Patent GB-915868-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to laundry machines
Inventor: BUSS BENJAMIN ALVIN
IPC: D06F89/00
Filed: 1959-05-05
Abstract: 915,868. Folding fabrics. AMETEK Inc. May 5, 1959, No. 15364/59. Class 42 (2). An article folding machine for folding short or long articles comprises conveyer means, folding means along the path of the article, two length-measuring stations positioned before the folding means, one being closer to the folding means than the other, timing and measuring apparatus for each measuring station which apparatus controls the folding means so as to make folds in predetermined places in articles passing through and switch means for selecting either measuring apparatus. In general, folder conveyer motor 40 of any suitable two-speed type is fed from supply lines through two position switch 6 so as to operate at high or low speed. Switch 6 can be interconnected with switches 5 and 7 or separately operated. When switches 5 and 7 are closed, long articles will activate the long piece controller 8 which is controlled by the first or long piece measuring finger 9. If switches 5, 6, and 7 be operated so as to activate the short piece measuring finger 38C, motor 40 will be operated at slow speed. In Fig. 1a, sheet M is fed on to conveyer 10 and thence on to belt 13 and then between belts 13 and 19. As the sheet passes over roll 17 it can be directed downwards passing in front of a first folding station 23 having pneumatic blast arrangements including manifold 24 and valve 25 controlled by a signal from a timing mechanism such that when the sheet reaches a correct position in front of the air blast the centre portion of the sheet is blown between the folding rollers 26 and 18. The folded edge N then will be moved on belt 28 so as to pass downwards over roll 18 and in front of a second folding apparatus 29 which operates similarly to the first. The again folded sheet then passes between rollers 32, 33 and is conveyed away by belt 34. If only a single fold is to be made air blast 29 is activated by the timing mechanism so that the leading edge N receives a blast of air before it reaches the rolls 32, 33 so that the edge N is drawn directly between the rollers and so folding takes place. In order to control successive operations of folding mechanisms 23 and 29 and to provide the successive timed blasts of air a plurality of timing mechanisms such as 200‹ C. are provided, each consisting of a. plurality of sub-timing devices 201C and 202C. Each of the sub-timing devices is controlled by the short-piece measuring switch means 38C (or long-piece measuring switch means 9) and motor switch 41C, other selector switches 42C, 43C and 44C being provided for activating other timing means, for example, by cam means 46C. Sub-timing device 201C controlling air blast means 23 may be composed of a cam 47C driven by high-speed motor 49C or a lowspeed motor 51C through an over-running clutch means, the low-speed motor driving the cam as a sheet is passing the measuring finger involved. The other timing devices are similarly constructed. The machine is preferably divided into a number of lanes and separate folding means provided for each lane although all or some of the lanes may be connected if wide sheets are being folded.