Patent GB-1017470-A (GB)
Title: Multiple-pleat forming and fastening apparatus to prevent stretching
IPC: D06J1/06
Filed: 1964-11-24
Abstract: 1,017,470. Pleating fabrics. H. NATHANSON. Nov. 24,1964 [March 26,1964], No. 47661/64. Heading D1S. Apparatus for forming pleats in a sheet 31 of drapery material comprises (a) a base member 11 having a plurality of spaced pleating stations A, A, B, B, . . ., each station having a plurality of fixed crease-forming elements or tines T1, T2, T3, T4 defining channels and a plurality of movable crease-forming elements or fingers F1 F2, F3, one for each respective channel; (b) reciprocating means to move the fingers F1, F2, F3 into the channels in ordered relation beginning with an interior finger location and progressing successively outward in opposite directions from the interior location, element by element and station by station, until a sheet 31 interposed between the tines T1, T2, T3, T4 and the fingers F1 F2, F3 is impressed with creases at at least a plurality of the stations; and (c) stapler fastening means 17 mounted to reciprocate at each station A, A, B, B,... to secure the creases to form a pleat at each station. Horizontally spaced rollers 19 are mounted on a frame 13 which is movable vertically by a pneumatic unit 25 through rods 23 and a rack and pinion 24. The means 17 comprises horizontally spaced stapler guns mounted on a frame 15 movable vertically by a pneumatic unit 29 through a support 27. At each pleating station, the tines T2, T3 extend above the tines T1, T4 and all of the tines T1, T2, T3, T4 have a recess 35 into each of which a stapler gun 17 may be positioned. The fingers F1, F2, F3 are normally held in their upper positions by tension springs 37 and each is pivotally mounted on a bracket 39 on a carriage 41 horizontally movable on rollers 43. The bracket 39 is connected by a link 45 to a plate 47 horizontally movable by a pneumatic unit 49 through arms 51, the plate 47 being guided by rollers 53 riding on a track 55. A horizontally reciprocable cam 59 driven by a piston 61 of a pneumatic unit 63 acts on a cam follower 57 to force each finger F1, F2 or F3 down. The unit 63 is horizontally movable on rollers 65 and is connected by a link 67 to the plate 47. In use, the sheet 31 is placed so that the end or near end thereof to be pleated rests on the rollers 19 and aligning rollers 69, 73 are lowered to hold the sheet yieldably against rollers 71, 75 so that it can slide easily therebetween. The plate 47 moves forward to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and then the frame 13 is raised so that the rollers 19 lift the sheet 31. The innermost fingers F1 in the stations A, A are lowered simultaneously or in succession to form crease No. 1 and then the fingers F2 followed by fingers F3 of the stations A, A are lowered to form creases Nos. 2, 3, respectively. Similarly, pleats are formed at the stations B, B. If an odd number of pleating stations are provided the last pleat is formed separately. After pleating, the fingers F1, F2, F3 are simultaneously withdrawn and are lifted by the springs 37. The stapler guns 17 move into the recesses 35 and are activated simultaneously to staple the creases formed over the tines T2, T3, Fig. 6. The guns 17 are withdrawn, the rollers 69, 73 are raised, the rollers 19 are lowered and the sheet 31 is withdrawn.