Patent GB-1109553-A (GB)
Title: Cross folder
IPC: D06F89/00
Filed: 1965-12-02
Abstract: 1,109,553. Folding sheets. CHICAGO DRYER CO. 2 Dec., 1965 [8 Dec., 1964; 14 Oct., 1965], No. 51192/65. Heading D1S. Folding apparatus for flatwork articles, e.g. sheets, comprises a continuously moving conveyor 36, folding means 104, 106, 134 disposed to fold an article substantially .parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor 36 and to pull the article beneath the conveyor 36, and a support 144 positioned to receive an article from the conveyor 36 and to support this article in a stationary position so that it may be folded without having to stop the conveyor 36. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2, the articles to be folded pass one at a time from a discharge conveyor 28 of an ironer into the holding apparatus 10 which is provided with three vertically aligned conveyors 26, 30, 36, running at progressively increasing speeds. The conveyor 30 runs in the opposite direction to the conveyors 26, 36 and each conveyor comprises spaced tapes 24. On the conveyor 26 the article is half-folded by its leading edge (L), Fig. 3 (not shown), deflecting an arm (56) to close a switch (58) and then riding up inclined fingers (60) on a bar (62) to deflect on arm (64) to close a switch (66) in series with the switch (58). This causes pistons in air cylinders (74), (76) to move upwardly to move a clamp bar (94) downwardly to grip the edge (L) against an anvil (102) and to lower the fingers (60). When the terminal edge (T) becomes disengaged from the arm (56), the bar (94) and the fingers (60) rise so that the edge (L) drops onto the edge (T). A valve may be provided in the air escape line of the cylinder (76) so that the fingers (60) rise more slowly than the bar (94). The half-folded article drops onto the conveyor 30 and is again folded by similar folding elements. The quarter-folded article drops onto the conveyor 36 disposed beneath an opening in which are oppositely rotating rolls 104, 106. One or both of the rolls 104, 106 is or are driven and, in the former case, the other roll is spring- biased towards the driven roll. The folded article is cross-folded by supplying compressed to an air tube 134 when the article trips a switch actuator (136), Fig. 7 (not shown), so that the centre of the article is pushed between the rolls 104, 106 which drive it downwardly onto an S-shaped deflector (140) to drop onto a conveyor 142. Interposed between the tapes 24 straddling the rolls 104, 106 are smooth support rods 144 onto which the quarter-folded article is driven so as to be out of engagement with the tapes 24 during the folding. In a modification, the tapes 24 of the conveyor 36, which tapes normally lie above the level of the rods 144. are dropped below the level of the rods 144 by bearings 146, Fig. 1, pivotable by a cylinder 150 about a pivot 148 when the article strikes the act- ', uator (136). Folding elements similar to those on the conveyors 26, 30 may be disposed on the conveyor 142 to effect a second crossfold. The folded article is removed manually. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 8-12 (all not shown), folding elements are provided on conveyors (26a), (30a), (36a) similar to those on the conveyors 26, 30, 36, respectively, of the first embodiment. Curved guide fingers (160) mounted on a bar (162) extend through the tapes of the conveyor (30a) to rest between spaced rubber rings (161) on a driven roll (164) to prevent the article "flying,off" the conveyor (26a). The roll (164) is driven faster than the conveyor roll (18a). Air is squeezed from the leading bight edge of the article on the conveyor (30a) by a roll (166) around which, and an idler roll (167), tapes (165) extend. The tapes of the conveyor (30a) and the tapes (165) run at the same speed. Curved guide fingers (168) facilitate the passage of the article onto the conveyor (36a). A pivotal by-pass plate (172) on a bar (174) may be provided so that, when in the lower position thereof, an article may slide thereover onto a table (178). Fixed cylinders, solid rods or rotatable rollers (180), in their upper position, slidably or rotatably engage the tapes (24) of the conveyor (36a) to normally lift these tapes above support rods (144a). When the article trips a switch arm (136a) the cylinders (180) (180a) are lowered so that the article rests on the rods (144a) and, simultaneously, compressed air is supplied to a tube (134a) to push the article between the rolls (104a), (106a) to effect the cross-fold. Spaced rubber grommets (2C4) are mounted on the rods (144a) to prevent the article sliding. The article passes onto driven tapes (212) and onto a conveyor (226) provided with folding elements (60a), (102a), (94a) similar to those on the conveyor (26a). The article then passes between guide rolls (232), (242) having rubber rings (238), (240), respectively, thereon and is guided by curved guide fingers (244) onto a conveyor (248) on which a further fold is effected by folding elements (60a), (102a), (94a) similar to those on the conveyor (26a). The five-times folded article then passes over a plate (272) onto a conveyor (263) and may then pass over a pivotal by-pass plate (274) onto a conveyor (280) from which it passes over guide fingers (286) onto a discharge, table (288). Alternatively, with the plate (274) in its elevated position, the article is carried downwardly by the conveyor (263) and passes under a squeeze, roller (292) onto a stacking platform (296) simdiar to that disclosed in Specification