sons Ltd Thomas Improvements in laundry folding machines
BE539666A (fr) * 1955-07-08 1959-07-17 J Vanden Bulcke Machine a plier le linge.

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US2751222A (en) * 1952-06-19 1956-06-19 Barkley & Dexter Inc Sheet-folding machine
GB749254A (en) * 1953-02-17 1956-05-23 Alec Arthur Ireland Improvements relating to folding mechanisms for sheet material and particularly laundered articles
US2965213A (en) * 1958-07-30 1960-12-20 Gen Electric Cross transfer conveyor system
US3094321A (en) * 1961-01-31 1963-06-18 Chicago Dryer Co Folding apparatus

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3559983A (en) * 1967-05-12 1971-02-02 Sjostrom Automations Inc Large sheet folder including sheet securing means
US3531102A (en) * 1967-07-13 1970-09-29 Sjostrom Automations Inc Combination folder having selective delivery to plural cross-folders
US3517919A (en) * 1967-09-11 1970-06-30 Maintenance Free Machines Inc Sheet folding machine
US3572688A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-03-30 Dan D Mazzolla Final folder for flatwork
US3578311A (en) * 1969-05-29 1971-05-11 Cities Service Co Folding method and apparatus therefor
US3577665A (en) * 1969-09-08 1971-05-04 Chicago Dryer Co Laundry apparatus
US3680852A (en) * 1970-04-24 1972-08-01 Chicago Dryer Co Folder construction
US3706450A (en) * 1970-10-20 1972-12-19 Jensen Machinery Inc Folding apparatus
US3806007A (en) * 1971-06-01 1974-04-23 F Grantham Textile folder
US4073486A (en) * 1975-04-21 1978-02-14 Chicago Dryer Company Folder construction
US5079867A (en) * 1990-03-05 1992-01-14 Chicago Dryer Company Ironer-folder for flatwork, apparatus and method
US5624366A (en) * 1994-06-29 1997-04-29 Beeri; Avri A. Laundry sheet folding apparatus
WO2018122841A1 (en) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Foldimate Inc Domestic compact article folding machine having stacked conveyor layers and folding method therefor
CN110382772A (zh) * 2016-12-30 2019-10-25 G·罗佐夫 具有堆叠传送器层的家用紧凑型物品折叠机及其折叠方法
US11198969B2 (en) * 2016-12-30 2021-12-14 Foldimate, Inc. Domestic compact article folding machine having stacked conveyor layers and folding method therefor
WO2019052808A1 (de) * 2017-09-14 2019-03-21 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Fördereinrichtung für eine faltvorrichtung zum falten von textilien
CN111094645A (zh) * 2017-09-14 2020-05-01 Bsh家用电器有限公司 用于折叠织物的折叠设备的传送装置
US11261562B2 (en) * 2017-09-14 2022-03-01 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Conveyor device for a folding apparatus for folding textiles
CN111094645B (zh) * 2017-09-14 2022-05-03 Bsh家用电器有限公司 用于折叠织物的折叠设备的传送装置
US20220251776A1 (en) * 2019-07-04 2022-08-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Clothes folding machine
US20230148695A1 (en) * 2020-03-10 2023-05-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Clothes folding device
US20220074125A1 (en) * 2020-09-07 2022-03-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Garment folding machine and method of controlling the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6515862A (xx) 1966-06-09
CH448003A (de) 1967-12-15
BE672775A (xx) 1966-03-16
GB1109553A (en) 1968-04-10
SE329825B (xx) 1970-10-26
DE1235253B (de) 1967-03-02
FR1466492A (fr) 1967-01-20

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