US3871561A - Upright folding apparatus for clothing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding apparatus for textile goods having an upright frame, a pair of longitudinal side fold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane within the frame towards each other, a longitudinal folding plate having a pair of folding plate members adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transverse fold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming a rest surface for the folding plate members in a predetermined position, the transverse folding blades each having a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverse blades are facing each other, a counter support adapted for movement transversely and located between the front edges of the transverse fold blades, a transverse folding plate cooperating with the transverse fold blades and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades.

Description

[ Mar. 18, 1975 l UPRIGHT FOLDING APPARATUS FOR CLOTHING ARTICLES Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest F. Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT A folding apparatus for textile goods having an upright [76] Inventor: Conrad Arhter, Mittelweg l l/lO,

D874l Saal an der Saale, Germany frame, a pair of longitudinal side fold blades adapted r movement in a vertical plane within the frame towards each other, a longitudinal folding plate having a pair of folding plate members adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transverse fold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming face for the folding plate members in a prethe transverse folding blades each having a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverse blades are facing each other, a counter support adapted for movement transversely and located between the front edges of the transverse fold blades, a transverse folding plate cooperating with the transverse fold blades and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the longitudinal 18 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 0 08 8 77 m 30 6 33 7 UN M 33 22 n nmvim 22 "1 6 a m .Mltlorsa I. n a 3 u a m mu t S m n n r Ym mm2l w7 N "m uh m 12 2 E H M m mml mm H m 0 0 m .3 4 P. m mu G mm 7 n HNHWQ S D 0 n mmm 5E w m mmm cT m 5 w w r HZ MA .m l l H e mmm rT. m v. PG R .mSFG a n. uuhl e I n m 66 0 w & I99 N E H NHH r5 .L 97 1. n D- 6 5 m P m S M F A J U-mF W 88 ,4 1 111 1 an I 0 21 0 HQ MD 555 UPRIGHT FOLDING APPARATUS FOR CLOTHING ARTICLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a folding arrangement for textile folded articles wherein the folding arrangement includes a plurality of longitudinal and transverse folding arms operable in a controlled manner and in a predetermined sequence and which also cooperates with a folding plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In connection with the folding of textile folded materials several folding arrangements became known or have been proposed in which a folding plate has associated therewith a pair of longitudinal folding arms which are offset in height with respect to each other and which are adapted to move towards each other. The article under folding is brought into the region of the folding instruments in such a manner that its middle portion will lie under the folding plate while its both side edge regions or portions will lieon the longitudinal side folding arms. The latter will perform one after the other operating movements directed toward each other and thereby will form a pair of folds by folding over two side edge regions one after the other. The folded article which became prefolded in such a manner from here by means of an intermediate conveyor will be moved into the region of a second folding station which is arranged at a right angle with respect to the first folding station and is provided with a transverse folding plate as well as transverse folding arms which are again disposed opposite with respect to each other in height and adapted to move toward each other. Such folding instruments of the second station perform during the operation similarly like the instruments of the first folding station each a fold. The folded article which has become folded once on both of its longitudinal and transverse sides becomes now moved by means of a delivery conveyor to a stacking station.

The above-described known or proposed folding arrangements may have the disadvantage that the article under the folding between the individual folding steps must be transferred from one of the folding staions to the next one by a conveyor means which is actuated in a controlled manner. For this reason, such folding apparatus are constructively very complicated and the article after the first folding step has been performed on it cannot be straightened out anymore, which fact, may result sometimes in insufficient folding accuracy.

