Patent GB-1058846-A (GB)
Title: Folding machine for flexible sheets
IPC: D06F89/00
Filed: 1964-04-28
Abstract: 1,058,846. Folding sheets. R. L. SJOSTROM. April 28, 1964 [May 24, 1963; June 28, 1963], No. 17596/64. Heading D1S. A machine for folding flexible sheets 4, Fig. 5, comprises means 31, Figs. 1 and 2, for feeding the sheets 4 successively in a forward direction; means 47, Figs. 2 and 3, for successively folding the sheets 4 with each sheet folded longitudinally at a first position 9, Fig. 5, with at least one fold 11; means 56, Fig. 2, for successively redirecting the movement of the folded sheets in a direction transverse to said forward direction; and means 62, Fig. 2, for thereafter folding the folded sheets successively longitudinal of said transverse direction. In one embodiment. Figs. 1-3, 5 and 6, an article 4 to be folded is received from an ironer (not shown) by a conveyor 19 supported on a frame 20 and comprising a plurality of endless belts 25 mounted on rollers 26, 27, the roller 26 being driven. The angular position of the frame 20 may be adjusted by a lockable telescopic support 23. The article 4 passes onto a conveyor 31 comprising a plurality of horizontal endless belts 34 the upper portions of which are supported by a plate 37 provided with longitudinal ridges 40 providing rail-like support for the article 4. A longitudinal rectangular opening 43 is formed in the plate 37 and is preferably located one third the width of the machine from the right side as viewed in Fig. 2. A longitudinally perforated air-tube 32 forces the article 4 on the conveyor 31 downwardly between nip rolls 45, 46, forming the means 47, in the direction of arrows 10, Fig. 5, along a line 11 to effect a first fold, the roll 45 being urged by its thrust bearings 48 into contact with the roll 46 and having its axis higher than the axis of the roll 46. The once-folded article 4 slides downwardly on an inclined plate 52 and contacts an adjustably positioned microswitch 54 which controls and times air blasts from a perforated air-tube 55. A roll 49 is urged by thrust bearings 50 into engagement with the roll 46 and the tube 55 causes the article to be blown along a line 15, Fig. 5, to pass through the nip between the rolls 46, 49 to effect the second fold. The article 4 passes on to a plurality of endless conveyor belts 56 beneath the upper flights of which a plate 58 having ridges 59, similar to the plate 37 and its ridges 40, is provided. The belts 56 convey the article 4 to third folding means 62 comprising rolls 63, 64 which rotate towards one another. A perforated air tube 70 forces the article 4 downwardly along a line 18, Fig. 5, between the rolls 63, 64 to effect the third fold. The article 4 is delivered onto a platform 76 formed in two sections 77, 78, Fig. 6, and conveyed therealong by overhead endless belts 105 Fig. 2. When the article 4 has reached a preselected position the conveyors 105 are momentarily arrested by a brake and clutch mechanism 110, Fig. 4 (not shown). An air cylinder 87, Fig. 6, rotates a shaft 91 through a lever 90 and the shaft 91, through levers 95, 96 links 98, 99 and levers 101, 102, rotates shafts 79, 80 which, through brackets 82, open and close the sections 77, 78 to allow the folded article 4 to fall through on to a stack (not shown) on a shoot 115. When a pre-selected number of articles have been stacked a cylinder 123 is actuated to move fingers 118 on a shaft 119 along openings 117 to move the stack to the end of the shoot 115 from where it is removed by the operator. The rolls effecting the folding and the rolls carrying the conveyors are driven through a system of chains sprockets, Fig. 4, (not shown). A schematic arrangement for actuating the various pnematic elements is described in the Specification, Fig. 7 (not shown). In a modification (not shown), to quarter-fold rather than French-fold an article 4, the opening 43 is formed centrally in the table 37. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 10 and 11 (not shown), for quarter folding an article 204, the article 204 is fed from an ironer on to belts 234 by inclined belts 225. The first fold is effected by a perforated air tube 232 forcing the article 204 downwardly along a line 211 through a central slot 243 in a table 237 formed with ridges 240 and between nip rolls 245, 246. The once-folded article 204 passes between inclined runs of conveyor belts 248, 249 and passes in contact with the concave side of an arcuate guide plate 260 which redirects it into a horizontal plane to pass over portions 256 of the belts 249 under which a plate 258 having ridges 259 is mounted. A perforated air tube 270 forces the article 204 downwardly along a line 215 through an opening 261 in the plate 258 to pass between nip rolls 263, 264 to effect the second fold. The folded article 204 drops onto inclined conveyor belts 273 and is delivered on to a platform 276. The articles 204 are stacked by a device identical to that shown in Fig. 6.