Patent GB-1047510-A (GB)
IPC: B21F27/18
Abstract: 1,047,510. Pleating fabrics. DOLLINGER CORPORATION. Aug. 16, 1965 [April 26, 1965], No. 34995/65. Heading D15. A machine for pleating metal fabric comprises a pair of members 104, 66 mounted on a frame 20; means for reciprocating the member 104 towards and away from the member 66; means for feeding a length of metal fabric between the members 104, 66 whilst they are spaced apart, Fig. 8 (not shown); means 154 movable into and out of the space between the members 104, 66 during advance of the member 104 towards the member 66 to fold the length of fabric into the space between the members 104, 66 so that as the member 104 advances further towards the member 66 the fold is pressed there between, Figs. 9 and 10 (both not shown); and means operative, when the member 104 is in its extreme advanced position, to shift the member 66 from behind the forward side of the fabric fold and to dispose it on the same side of the fabric fold as the member 104, Fig. 11 (not shown). In operation, the leading edge of the fabric to be pleated is passed between laterally adjustable guide bars 167, Fig. 1 (not shown), along the top of horizontal straps 27 and beneath a pusher bar 104 so that the leading edge will be engaged by pleating fingers 154 on a bar 153 when the fingers 154 are elevated. A motor unit 32 is energized to rotate a cam shaft 41 and two cams 71 oscillate levers 74 to cause tie bars 81 to oscillate two arms 83 first anticlockwise and then clockwise about a shaft 84. The arms 83 impart a corresponding pivotal movement to two arms 88 to cause slide brackets 93 and the bar 104 mounted therebetween to be reciprocated towards and away from a buffer plate or blade 66. As the bar 104 advances towards the plate 66, a cam 138 permits a rocker arm 135, a shaft 133 and arms 132 to pivot slightly clockwise about the axis of the shaft 133 in response to the tension exerted on links 123 by springs 128. This causes cam bars 121 to move upwardly against roller followers 118 to move a clamp bar 115 upwardly towards the underside of the bar 104 to grip the leading end of the fabric between teeth 116, Figs. 3 and 4 (both not shown), on the bar 115 and a gripper bar 105 on the bar 104, Fig. 8 (not shown). A cam 160 on the shaft 41 then permits a spring 161 to pivot a bellcrank lever 158 slightly anti-clockwise to cause a yoke formed by straps 156, Figs. 2 and 7 (the latter not shown), to move the bar 153 to fold the advancing fabric against the face of the bar 104, Fig. 9 (not shown). A shaft 86 moves a tie bar 143 towards the left of Fig. 2 to pivot an arm 141 anticlockwise about the axis of the shaft 133 to cause a tie bar 144 to move a draw bar 147 and guide bars 148, Fig. 1 (not shown), and sleeves 151 to the left of Figs. 1 and 2. This horizontal movement is transmitted to pins 155, Figs. 1 and 7 (both not shown), which project downwardly from the bar 153. The bar 153 is thus subjected to both a horizontal and a vertical movement during the advancement of the bar 104. After folding the fabric against the bar 104, the fingers 154 advance therewith towards the blade 66. Just before engagement with the blade 66 the cam 160 lowers the bar 153 so that the bar 104 pushes the fabric fold against the blade 66, Fig. 10 (not shown). The blade 66 is pivoted clockwise into engagement with plates 61, Fig. 1 (not shown), and against the action of springs 68. The cams 43 pivot levers 46 slightly anticlockwise about a shaft 47 to cause a tie bar 52 to shift slides 54 on posts 55 to lift the blade 66 until the lower beveled edge thereof passes above the upper edge of the fabric fold. The springs 68 then cause the blade 66 to pivot slightly anticlockwise into engagement with the bar 104. The cams 43 cause the slides 54 to draw the blade 66 downwardly behind the fabric fold, Fig. 11 (not shown), until the lower edge of the blade 66 clamps the fabric against the straps 27. The cam 138 pivots the arm 135, the shaft 133 and the arms 132 slightly anticlockwise against springs 128 to cause the links 122, 123 to lower the bars 121 away from the followers 118. The teeth 116 on the bar 115 release the fabric and the cams 71 cause the levers 74 to pivot the arms 88 clockwise to slide the bar 104 over the top of the fabric to the right of Fig. 2. Simultaneously, the arms 88 cause the bar 143 to move the bar 153 to the right. The cycle of operations is then repeated to form successive folds. After a few folds have been formed at the leading end of the fabric the right hand end of a plate 176 is manually pivoted upwardly and rested upon the upper edges of the folds to hold them vertically. As subsequent folds are formed the blade 66 forces them rearwardly beneath the plate 176. The depth of the pleats is determined by the distance travelled by the bar 104. To adjust this distance, a hand wheel 182 is rotated to cause externally threaded rods 188 to shift sleeves 79, Fig. 5 (not shown), and hence pins 77 and adjusting members 78 equal distances in one direction or another along radial slots 76 in the levers 74. The extent of the vertical movement of the blade 66 can be adjusted by shifting pins 51 from one to another of openings 48 formed in the levers 46.