After recognizing the above-noted disadvantages of known folding arrangements, a folding arrangement has been proposed in which the intermediate conveying of the article has been eliminated and simultaneously several folding instruments can be operated on the article. Such apparatus includes a pair of longitudinal side folding arms which are offset with respect to each other in height and which are movable towards each other, and which are in cooperation with a longitudinal side folding plate broken up into a pair of folding plate members. Such folding plate members can be set in their operating position onto a pair of oppositely movable transverse folding plates or arms which in turn cooperate with a transverse folding platc moving parallel with respect to the direction of movement of the longitudinal side folding arms. As a result, the folding operation becomes substantially accelerated and at the same time the accuracy of the folding is increased. This lastmentioned folding apparatus is, however, adapted for the folding of horizontally lying articles. Such folding apparatus could not be used at an advantage in the case of the manufacturing and the subsequent packaging of folded underwear or apparel since such articles between the last manufacturing step and the first folding step must undergo a visual quality control. In the even such final control in the course of which the front as well as the back side of the underwear or apparel must be thoroughly observed, would be attempted to be performed in such proposed apparatus before the first folding step, then the article which is to be folded and arriving in its spread out position at a delivery table would have to be turned around before its insertion into the folding apparatus in such a manner that its underside could be also observed. Only after the observation of this underside could the article become again fully spread out on the delivery surface of the folding apparatus and passed into it.

A substantially simpler manipulation of the articles under folding could be had if the articles arriving in their horizontal position could be passed on to the folding apparatus in a handing position and transferred in such position to the folding stations.

For the folding of clothing, a folding apparatus became known which starts with the clothing in its hanging state, however, such folding apparatus is provided with folding flaps and folding plates which cooperate therewith. In such apparatus the second folding step on an article could be commenced only then when the first folding step has been performed by the instrument performing such folding steps and only after such instruments at least partially perform their return movement leading to their rest position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improved folding apparatus for articles made from a flexible textile material, especially clothing, in which, the abovenoted disadvantages associated with intermediate movements and conveying of the articles are eliminated and which permits the operation of a plurality of folding instruments simultaneously on the article to be folded.

According to the present invention a folding apparatus is provided including a plurality of longitudinal and transverse fold arms cooperating with each other and controlled in a predetermined sequence, such longitudinal and transverse fold arms cooperating with controlled folding plates in such a manner that a pair of longitudinal side fold arms movable in a vertical plane has associated therewith a longitudinal fold plate subdivided into a pair of fold plate members movable opposite to each other and thatthe longitudinal side fold arms also cooperate with a pair of transverse fold arms which are movable in the vertical direction between the longitudinal side fold arms and which form an abutting surface for the fold plate members, and wherein between the front edges of the transverse fold arms a controlled and transversely movable countersupport is provided for a transverse folding plate movable parallel with respect to the plane of movement of the longitudinal side folding arms and cooperable with the transverse folding arms, and wherein further the countersupport and/or the transverse folding arms are provided with retaining means for the articles under folding.

In order to provide for a possible flat supporting, that is, counter supporting surface for the articles under folding when they are inserted into the apparatus, the transverse fold arms and the counter support can be brought into a verticle plane together with the longitudinal side fold arms.

In order to provide for the possibly most perfect counter surface for the article under folding. the transverse fold arms and the counter support are arranged in such a manner that the space between the front edges of the transverse fold arms when in the rest or inoperative position will correspond to the height of the counter support.

In order that already during the performing of the first transverse folding step the prefolded article could be simultaneously separated from the counter support, the lower transverse folding arm is provided with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, whereupon its side wall facing the counter support is formed from a plurality of spaced rods which can be inserted into recesses formed in the counter support and which recesses run parallel with respect to their longitudinal direction.

The prefolded articles simply can be taken over by the lower transverse fold arm in that both side walls of the U-shaped transverse fold arm in its operating position will receive therebetween the transverse folding plate.

For the transfer of the readily folded article after it has been received and preformed by the lower transverse fold arm onto a delivery conveyor delivering the article into a stacking station, the invention provides that the lower transverse fold arm is pivotably arranged about a horizontal axle arranged in the region of its lower end and is provided below such pivoting position with a conveyor means arranged with conveying elements that the transfer fold arm in its pivoted position will protrude between such elements.

The controlling of thespread out or partially folded article on the counter support or on the transverse fold arm and its holding thereon by supporting means is solved by the present invention in that the supporting means of the counter support and of the transverse folding arm are in the form on each. of suction apertures communicating with a suction conduit in a controlled fashion.

