Patent GB-131915-A (GB)
IPC: B65H45/101
Abstract: 131,915. Kohn, L. M., (Assignee of MacFarland, A. M.). April 12, 1916, [Convention date]. Folding paper.-Consists of a machine for folding sheets of textile or other materials but specially adapted for folding sheets, towels, &c. in laundries, in which the timing of the folding mechanism is controlled by a sheet to be folded according to its length, being actuated by the ends of the sheet passing to the folding mechanism. The sheets may be fed direct from an ironing-machine over a plate 25, Fig. 1, to the upper run of a carrier consisting of endless tapes 26 passing over rolls 28, 29. The sheet on the carrier is engaged by a folding-member 34, which lifts it between rolls 32, 33. The member 34 has teeth 36 on a bar 35 adapted to enter between the tapes when the bar 35 is raised by the pivoting of the supporting-bar 38 caused by the energizing of a solenoid 40. Further tapes 45 pass over rolls 33, 47, 48 while a belt 46 passes over the roll 32 and over rolls 50, 51. 52 and engages the tapes 45 on the roll 48. The sheet may be folded again on the upper run of the tapes 45 by a similar folder 53 which passes between rolls 52, 54, the latter carrying tapes 55 from which a third folding operation may be performed ; or the sheet may be discharged to an inclined table 58, 59. Suitable driving-means is provided for the rolls, tapes, &c. The automatic timing means for the operation of the folders consists of wheels 65, 66, Fig. 6, rotatably mounted on a shaft 67 and driven by sprockets and chains from a countershaft 73, the proportional wheel 66 being driven at half the speed of the wheel 65 it it is required to fold the sheets in half or at the same fractional speed as the position of the fold requires. A feeder-actuating member 75 is frictionally mounted on the wheel 65 by a spring- pressed friction shoe 76 and a guide 79 engaging a groove and carries a contact piece 81 to complete the circuit of the solenoid 40 by connecting contacts 82, 83, Fig. 11, on the frame. The member 75 also carries an electro-magnet 84 with poles arranged close to the wheel 66, so that, when the magnet is energized, the device adheres to the wheel 66, the shoe 76 sliding in the wheel 65. The magnet coil is energized when a sheet passes between two driven contact disks 87, 88 at the feeding ends of the tapes, which disks are thereby forced apart to open the circuit of a battery 91 containing a solenoid 93, the plunger 95 of which then closes contacts 96, 97 in the earthed circuit of a battery 98, the lead 100 of which connects by wire 101 to a contact segment 102 with which the piece 81 is adapted to contact. The current then passes through a conductor 105 to the coil of the magnet 84, which coil is grounded. By this means, the member 75 moves with the wheel 66. When a sheet passes between the disks 87, 88 and when the end of the sheet passes from these disks, the member will again move with the wheel 65. To cause the member 75 to leave its initial position as soon as disks 87, 88 are separated, it is provided with a pivoted holding arm 110, Fig. 8, normally held out by a spring 112 when its hook 113 engages a stop 114 on the frame the shoe 76 then sliding on the wheel 65. The arm 110 is attracted when the magnet 84 is energized, thus releasing the member 75. For the accommodation of short sheets more than one feeding member is provided, three being shown. When the first moves out, the second takes its place. To ensure only one being moved at a time, a contact segment 115 is provided so arranged in the circuit that current thereto is interrupted as soon as the member 75 receives current from segment 102, when a solenoid 120 breaks the contacts 122, 124. Both segments 102, 115 are mounted on a bracket 116 on the machine frame and are insulated. In the initial position the magnet 84 receives current through segment 115 and then through segment 102. so that the second device 75 can receive no current until the first ceases to receive current owing to the disks 87, 88 closing on the passing of the first sheet. To ensure single actuation only of each device, the conductor circuit 105 passes through contacts 130, 131 which are broken by the spring 112 when the current is first cut, the arm 110 being pushed in again when the member reaches the starting position by a guide 132, Fig. 8, thus engaging contacts 130, 131, the arm 110 at the same time engaging the stop 114. In operation on entry of the sheet between the disks 87. 88 the member 75 moves with wheel 66 until it reaches contacts 82, 83 when the solenoid 40 is energized and the member 34 operated. The distance between the disks 87, 88 and the member 34 is in the same proportion to the circumferential distance between the starting-point of device 75 and the contacts 82, 83 as the speed of travel of the sheet is to the speed of the wheel 65. If, therefore, the sheet is to be folded in half, the wheel 66 travels at half speed, and with it the device 75 when moving therewith, so that it will travel with the wheel 66 a distance proportional to half the length of the sheet. As, while travelling with the wheel 65, it maintains relative position, the member 34 will be actuated when the centre of the sheet is registering therewith. The timing-device for the member 53 will be similarly controlled, the speed of the proportional wheel being decreased according to the position of the second fold, and the contacts corresponding to' the contacts 82, 83 will be spaced at a distance from the starting-point proportional to the distance travelled between the member 53 and the disks 87, 88. In the same manner, further folding-members and timing-devices may be provided. To allow of folding two or more sheets at the same time, laterally, on the machine, the member 34 may be divided into two or more parts, each with its contact disks and timing devices. If, then, a sheet occupying the full width is to be folded, a switch is provided in the connexions by which the other disks and timing-devices are thrown out of action. In an alternative form of timing-device, the wheel 65 is replaced by a shaft 165, Fig. 15, chain-driven from a countershaft 161. The proportional members are wheels 167, 168 mounted on the shaft. Feeder-actuating mechanisms 172, Fig. 16, preferably made of fibre, have arms 174 and disk portions 175 mounted on the shaft between spring- pressed packing-disks 176, thus moving with the shaft unless held by a pivoted stop 180, which is moved out of the way against its spring when a member 172 is connected to a proportional member by the energization of a magnet 185 energized as before through contact segments 187, 188 and a contact 186, a switch-arm 193 preventing more than one actuation before return to starting position, when a cam returns the arm as before. The arm 174 carries a contact spring 200 to bridge contacts and complete the circuit to actuate the feeding-member. Any other suitable form of timing-mechanism may be used.