US3680852A - Folder construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A folder has two folding stations for quarter folding a sheet or the like. The first folding station employs two independently operable clamping sections which secure the leading edge of the sheet in place against a stationary inclined support surface. The sections and support surface are located above a conveyer which carries the remainder of the sheet beneath such leading edge in the course of effecting a first transverse fold.

Description

United States Patent Kamberg 1451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] FOLDERCONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Eduard F. Kamberg, Deerfield, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Chicago Dryer Company, Chicago,

Ill.

Filed: April 24, 1970 Appl.No.: 31,539

US. Cl ..270/62, 270/68 Int. Cl ..B65h 45/16, B6Sh 45/12 Field of Search ..270/62, 66, 61 R, 68 R, 69

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,361,424 H1968 Kamberg", ..270/66 3,116,059 12/1963 Jensen ..270/68R 3,260,518- 7/1966 Kamberg ..270/62 3,005,630 10/1961 Bergman et al. ..270/68 R 2,740,627 4/1956 Woodward et al. ..270/68 R 3,133,732 5/1964 Beamishet al ..270/61 R Primary Examiner--Lawrence Charles Att0rneyPendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson [57] ABSTRACT A folder has two folding stations for quarter folding a sheet or the like. The first folding station employs two independently operable clamping sections which secure the leading edge of the sheet in place against a stationary inclined support surface. The sections and support surface are located above a conveyer which carries the remainder of the sheet beneath such leading edge in the course of effecting a first transverse fold.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures m /1mm PATENTEDAUB 11972 sumanra 'f/rnoli n 1 FOLDER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to folding machines adapted for use in' laundries or other institutions where a large volume of laundered sheets or the like will be folded. The machines hereinafter disclosed also have application in textile mills in the folding of newly manufactured sheets. i

2. The Prior Art With the advent of the synthetic fiber-cotton fabrics, new problemswere introduced into both the small and large laundry. Whereas previously the all-cotton sheet could be readily ironed and mechanically conveyed to an automatic folder, with the arrival of the polyestercotton fabrics the ironing step has in many instances been eliminated. Such elimination is possible. if the washed sheets are removed from a dryer promptly after termination of the drying cycle and smoothed out to prevent the formation of deep-set wrinkles.

However, because of the rather limp character 'of a dried but unironed or unfinished sheet, difficulty has been experienced in attempting to rapidly feed a washed but unironed sheet into an automatic folder. In textile mills newly manufactured sheets may be readily folded into quarters by means of the folder hereinafter described, with a minimum of hand labor.

In accordance with this invention, a novel clamping station employing two independently operable clamping sections, which may comprise two movable bars movable against a fixed inclined plate, is employed in conjunction with an underlying feed conveyor. An operator initially clamps one end of the sheet leading edge above the feed conveyor by means i of a first clamping bar. The remainder of the leading edge is then stretched taut across the folder width and clamped in place. in the stretched condition by means of a second clamping bar. A feed conveyor is then energized and the remainder of the sheet moves beneath the clamped sheet leading edge on a feed conveyor. When the trailing edge of the sheet leaves a precisely located switch actuator, a circuit is established which releases the two clamping sections allowing the sheet leading edge to drop onto the sheet trailing edge, thereby effecting a transverse half fold.

The half-folded sheet then proceeds over a pair of counter-rotating pinch rolls at which point the conveyor is stopped. Means such as an air bar is simultaneously actuatedto force the longitudinal central portion of the sheet into the bite of counter-rotating pinch rolls disposed beneath an opening between continuous tapes of the feed conveyor. The now quarter-folded sheet is then conveyed to a receiving platform whereat additional folding by hand may be carried out if desired.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a folder adapted to fold unironed flatwork and newly manufactured sheets or the like with a minimum of wrinkle formation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folder particularly adapted for precisely quarter-folding synthetic fiber-cotton sheets or the like which are wrinkle resistant.