In order that the articles under folding could be transferred into the folding apparatus already outside of the folding station and that the folding apparatus could be operated simultaneously by two persons, the present invention provides that the folding apparatus has associated therewith a hanger-type conveyor operating with clipping means and the delivery plane of which runs between the plane of the longitudinal side folding members and the plane of the folding plate members in their rest position.

In the case of textile folded articles, especially in the case of clothing articles having different sizes, it is frequently necessary that they should be folded to a uniform final folded state. This can be achieved according to the present invention by that the vertical spacing between the clipping means of the conveyor with respect to the counter support is adjustable.

In the event clothing articles are folded which have arms, it is necessary that before the folding of the two longitudinal sides. the freely hanging arms should be brought in final position on the remaining center portion of the article. This can be achieved according to the present invention in that the folding apparatus is provided on its longitudinal side folding arms with an additional folding edge running at an angle preferably of 45 with respect to the main folding edge and protruding ahead of it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the entire folding apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the folding apparatus according to the present invention illustrating the unfolded article with dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line \/V of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, however, illustrating folding arms after a transverse movement;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the folding apparatus accord ing to the present invention after the folding ofthe longitudinal sides has taken place;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIIIVIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX in FIG. 7 and after the lower transverse folding has taken place;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8. however, illustrating the end of the entire folding process;

FIG. I] is a sectional view along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the counter support in its pivoted position;

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. I2;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 is a further embodiment of the longitudinal side folding arm according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures, particularly to FIG. 1, it is seen that the articles to be folded are illustrated as being clothing articles which first must be folded parallel with respect to their longitudinal sides and thereafter parallel with respect to their front or transverse sides. An article 1 is illustrated with dashed lines in the folding station itself. The folding apparatus according to the present invention includes a frame means 4 constructed from longitudinal bars or rods 2 and transverse rods 3 on which a pair oflongitudinal side folding arms or blades 5 and 6 are supported in a vertical plane and arranged for movement towards each other to make the fold. The operating movement of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 is imparted by a pneumatic cylinder or a system of pneumatic cylinders which are not illustrated and which are well known in the art. Both longitudinal side folding blades or arms 5 and 6 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 are arranged in such a manner that in their rest or inoperative position the distance between their respective folding edges is only slightly larger than the dimension of the longitudinal fold E a.

In the illustrated embodiment the two longitudinal sides of the article 1 in order to simplify the illustration are shown to undergo a folding which is smaller than the half of the longitudinal folding dimension E a. The longitudinal side folding arms or blades 5 and 6 may be arranged for this reason in a common vertical plane. In the event the amount of the fold of the two longitudinal sides becomes larger than the half of the longitudinal folding dimension E a then the two longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 will be arranged in two vertical planes which are sideways, that is, in the direction of the transverse rods 3, offset with respect to each other by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6.

With the two longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 a longitudinal side folding plate 7 cooperates and is arranged between them. The plate 7 is subdivided into a pair offolding plate members 8 and 9 which are adapted to be moved opposite to each other. The width of the folding plate members 8 and 9 corresponds to the longitudinal folding dimension E 11, and they are mounted in the frame means 4 in a manner allowing for their longitudinal movement occurring in a vertical plane between an operating and a rest position, also a movement transversely directed to the last-mentioned movement and for a purpose hereinafter described. Both types of operating movements of the plate members 8 and 9 are controlled by pneumatic cylinders which are not illustrated, however, which are well known in the art. The plate members 8 and 9 in their rest position are found in a plane, as seen in FIG. I, which is transverse with respect to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6.

Behind the plane of the two folding plate members 8 and 9 there are arranged a pair oftransverse fold members or blades I and II which cooperate with a common transverse folding plate 12. The transverse fold blades I0 and II are arranged in such a manner that their supporting or receiving surface facing the folding article I lies in the initial position of the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 in the same plane as the longitudinal side folding blades and 6. The upper as well as the lower transverse fold blades I0 and II are provided each with vacuum openings I3 and I5, respectively, which are controllably connected with a suction conduit. The transverse fold blades It] and 11 serve during the formation of the longitudinal fold as the counter support for the folding plate members 8 and 9 and for a purpose hereinafter described in more detail are adapted additionally to their operating movement occurring in the vertical direction running transverse to their operating movement. The drive of the transverse fold blades and 11 is affected also by means of a pneumatic cylinder means not illustrated in the drawing. The transverse fold blades 10 and 11 are arranged in such a manner that the distance between their facing front edges is slightly larger than the transverse folding dimension E u of the article I and which in turn also corresponds to the width ofthe transversc fold plate 12 as seen in FIG. 2.

