Patent GB-191110814-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Machine for Folding Linen.
Inventor: LANDGREBE MORITZ
IPC: B65H45/101
Filed: 1911-05-04
Granted: 1912-03-14
Abstract: 10,814. Landgrebe, M., and Bauer, J. May 4. Folding. - Napkins &c. are folded on a table consisting of a descending middle plate surrounded by a number of cross and longitudinal flaps. The linen is drawn on to the table by grippers and folded with the name or initials outwards, being subsequently drawn away by belts on the descent of the middle plate. The descending plate 23, Fig. 2, the cross-flaps 24, 24<1>, and the longitudinal flaps 25, 26, 27, are made of bars s to allow of relative movement to suit large or small napkins. The longitudinal flaps 25, 26, 27 are mounted on bars 28 supported by cranks 29 on shafts 30 supported in slidable supports 31. The shafts 30 are rotated to swing the flaps, by segments 35 engaging pinions 33, the segments being driven by cams on the main shaft 2, the connexions from flaps 25, 27 including a swinging slotted lever 42, the connexions being joined by a bar 85 operated by a crank 89 and a reversing-lever 90 so that either one or the other flap is inactive owing to its connecting-pin 43 being over the centre of oscillation of the lever 42. The cross-flaps 24, 24<1> are mounted on supports 46 slidable on bars 47, the supports carrying cam-actuated segments 48 gearing with pinions 49, 50 on the support. The pinion shafts have arms 54, 55 carrying shafts 56, 57 connected by bars 58, which carry the supports for the flaps on a shaft 59 driven through gears 60, 61, 62. Movement of the segments 48 thus swings the arms and turns the flaps over on to the table 23. To adjust the flaps for various sizes of linen, a central sleeve 70 carries a lever-cross 68, 69, actuated by a hand-lever 70 and having the arms 68 connected to the sliding supports 46 and the arms 69 connected to the slidable supports 31. A shaft 13, driven by chains 11 and gearing from the shaft 2, carries chain-wheels 14 round which pass chains 15, which also pass over wheels 16 loose on a fixed shaft 17. The chains 15 carry two pairs of bars 18, 19 carrying fixed and pivoted gripper members 20, 21. A tappet 79 on the shaft 17 contacts with the nose a of the passing member 21 to swing open the gripper, which is then held open by a tappet 80 and a guide 81 until the fixed gripper 20 reaches the position shown in Fig. 1. The gripper 21 is then released, and is revolved by its spring to bring a spring member d thereon up through a slot 82, Fig. 2, in the table 22 to grip the underside of a napkin W placed thereon. The napkin is then carried on to the flaps up against one of the stops 83, 84, whereupon the gripper is opened to release it by a roller 117, Fig. 7, thereon contacting with pathways 91, 92. The projection 91 and stop 83 are raised when the flap 27 is out of action, the stop being raised by the movement of reversing-lever 90 through connexions to a rod 121 and a tappet on a pivot 122. The pathway 91 is mounted on an arm 123 and is connected to an angle-lever 125 spring- pressed against the rail of the stops 83 so that the pathway 91 is lowered with the stops 83, while both are connected to the slidable member 31. The stops 84 and pathway 92 are. connected to the actuating-lever of the member 31. For placing the linen correctly, fingers 129 are provided attached to cam-actuated cranks 131. For positioning the cross folds, two rules 137 are provided on the carrier 28 of the flaps 26, having flanges guided in slots 140 in the carrier. They are connected by bars 141 with the supports 46 of the cross-flaps by pin-and-slot connexions. The rules leave a folding impression after the swinging of the flap 26. When the initials are in the middle of the napkin, the flap 25 is out of use and the stop 83 is down. The flaps 26, 27 and then the flaps 24, 24<1> tilt to fold the napkin, which is left with the initials downward, on the table 23. If the initials are in the corner, the stop 83 is raised and the flap 25 used, the flaps 25, 26, 24, 24<1> operating in turn, leaving the initials upwards. The table 23, which is supported on a camactuated stem 145, is then depressed beneath the level of conveyer bands 116, which pass between the bars .s. The bands carry the napkins between an ironing roll 153 and a conveyer roll 115, after which a rake 100 lifts them off and deposits them on a table 107. The rake is actuated from a cam-actuated segment 97 gearing with a spur-wheel 98 on the shaft 99 of the rake. Another spur wheel 102 on this shaft gears with a segment 103 carrying a pawl 109 actuating a ratchet-wheel 110 having fixed to it a grooved pulley 104 over which passes a weighted rope 106. The rope is attached to the table 107, which is thus allowed to descend gradually to ensure an even discharge of the napkins.