It still is another object of this invention to provide a novel clamping assembly for use in a folding station which assures wrinkle elimination in the leading edge of a new or laundered sheet thereby facilitating folding of the entire sheet with the substantially complete absence of wrinkles.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sheet quarter folder adapted to fold in a substantially automatic manner, unironed, laundered sheets or the like of varying size without the need for complex and expensive measuring devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folder for use with sheets which may employ a simple time delay for effecting desired half-folds in such sheets prior to subsequent folding into desired package sizes, as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a folder made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away, of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of apparatus components employed in the two folding stations of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the left corner components employed in the first folding station of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. '5 is a perspective view illustrating in a schematic manner the various stages which a sheet or the like goes through in the course of being folded by the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical circuitry which may be employed in a folder made in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION or belts l8 rotatably driven by roller 20, see FIG. 2,

which is in turn driven by motor 22 through connecting belt or chain 24. The tapes l8 engage forward roller 26 at the feed end of apparatus 10, as well as the drive roller 20.

Positioned above roller 26, see FIG. 2, is a transverse inclined anvil plate 28 which extends across the entire width of the conveyor 16, as is most readily seen from FIG. 1. Plate 28 in conjunction with a pivotally mounted clamping bar assembly 30 serves as a clamping station employed in the course of effecting a first transverse fold in a sheet or the like which is fed into the apparatus 10.

In the normal course of use, the feed conveyor 16 is in the stopped condition, that is, the motor 22 is in the off condition. A corner portion of the leading edge of a sheet or the like is then moved onto the left-hand portion of inclined plate 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1, beneath clamp bar 32. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that there are three clamp bar sections, 32, 34 and 36, which comprise the clamping assembly 30 in conjunction with the stationary anvil plate 28. Each of the clamping bar sections 32, 34 and 36 is attached to a rotating actuating rod, clamp segment 32 being connected to rod 33 by means of connecting strap 38. Clamping bar 34 is connected to rotatable rod 40 by means of connecting straps 42, and right-hand clamping bar 36 is also connected to the rotatable actuating rod 40 by means of strap 46. Clamping bars 34 and 36 are thus seen to be rotatable simultaneously.

In the course of moving the sheet edge portion over the left-hand corner portion of plate 28, actuator 50 (which protrudes through plate 28) of switch 52 will be urged into a downward position, see FIG. 4, and the switch 52 will now complete an electrical circuit. A solenoid valve will be energized to allow air to enter into cylinder 54 extending piston rod 56, thereby rotating rod 33 in a counterclockwise direction so as to lower the clamp bar 32 into the clamping position illustrated in FIG. 4; connecting links 58 join piston rod 56 to the rotatable rod 33.

It will be noted that the rotatable rods 33 and 40 are independently actuatable. Air cylinder 54 rotates bar 33 as illustrated in FIG. 4, and air cylinder 54a rotates rod 40 which actuates clamping bars 34 and 36 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Linkages 58a perform the same functions in conjunction with the associated elements illustrated in FIG. 2 as do links 58 illustrated in FIG. 4.

After the left-hand leading edge portion of a sheet is clamped between the clamp bar 32 and the underlying anvil plate 28, an operator will pull the remainder of the leading edge of a sheet taut, and stretch the same across the width of the inclined surface of plate 28. The apparatus enables a single operator to clamp a sheet in position for folding, or if increased speed is desired, a team of two or more may be employed for clamping opposed edge portions of a sheet in place. As the remainder of the leading edge of the sheet is placed in position on the ramp surface, the right-hand edge portion of the leading edge of the sheet will actuate switch actuator 50a of switch 52a, causing the clamping bars 34 and 36 to pivot downwardly into clamping engagement with the underlying surface of plate 28. Switch actuator 53 of switch 55 disposed next to switch 52a (see FIG. 1) will be simultaneously actuated. The function of switch 55 will be explained hereinafter.

As is most clearly seen from FIG. 1, bar 36 enables an operator to place her hands on either side thereof, and accordingly, depending upon the length of the leading edge of the sheet, the right-hand edge may terminate just beyond the end of the bar 34, or, in the event that the sheet is extra wide, the end portion of the sheet may be pulled taut beneath bar 36. Thus, bar 36 enables sheets of extra width to be accommodated in the illustrated apparatus 10.