While the upper transverse fold blade 10 is formed as a blade slidable within the frame means 4, the lower transverse fold blade 11, on the other hand, has a U- shaped cross-sectional area. The side wall 14 facing the article 1, that is, also the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6, is provided with vacuum apertures I5 which are connectable in a controlled fashion to a suction conduit. The side wall 14 forms an uniterrupted surface. The side wall of the blade II which is facing away or lying opposite to the article I and also to the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 is made up from a plurality of rods 16 which are spaced with respect to each other and which in the region of their lower end are coupled with the other side wall I4 as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the region of its lower end the transverse fold blade II is coupled with a horizontally lying axle I7 journaled in the frame means 4 as shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and I2 and performs at the end of the folding process a pivoting movement about the axle 17 as illustrated in FIG. 12, to deliver the readily folded article I to a removing conveyor as hereinafter described.

The transverse fold plate 12 cooperating with the transverse fold blades I0 and 11 is mounted in the frame means 4 in a fashion enabling its sliding in a horisontal plane. It is driven in its operating movement also by a pneumatic cylinder which is not illustrated in the drawing. With respect to its vertical positioning within the apparatus, the transverse fold plate I2 is arranged in such a manner that it can be moved within the region lying between the front edges of the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 and the width of such counter support 18 substantially corresponds to the longitudinal folding dimension E a, and the height of it corresponds to the distance between the front edges of the transverse fold blades 10 and 1].

The counter support 18 is provided with a plurality of recesses I9 running along its longitudinal direction and the number of which corresponds to the number of the rods 16 ofthe transverse folding blade 1]. Such recesses I9 during the formation of the lower transverse fold in the article 1 receive the rods 16. In its region the counter support 18 between the recesses 19 is provided with a plurality of vacuum apertures 20 which are controllably connectable to a suction conduit and which before and during the folding process serve to retain the article I. The counter support 18 is mounted for slidable movement in the frame 4 by a guiding arrangement running transversely with respect to the plane of the transverse folding plate 12. The counter support 18 is arranged in such a manner that in its rest position the supporting plane on which the article I will lie corresponds to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6. The transverse movement of the counter support 18 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder not shown in the drawing.

In order that the articles I to be folded may be transferred into the folding direction already outside of the folding station itself, the folding apparatus according to the present invention provides for a conveyor means 21 which is running around it in a horizontal plane and which is provided at predetermined distances with a plurality of gripping means 22 for receiving the articles I to be transmitted for the folding. Such gripping means 22 can be in the form of known clips which can be arrested either in their open or in their closed position by, for example, magnetic inserts.

As can be seen, especially in FIG. I, the conveyor means 21 which is driven by a motor not illustrated in the drawing is guided by four guide rollers 23 arranged in a horizontal plane about the folding apparatus and which are in turn supported in a carrying frame means 24. The frame means 24 is held by a plurality of carrier suspender means 25 arranged on the frame 4 and each of which is supported on a vertically adjustable threaded rod or spindle 26, thereby being vertically adjustable. At their upper end each of the spindles 26 is provided with a driving wheel 27. The driving wheels 27 are coupled with each other by means of a chain or toothed belt 28 so that when a motor 29 produces a rotary movement, such movement is transmitted by a belt 30 to one of the driving wheels 27 and simultaneously to all four spindles 26. As a result, all the carriers 25 can be synchronously moved up or down, as may be desired during the folding process as hereinafter described.

