Patent ID: 6668523
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A process for the sequential automatic final folding and stacking of a series of pieces of linen, comprising:final folding of the piece of linen into a final configuration having a first outer surface and a second outer surface parallel to said first outer surface and applying forces directed substantially towards the first outer surface and the second outer surface in order to keep the piece of linen in the said final configuration; transferring each piece of linen to a stack while maintaining the forces acting against the first outer surface and the second outer surface; fixing each piece of linen on the stack while maintaining it in the final configuration such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface of each piece of linen each rests against a second outer surface or a first outer surface, respectively, of an adjacent piece of linen or against a stop surface; wherein the stack is bounded at a front end by a first stop surface movable in the direction of the stack, and against which a first outer surface of a first piece of linen is resting; wherein, during intervals where no piece of linen is transferred to the stack, the stack is bounded at a back end opposite said front end by a second stop surface at an active position from which it is removable and against which second stop surface a second outer surface of an outermost piece of linen is resting; and wherein, when a piece of linen is transferred to the stack, the piece of linen is placed behind the second stop surface, the second stop surface is removed from an active position, the piece of linen is, by a push surface reciprocatable in the direction of the stack, pushed onto the stack at a back end of the same, the second stop surface is moved back to its active position, the push surface is drawn back behind the second stop surface such that the second outer surface of the said piece of linen, which is now an outermost piece of linen, rests against the second stop surface.