After the second section or sections of the clamping bar assembly are moved downwardly into clamping engagement with the stationary anvil surface 28, the operator will actuate drive motor 22, see FIG. 2, thereby actuating the feed conveyor 16 to move the sheet portion depending from the leading edge clamped in the clamping station 30 inwardly into the machine on the continuous spaced belts 18.

A curved bar 63 (see FIG. 2) is placed in front of feed conveyor 16 whereby a sheet fed into apparatus 10 is automatically spread out and the wrinkles removed as the sheet moves inwardly. FIG. 5 indicates the curved configuration assumed by the depending portion of sheet S1 hanging from the bar disposed in front of the feed conveyor A vibrator 49 connected to said bar may be employed to assist wrinkle removal as a sheet is fed into apparatus 10.

In advance of clamping station 30 is a switch 60 having an actuator 62 projecting from a switch 60 interposed between two of the continuous tapes 18 comprising a portion of the feed conveyor 16 (see FIG. 2). Actuator 62 is preferably disposed in the approximate center of the feed conveyor as viewed in FIG. 1. It is the function of the switch 60 to establish a circuit which releases the clamp bars 32, 34 and 36 after the trailing edge of the sheet which is being carried into the interior of the apparatus 10 leaves contact with the switch actuator 62. The release circuit de-energizes the circuits controlling the solenoids which in turn control the air passage into the air cylinders 54 and 54a. As the clamp bars are raised, the leading edge of the sheet will be allowed to drop onto the trailing edge of the sheet which is then passing therebeneath.

The half-folded sheet will continue to move inwardly on the feed conveyor 16 until the leading bight edge of the sheet contacts switch actuator 64 of switch 66 which is mounted on an air bar 68 as is most clearly seen in FIG. 2. The air bar 68 is disposed over substantially the central longitudinal axis of the half-folded sheet. On contacting the switch actuator 64, the drive motor 22 of the feed conveyor 16 stops, allowing the sheet to come to a stop; simultaneously or shortly thereafter a valve is opened which passes compress air into the air bar 68. The air bar discharges air downwardly forcing the central longitudinal axis of the half-folded sheet between the bite of counter-rotating pinch rolls 70 as is most clearly seen in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The sheet is now quarter folded and drops onto discharge conveyor 76 which is driven by motor 72 through drive belt 74, which also serves to drive the pinch rolls 70 in counter-rotating directions. The discharge conveyor 76 conveys the now quarter-folded sheet to a table 78 disposed on the exterior of the apparatus 10, as is most clearly seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The various stages through which a sheet progresses in apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein a sheet in form S1 has a leading edge thereof clamped beneath the illustrated clamp bar assembly allowing the remainder of the sheet to move therebeneath on the feed conveyor 16. Sheet in the form of the sheet S2 has been half folded and is now positioned above the counter-rotating pinch rolls 70 prior to being folded in half with the assistance of an air discharge emitted from the air bar 68. The sheet in form S3 illustrates the sheet following quarter folding by means of the counterrotating pinch rolls 70 and depicts the sheet in the form deposited onto the discharge conveyor 76.

For a clearer understanding of the working relationship between the various elements of the illustrated apparatus 10, reference will now be made to schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 6

The operator upon grasping one corner portion of a sheet will close switch 52 as the sheet moves actuator 50 downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. It will be noted from FIG. 6 that closing of the switch 52 will enable-current to pass through line 61, relay 80 by means of normally closed contact 79, line 63, into relay 82 and through the latter relay by means of normally closed contact 81, line 65 and into solenoid 84 controlling the air passage into the air cylinder 54 illustrated in FIG. 4. Upon energization of the solenoid 84, piston rod 56 projecting from air cylinder 54 is extended, moving bar 32 into the clamping position illustrated in FIG. 4.