By changing the vertical position of the conveyor means 21, the distance between the clipping means 22 holding the articles 1 and the effective folding edges of the transverse folding plate 12 is changed. As a result, irrespective of any change in the initial size of the articles l, for example. due to size changes of the articles 1, the folding dimension E u remains always constant and by changing the distance between the lower and upper limiting edges of the article 1 with respect to the folding edges of the transverse folding plate 12, the length of the region which is to be folded over in the article 1 will correspondingly change.

The delivery plane or level of the conveyor means 21 as can be seen also in FIG. 1 is selected in such a man ner that the articles I to be folded are guided between the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 lying in a vertical plane and the folding plate members 8 and 9 which lie in front of such plane. In order to provide for an adjustment of the delivery plane, the carriers 25 which protrude into the carrying frame 24 can be adjusted in such a manner that the entire conveyor means 21 can be shifted with respect to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6. More specifically, this can be done by making the recesses for the carriers 25 on the carrier frame 24 somewhat larger than the width of the carriers 25 so that the entire carrying frame 24 in addition to the formerly described vertical movement thereof can be also adjusted to a desired extent also in a horizontal plane, that is, in the general vertical plane of the apparatus. As a result, the distance or plane of the clipping menas 22 with respect to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 is adjustable. it is also noted that the carrying frame 24 can be also provided with means arresting it in any adjusted position.

In order that the readily folded article 1 may be ,removed from the lower transverse folding blade 11, the invention provides for a conveyor means arranged sideways with respect to the axle 17 of the transverse folding blade [1 in the form of a removing conveyor means 31 as can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13. Such conveyor means 31 in addition to its drive, not shown, includes conveyor belts 33 which are guided with a distance between each other by means of guide rollers 32 and which in the pivoted down position of the transverse folding blade 11 protrude between the 1'. cls 16 thereof and deliver the article 1 to a stacking station following the conveyor means 31. In 0| in to secure the articles 1 from the sides the invention provides guide surfaces 34 along the outer conveyor belts 33 which prevent a falling off or loosening up of the folds.

The operation of the folding apparatus according to the present invention is as follows:

'It is assumed that all the folding instruments are in their initial position and an article 1 to be folded has been brought by the clips 22 of the conveyor means 21 to the folding station. As can be seen in FIG. 1, both longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 assume a position which is sideways with respect to the folding plate members 8 and 9 of the longitudinal folding plate 7 The folding plate members 8 and 9 are in their initial plane which lies in front of the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 and now their front edges facing each other have a distance which permits the insertion of a fold insert if necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the frontal edges of the folding plate members 8 and 9 corresponds approximately to the folding dimension E u, so that the folding insert will retain its maximum dimensions. Both transverse folding blades 10 and 11 are in their rest position in a plane which is transverse with respect to both longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 and in this position the distance between their facing frontal edges corresponds to the width of the counter support 18. The abutting or supporting surface of the counter support 18 which it provides for the article 1 is now in a plane defined by the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6. The transverse folding plate 12 is in its initial position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 in which it is lying in a vertical plane closely adjacent and before the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6.

