Patent GB-711533-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for receiving and possibly folding linen and other material presented in the form of readily foldable sheets, such as paper or resin sheets
IPC: B29C53/04
Filed: 1950-05-30
Abstract: 711,533. Sheet folding and delivery apparatus. JESUS, H. L. L. May 30, 1950 [May 31, 1949 Sept. 8, 1949; May 10, 1950], No. 13441/50. Class 100 (1). [Also in Groups VIII and XVII] Apparatus for receiving paper or other sheets particularly linen sheets leaving a drying machine, comprises a sheet holder such as a bar or tablet, a delivery device arranged above the holder so that sheets coming therefrom descend by gravity, and at least one pivoted or rotatable directing member located directly after the delivery device and acting on the descending sheet flap higher than the holder for producing a re'ative change of position of the sheets and the holder, cross-wise of the sheet, so that the sheets are laid astride the holder. The directing member may consist of a pivoted flap or a roller at the end of a pivoted arm, or it may be formed of a number of flaps side by side, independently controlled so as to deal with a number of streams of work, some of the flaps having portions which can be detached and associated with adjacent flaps; the flaps and controlling means may work independently or together according to the width of sheet. Successive sheets are draped one on top of another on the holder. A directing flap 6c, Fig. 4, may be operated by an electromagnet 19 under control of feeler fingers 13 co-operating with a grooved roller 12. Fingers 13 are moved by the leading edge of the sheet so as to close a switch 16 and cause magnet 19 to bring flap 6c to the full-line position, the leading portion of the sheet thus passing to the right of holder 1a. As the trailing edge passes fingers 13, magnet 19 is de-energized and flap 6c is returned by a spring 23 to the dotted-line position, moving the trailing portion of the sheet so that it falls to the left of holder 1a. A counter 18 records the number of sheets received. Holder 1a is carried on a counter-weighted arm 25 which, when the weight of sheets on the support reaches a certain amount, pivots at 26 to cause a mercury switch 29 to close the circuit of a sound or light warning device 30; in a modification the holder is mounted on springs instead of a pivoted lever. Means may be provided for retaining the directing member in retracted position whiie removing sheets from the holder. Spring steel strips or an upper conveyer may also be provided to press the sheet on the conveyer and prevent the trailing portion of the sheet from liding ue to the weight of the leading portion. The directing flap, instead of being electromagnetically operated, may be operated by a cord which is caused to wind around a drum by passage of a sheet on the conveyer. The flap may have such a slope and friction co-efficient that improperly dried sheets will not slide over it and will fall vertically downwards, instead of onto the linen holder, when the flap is retracted. A holder 1r, Fig. 32, fitted with non-slip means 122, is carried by a lever 125 which pivots at 126, against the influence of a tension spring 127, as the weight and thickness of material on the holder increases, so that the space between the rear flaps of the sheets on the holder and the vertical flap of a descending sheet remains substantially constant. For removing the sheets, holder 1r can be pulled forward to position 1<SP>1</SP>r, holder supports 123 pivoting at 124 on levers 125 against a compression spring 130. A counter 121 is actuated by movement of directing flap 6r. Conveyer 4 can be swung about the front roller 108 according to the height of a drying machine A from which sheets are received. Guide springs 114 are provided. Either of two sets of feelers 112 can be used, to operate flap 6r, according to the length of the sheets. The directing member may operate to drape a sheet in a folded condition on a holder 1c, Fig. 20. A switch 103 is closed by the leading portion of a sheet L, which portion falls to the right of support 1q; as the trailing edge leaves a switch 104 the latter closes, completing the circuit to an electromagnet 105 which is energized to move flap 6q and cause the next portion of the sheet to fall to the left of holder 1q; as the trailing edge leaves switch 103, the latter opens, flap 6q swings back, and the trailing portion of the sheet falls to the right of support 1q on top of the leading portion. Switch 104 is time-lagged in opening so that operations on a sheet are not interfered with by a closely following sheet. The directing member may be adapted to positively urge the sheet in both directions and to clamp the pile of sheets onto one or both sides of the holder. Two directing members may work in synchronism to direct a sheet from one side to another of a holder placed vertically below the descending sheet. The directing flap may be transparent and may be operated by the interruption by the sheet of a light beam passing through the flap to a photo-electric cell. The holder is in this case formed by a table with an anti-sliding surface which can be arranged horizontally for receiving small sheets but can be swung to a vertical position to receive larger sheets in draped form. A number of holder bars 86, Fig. 16, may be mounted on a rotary frame which is turned to bring each empty bar into receiving position when the previous bar has received a certain number of sheets L. The receiving apparatus may be a self-contained machine, or all or part thereof may be carried by a drying machine; when associated with a drying machine, the apparatus may occupy a part only of the width of such machine.