After a corner portion is clamped in place on stationary ramp surface 28 following closing of switch 52, the remainder of the sheet leading edge is grasped by the operator and placed beneath the clamp bar segment 34, and if the sheet is wide enough, beneath the clamp bar segment 36. Switch actuator 50a of switch 52a is thereby moved into the position which closes a circuit energizing solenoid 88. Solenoid 88 controls the air movement within cylinder 54a more'clearly seen in FIG. 2 which in turn controls the pivotal movement of the clamp bar segments 34 and 36. Upon the closing of switch 52a,'current passes to solenoid 88 after entering relay 82 through line 67, whereafter the current passes through normally-closed contact 69 and into the solenoid 88 through line 71.

In order to facilitate retraction of the clamping bars 32, 34 and 36 of the illustrated apparatus 10, auxiliary switch 55 having a movable switch actuator 53 is employed. This switch is disposed in side-by-side relationship with switch 52 as indicated in FIG. 1 and previously noted above. It will be seen from FIG. 6 that upon moving the switch actuator 53, as the operator positions the sheet into place beneath the long clamp bar segment 34, current will pass by means of line 98 into relay 80, energizing coil 100 therein as a result of which normally closed contact 79 will be opened. However, current passage to solenoid 84 controlling the air within air cylinder 54 is maintained by means of current passing into relay 80 through the closed switch 60 by means of line 102. Switch 60 is closed as the sheet is clamped in place and fed on conveyor 16. Upon energization of coil 100 of relay 80, current may pass from relay 80 through line 63 into relay 82 through closed contact 81 and through line 65 into the solenoid 84.

Assuming that the trailing edge of sheet being folded within the apparatus has left contact with the switch actuator 62 of switch 60, switch actuator 62 will revert to its normal position illustrated in FIG. 6 allowing current to pass by means of line 108 into relay 92 energizing coil 110 therein; relay 92 includes a variable capacitor 112 which may readily be hand set. After expiration of a desired time interval, current will bridge the capacitor 112 and enter into line 94 and energize coil 114 of relay 82. Energization of the latter coil will open normally closed contacts 81 and 69 thereby terminating current passage to solenoids 84 and 88 through lines 65 and 71, respectively.

The time delay relay 92 is a feature which is preferably employed in those folders which are'adapted to be utilized in mills wherein new sheets are made and packaged for sale in retail stores and the like. Sheets of varying size are commonly used in the home, and

sheets sold in the average retail store are available in a variety of sizes. Normally such sheets are folded and placed in a package having the same peripheral dimensions to facilitate shipping and storage despite the size of the sheet contained therein. By employing a time delay such as time delay 92 of FIG. 6, the precise instant at which the leading edge of a sheet which is being half folded is released by the clamping bar segments, 32, 34 and 36 may be accurately controlled.

Thus in the case of exceedingly large sheets it may be desired not to form a precise half fold at the first folding station of apparatus 10. It may be desired to drop the leading edge beyond the terminal edge so that in subsequent folding operations an attending hand folder may utilize the amount of overlap for purposes of forming a desired finished peripheral size. Time delay 92 therefore enables a degree of flexiblity to be employed in the apparatus 10 whereby the apparatus may be adaptable for folding sheets of varying sizes to provide the desired amount of overlap in the course of folding a first half fold. Each sheet size' will have a specific time delay whichmay be readily set at 112 in the time delay 92. Where flexibility in the first half fold is not desired capacitor 112 may be eliminated to provide immediate clamp bar release.

It is seen therefore from the foregoing description that a novel folding apparatus has been provided which is readily adapted for folding laundered sheets, particularly sheets made from synthetic fiber and cotton. Such materials are relatively wrinkle resistant, and following washing and drying steps, need not be ironed if removed from the dryer prior to formation of deep-set wrinkles. The use of the two-part clamping station 30 employed in the illustrated apparatus 10 will enable a leading edge portion of such a laundered sheet to be stretched and mounted in place by one or more attendants. A desired half fold is then formed prior to the subsequent formation of cross fold whereby the original sheet is folded in quarters. The quarter folded sheet is then discharged onto a table 78 most clearly seen in FIG. 1, whereafter an attendant may readily fold such sheet into a desired size and configuration.