The article 1 carried by the clips 22 is delivered by the conveyor means 21 into the region of the folding instruments. As mentioned above, the delivery plane lies between the plane of the folding plate members 8 and 9 and the plane of the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6 as well as that of the transverse folding blades 10 and 11 and that of the counter supporting surface 18. Such arrangement of the delivery plane is an assurance of the proper delivery of the article 1 in its spread out state. The conveyor means 21 is subsequently stopped so that the article 1 will assume a position which is symmetrical with respect to the folding plate members 8 and 9. At this point the two clips 22 supporting the article 1 are sideways of the folding plate members 8 and 9 and, consequently are also sideways with respect to the upper transverse folding blade 10. Now the suction devices and the associated vacuum apertures l3 and 15 of the transverse folding blades 10 and 11 as well as the suction apertures 20 of the counter surface 18 are actuated by being coupled to their respective suction conduits, so that the region of the article 1 which lies against the transverse folding blades 10 and 11 and against the counter support 18 is safely retained as can be seen in FIGS. 35. The clips 22 are opened automatically or, if preferred, manually, and are transported away from the region of longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6. In the event a fold insert must also be folded together into the fold. then such insert is laid on the counter support surface 18 and by means of the action of the suction openings 20 it is also sucked onto such surface. Now both of the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 and also the counter support 18 perform a transversely directed movement with respect to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6. As a result, they are guided out of the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 into a plane which lies behind their plane. The folding plate members 8 and 9 of the longitudinal side folding plate 7 perform a movement directed toward the transverse fold blades and 11 and come to rest on the transverse fold blades 10 and 11. As a result, the article 1 will as sume the position indicated in FIG. 6, in which its middle region is located between the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 and the folding plate members 8 and 9, while both of its side regions will lie on the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6. The latter will perform their movement directed towards each other and fold the edge regions of the article 1 over the vertically directed folding edges of the folding plate members 8 and 9. While the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 return into their initial position. the transverse folding plate 12 will perform a shoving movement in the horizontal direction and come to rest before the counter support 18 as can be seen in H6. 7. The movement of the transverse folding plate 12 in relation to the movement of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 is controlled in such a manner that the transverse folding plate 12 in the region of the counter support 18 will take over already the additional care of the just performed fold when the two longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6 are still resting on the side edge regions of the article 1. Simultaneously the counter support 18 performs a movement transversely to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 and opposite to its first movement and will press at the end of such movement the region of the article 1 which lies on it against the transverse folding plate 12.

While the folding plate member 8 is returned downwardly into its initial position, the lower transverse fold blade 11 commences correspondingly to the movement of the counter support 18 to move transversely to such an extent with respect to its subsequent eventual operating movement until its rods 16 will be located below the recesses 19 of the counter support 18. During the next upwardly and vertically directed operating movement of the transverse fold blade 11 its rods 16 will engage the recesses 19 of the counter support 18 while the front edge of its front side wall 14 shove the article 1 over the lower horizontally running folding edge of the transverse fold plate 12.

At the end of the operating stroke or movement of the lower transverse fold blade 11 it will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 9 in which the transverse fold plate 12 will be located between the front side wall 14 of the blade 11 and between the rods 16 thereof which are now completely registering with the recesses 19 of the counter support 18. After shutting off the suction openings 20 ofthe counter support 18 from the associated suction conduit, then only the upper region of the article 1, will rest on the upper transverse fold blades 10, while the remaining region of the article 1 will be entirely within the profile of the lower transverse fold blade 11, the suction apertures of which become now also shut off from the associated suction conduit.

The upper transverse fold blade 10 commences its movement as can be seen in FIG. 9 moving to the left and then downwardly and will shove, while the upper fold blade member 9 is returning upwardly into is initial position. the upper region of the article 1 over the upper folding edge of the transverse fold plate 12 as well as over the upper edge the front side wall 14 of the lower transverse fold blade 11. The article 1 at the end of the entire folding process will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 10 in which the originally upper region of the article 1 will be located between the upper transverse fold blade 10 and the side wall 14 of the lower transverse fold blade 11, and the remaining regions of the article 1 are still retained in the transverse fold blade 11.

While the upper transverse fold blade 10 is moving back upwardly into its initial position, the lower transverse fold blade 11 will move upward to an extent until its rods 16 will be located outside of the recesses 19 of the counter support 18. The transverse fold blade 11 becomes now pivoted downward in a clockwise direction about its axle 17, as can be seen in FIG. 12, until its rods 16 will be located below the plane of the delivery belts 33 of the conveyor 31 which then will deliver away the readily folded article 1 from the transverse fold blade 11 to a subsequently located stacking position, The transverse fold blade 11 which is pivoted downward is directly followed by guide surfaces 34 which with their upper and also with their side walls will assure a reliable retention of the completed fold.

In the heretofore described embodiments of the present invention. clothing articles were the subject of the folding operation which had no arms or sleeves. 1n the event clothing articles are to be folded which have arms or sleeves, then the arrangement according to FIG. 15 is to be used. Here both longitudinal side fold blades 50 and 60 are provided on their facing folding edges with projections which run at an acute angle with respect to the main folding edges 51 and 61 and form additional folding edges 52 and 62 serving to fold the arms or sleeves of the clothing articles.

