Patent GB-696370-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for the automatic folding of textile sheets, e.g. bedsheets
IPC: D06F89/00
Filed: 1950-05-10
Abstract: 696,370. Folding fabrics. FOXWELL, D. April 27, 1951. [May 10, 1950] No. 11586/50 Class 42 (ii). Apparatus for folding textile sheets has electrically operated means which produce relative lateral movement between a sheet and a folding device for correctly locating the sheet and folding device relative to one another so that folding can take place along the centre line of the sheet. The sheet X is delivered by a conveyer band 11 to the nip of rollers 13, 14 mounted in a stationary frame 17 and then passes vertically to the nip of rollers 15, 16 which feed the sheet downwards over a triangular creasing plate 20, so that its edges overhang the latter, and it becomes doubled longitudinally. It then travels down between the roller 23 and a co-operating roller to a second folding device comprising two pairs of feed rollers, a creasing plate 20a and creasing rollers 23a, 24a, finally being delivered by a conveyer 33 to a plaiting device 36. The first folding device is mounted on a frame 19 which is movable transversely of the line of delivery of the sheet by rollers 15, 16 by being mounted on rollers 25, 26 running on rails 18 on the fixed frame 17 ; a reversible electric motor 42 (not shown) mounted on the frame 17, and driving a nut, journaled in the frame 17 and threaded on a screw on the frame 19, is provided for effecting this movement, which permits alignment of the centre line of the sheet with that of the' creasing plate. The frame 32 carrying the second folding device is similarly mounted for movement on rails fixed to the movable frame 19, by a reversible electric motor 42a operating a nut 39a on a screw 37a. For controlling the motor 42, an edge detecting mechanism is provided comprising a contact roller 54 past which the sheet X passes, and two reversible electric motors 50, mounted on carriages 49 running on rails 45, 46, fixed to the frame 17, movement of the carriages being effected by the motors 50 rotating nuts 52 through chain-and-sprocket connections, the nuts being journalled in the carriages 49 and threaded on a fixed screwed spindle 44. Pairs of contacts 55, 56 are carried by each of the carriages 49, which engage the contact roller 54 unless separated by the sheet X the contacts being in the circuits of reversing starters for the motors 50, which circuits are so arranged that the motors are driven in such a direction that the contact 55 engages the roller 54, while the contact 56 is separated therefrom by the sheet X, the motors then stopping. A master switch, operated by the passage of a sheet, only allows actuation of the starters while a sheet is present. Arms 60 on the carriages 49 are connected to chains 61, each of which run round a wheel 62 and a sprocket wheel connected to one of the crown wheels of a differential, the carrier for the intermediate bevel wheels of which has rotating with it two switch cam contacts 66, each of which is adapted to co-operate with a separate stationary contact 67 to control' one side of a reversible starter for the motor 42. The motor 42a is controlled by a carriage operated similarly to the carriages 49, but, since the position of the first fold of the sheet is determined by the first folder, it is not necessary to provide a control on the folded side. Specification 666,764 is referred to.