As above point out, the apparatus 10 has particular application for use in mills wherein sheets of the type above described are manufactured. Whereas previously it had been a laborious time-consuming operation requiring the use of a large quantity of manual labor, by employing the apparatus 10, the most difficult folds of a sheet may be readily accomplished whereafter a single individual may readily form the quarter-folded sheet into a desired peripheral configuration ready for packaging. The use of the time delay relay above described will enable the initial half fold to be desirable formed in conformance with the size of the sheet so that in the course of subsequent hand folding a desired sheet size may be arrived at which is suitable for packaging and retailing.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry apparatus for processing sheets or the like, the combination comprising an input conveyor extending from the exterior of said apparatus into the interior thereof adapted to move a sheet or the like from the apparatus exterior into its interior; support means disposed across substantially the entire width of said apparatus, and above and at substantially right angles to the path of travel of said input conveyor; clamping means having at least two independently operable sections disposed in parallel adjacent relation with said support means; each of said sections being movable into tight clamping engagement and into spaced relation with said support means; means for actuating each of said independently operable sections of said clamping means upon manually placing spaced leading edge portions of a sheet or the like in predetermined positions on said support means; one of said clamping means independently operable sections being disposed adjacent one lateral end of said apparatus over one end portion of said support means and being of such reduced size as to engage only a small corner portion of the leading edge of a sheet or the like; the entire leading edge of a sheet or the like being supported on said support means when engaging said independently operable sections; means for actuating said input conveyer after the leading edge of a sheet or the like has been clamped to said support means by said clamping means whereby the portion of a sheet or the like contiguous with such a clamped leading edge may be moved inwardly by said input conveyer beneath said support means; means for moving said clamping means into spaced relation with said support means when the trailing edge of such sheet or the like approaches said support means whereby the leading edge of such sheet falls upon such sheet trailing edge and effects a half fold in said sheet; the actuating means for said clamping means comprising spaced switch actuators disposed adjacent spaced portions of said support means which define said predetermined positions. I

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a regulatable time delay means operatively connected to the means for moving the clamping means into spaced relation with said support means whereby a pre-set time period may expire after said sheet terminal edge portion is predeterminately located relative to said clamping sections prior to movement of said clamping sections away from said support means.

Claims (2)

1. In a laundry apparatus for processing sheets or the like, the combination comprising an input conveyor extending from the exterior of said apparatus into the interior thereof adapted to move a sheet or the like from the apparatus exterior into its interior; support means disposed across substantially the entire width of said apparatus, and above and at substantially right angles to the path of travel of said input conveyor; clamping means having at least two independently operable sections disposed in parallel adjacent relation with said support means; each of said sections being movable into tight clamping engagement and into spaced relation with said support means; means for actuating each of said independently operable sections of said clamping means upon manually placing spaced leading edge portions of a sheet or the like in predetermined positions on said support means; one of said clamping means independently operable sections being disposed adjacent one lateral end of said apparatus over one end portion of said support means and being of such reduced size as to engage only a small corner portion of the leading edge of a sheet or the like; the entire leading edge of a sheet or the like being supported on said support means when engaging said independently operable sections; means for actuating said input conveyer after the leading edge of a sheet or the like has been clamped to said support means by said clamping means whereby the portion of a sheet or the like contiguous with such a clamped leading edge may be moved inwardly by said input conveyer beneath said support means; means for moving said clamping means into spaced relation with said support means when the trailing edge of such sheet or the like approaches said support means whereby the leading edge of such sheet falls upon such sheet trailing edge and effects a half fold in said sheet; the actuating means for said clamping means comprising spaced switch actuators disposed adjacent spaced portions of said support means which define said predetermined positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a regulatable time delay means operatively connected to the means for moving the clamping means into spaced relation with said support means whereby a pre-set time period may expire after said sheet terminal edge portion is predeterminately located relative to said clamping sections prior to movement of said clamping sections away from said support means.

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