In the latter embodiment the clothing articles are delivered by the conveyor 21 hanging from the clips 22 similarly to the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 1 into the region of the folding instruments and by means of suction apertures l3, l5 and 20 provided in the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 as well as in the counter support 18, become held. In the subsequently ensuing operating movement of the longitudi nal side folding blades 50 and 60 which perform movements similar to the operating movements of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 toward each other, the additionally provided folding edges 52 and 62 now come upon the freely hanging arms or sleeves of the clothing article 1 and before the formation of the first fold will lay them onto the remaining portion of the clothing article 1. The effect of the suction apertures l3, l5 and 20 is regulated in such a manner that the partially overlapping arm portions or sleeves will be sucked against the transverse folding blades 10 and 1] as well as against the counter support 18 while the remaining folding steps are performed similarly as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-14.

Since in the latter embodiment the additional folding edges 52 and 62 are preferably directed at an angle of 45, they at least partially overlap in the end position of the longitudinal side folding blades 50 and 60, therefore, it is preferred according to the present invention if the longitudinal side folding blades 50 and 60 are arranged in two vertical planes which are sideways offset with respect to each other. As a result, the insertion of the article 1 is easier when the longitudinal side folding blade 60 is arranged as the front one and the longitudinal side folding blade 50 is arranged as the back one of the two planes.

l wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A folding apparatus for textile goods comprising an upright frame means, a pair of longitudinal side fold blade means for movement in a vertical plane within said frame means towards each other, a longitudinal folding plate means comprising a pair of folding plate members adapted for movement towards each other. a pair of transverse fold blade means adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming a rest surface for said folding plate members in a predetermined position, said transverse folding blade means each comprising a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverse blade means are facing each other, a counter support means adapted for movement transversely and located between said front edges of said transverse fold blade means, a transverse folding plate means cooperating with said transverse fold blade means and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the said longitudinal side fold blade means.

2. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter support means comprises pneumatic means for retaining the article to be folded thereon in a predetermined phase of the folding operation.

3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pneumatic support means of said counter support means are selectively connectable to suction conduits.

4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse folding blade means are provided with pneumatic supporting means for retaining a protion of said article to be folded during a predetermined phase of the folding operation.

5. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pneumatic supporting means of said transverse fold blade means are selectively connectable to a suction conduit.

6. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse folding blade means and said counter support means are adapted to be moved into a plane transverse with respect to the longitudinal side folding blade means.

7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing between said front of edges of said transverse folding blade means corresponds to the width of the said counter support means.

8. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said transverse folding blade means is mounted lower in the vertical direction with respect to said other folding blade means and is provided with a substantially U-shaped cross-section having a pair of side walls, one of said side walls facing said counter support means comprises a plurality of rod means spaced with respect to each other, said counter support comprising a plurality of recesses running parallel with the longitudinal direction of said counter support, said rod means being adapted to register with said recesses in a predetermined position of said transverse folding blade means.

9. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transverse folding plate means is adapted to be received between said side walls of said U-shaped transverse folding blade means in the actuated position thereof.

10. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lower transverse folding blade means comprises an axle at the lower end portion thereof, means for pivoting said lower transverse fold blade means about said axle. a conveyor means located adjacent said lower transverse fold blade means in the pivoted position thereof, said conveyor means comprising conveyor belt means, said belt means being spaced with respect to each other and said rod means of said lower transverse fold means in the pivoted position thereof registering said rod means with the spacings between said delivery belt means of the conveyor means.

11. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said folding apparatus comprises a frame means, means on said frame means for supporting said conveyor means, means for vertically adjusting said supporting means whereby said articles can be deliv ered to said folding station at a predetermined vertical position.

12. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said vertical adjusting means comprises threaded bar means.

13. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in cluding means for adjusting said conveyor means transversely with respect to the general vertical plane ofsaid upright apparatus, whereby the vertical delivery plane of the articles can be shifted transversely.

14. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1. including a conveyor means adapted to run about said folding apparatus and comprising clip means adapted to deliver the clothing articles into a plane lying between the plane of the longitudinal side folding blade means and the plane of said folding plate members in their rest position.

15. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the delivery plane of said conveyor means delivers the clothing articles in a hanging position into said plane, said delivery plane of said conveyor means being adjustable with respect to the plane of said longi tudinal side folding blade means.

16. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including means for adjusting said clip means of said conveyor means in their vertical position with respect to said counter support.

17. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including guide roller means for guiding said conveyor means about said frame means.

18. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal side folding blade means comprises each additional folding edge means directed at an acute angle toward each other, said acute aangle being formed with each of the main folding edges of said longitudinal side folding blade means, said additional folding edge means being adapted to perform folding of arms or sleeves on said clothing articles.

Claims (18)

1. A folding apparatus for textile goods comprising an upright frame means, a pair of longitudinal side fold blade means for movement in a vertical plane within said frame means towards each other, a longitudinal folding plate means comprising a pair of folding plate members adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transverse fold blade means adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming a rest surface for said folding plate members in a predetermined position, said transverse folding blade means each comprising a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverse blade means are facing each other, a counter support means adapted for movement transversely and located between said front edges of said transverse fold blade means, a transverse folding plate means cooperating with said transverse fold blade means and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the said longitudinal side fold blade means.

2. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter support means comprises pneumatic means for retaining the article to be folded thereon in a predetermined phase of the folding operation.

3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pneumatic support means of said counter support means are selectively connectable to suction conduits.

4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse folding blade means are provided with pneumatic supporting means for retaining a protion of said article to be folded during a predetermined phase of the folding operation.

5. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pneumatic supporting means of said transverse fold blade means are selectively connectable to a suction conduit.

6. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse folding blade means and said counter support means are adapted to be moved into a plane transverse with respect to the longitudinal side folding blade means.

7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing between said front of edges of said transverse folding blade means corresponds to the width of the said counter support means.

8. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said transverse folding blade means is mounted lower in the vertical direction with respect to said other folding blade means and is provided with a substantially U-shaped cross-section having a pair of side walls, one of said side walls facing said counter support means comprises a plurality of rod means spaced with respect to each other, said counter support comprising a plurality of recesses running parallel with the longitudinal direction of said counter support, said rod means being adapted to register with said recesses in a predetermined position of said transverse folding blade means.

9. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transverse folding plate means is adapted to be received between said side walls of said U-shaped transverse folding blade means in the actuated position thereof.

10. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lower transverse folding blade means comprises an axle at the lower end portion thereof, means for pivoting said lower transverse fold blade means about said axle, a conveyor means located adjacent said lower transverse fold blade means in the pivoted position thereof, said conveyor means comprising conveyor belt means, said belt means being spaced with respect to each other and said rod means of said lower transverse fold means in the pivoted position thereof registering said rod means with the spacings between said delivery belt means of the conveyor means.

11. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said folding apparatus compriSes a frame means, means on said frame means for supporting said conveyor means, means for vertically adjusting said supporting means whereby said articles can be delivered to said folding station at a predetermined vertical position.

12. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said vertical adjusting means comprises threaded bar means.

13. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including means for adjusting said conveyor means transversely with respect to the general vertical plane of said upright apparatus, whereby the vertical delivery plane of the articles can be shifted transversely.

14. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a conveyor means adapted to run about said folding apparatus and comprising clip means adapted to deliver the clothing articles into a plane lying between the plane of the longitudinal side folding blade means and the plane of said folding plate members in their rest position.

15. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the delivery plane of said conveyor means delivers the clothing articles in a hanging position into said plane, said delivery plane of said conveyor means being adjustable with respect to the plane of said longitudinal side folding blade means.

16. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including means for adjusting said clip means of said conveyor means in their vertical position with respect to said counter support.

17. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including guide roller means for guiding said conveyor means about said frame means.

18. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal side folding blade means comprises each additional folding edge means directed at an acute angle toward each other, said acute aangle being formed with each of the main folding edges of said longitudinal side folding blade means, said additional folding edge means being adapted to perform folding of arms or sleeves on said clothing articles.

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