Patent GB-1377089-A (GB)
Title: Laundry folders
IPC: D06F89/00
Filed: 1971-11-30
Abstract: 1377089 Folding sheets B A BUSS and D C BUSS 30 Nov 1971 [1 Dec 1970 (3)] 55548/71 Heading D1S A sheet folding machine having, at the input end thereof, at least two idler rollers 19 positioned above and spaced along the length of a roll 14 and which are mounted for individual lifting movement with respect to the roll 14, the mounting means for the rollers 19 comprising pivoted arm means 21, so that a sheet 17 can be progressively placed between the rollers 14, 19 and held thereby so as to be in readiness to be moved into the machine when the roll 14 is driven. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 4, spaced endless conveyor belts 13 pass over an infeed roll 14 drivable by a belt 16. Idler rollers 19, 19A, 20 are each journalled on an arm or a pair of arms 21 pivotally mounted on a shaft 22. The rollers 19, 19A which act as gripping rollers during the manual insertion of the sheet 17 are located immediately above the roll 14 and the rollers 20 are positioned rearwardly thereof. The rollers 19, 19A, 20 each lie over a belt 13. Sheets folded by a mechanism 23 are returned on a slide 24 to a position 26. A curved bar 27 extends the length of the roll 14 and in its normal position with the belts 13 stationary, is in the solid line position of Fig. 1. After insertion of a sheet 17, the operator raises the bar to the position 28 to start the roller 14 and the belts 13. In a modification, Fig. 5, of the holding roller arrangement, outer rollers 30 are supported on plastics arms 31 carried on a shaft 32. The arms 31 are movable independently of each other. The inner rollers 33' are mounted, in pairs, on a shaft 35 supported by arms 34 carried by the shaft 32. In another embodiment, Fig. 8, the holding roller arrangement is similar to that of Fig. 1 and comprises outer idler rollers 121 positioned over a drivable roll 115 and inner idler rollers 122 positioned rearwardly of the roll 115. At the delivery end of a conveyor 113 comprising a plurality of narrow tapes 114, sheets 118 are folded by a mechanism 131 and are discharged by a slide 126. The mechanism 131 comprises a folder bar 132 pivoted at 134 and linked to driving arms 136 actuated by a motor 137. Tabs 138 are spaced along the bar 132 which is engageable with a clamping plate in position 140. In operation, the operator places the leading edge of a sheet 118 under rollers 121, 122 and raises a curved bar 145 to drive the roller 115. The bar 145 smooths the sheet as it is fed onto the conveyor 113. When the leading edge of the sheet 118 contacts a switch 162 to start a timer so that, when one quarter of the sheet 118 has passed the discharge roll of the conveyor 113, the bar 132 clamps the sheet against the plate 139, Fig. 14 (not shown), and a loop is formed in the sheet. When threequarters of the length of the sheet 118 has passed the discharge roll, the bar 132 is moved to force the sheet between the discharge roll and a lower pinch roll, Fig. 15 (not shown). The quarter-folded sheet is discharged down the slide 126, Fig. 16 (not shown). Circuits for the operation of the machine are described, Figs. 17 and 18 (both not shown). In a further embodiment, Figs. 21 and 22, two holding idler rolls 233 are mounted on each of two shafts 234 mounted on arms 235 pivoted on a shaft 236. The rolls 233 normally rest on a roll 229 on a shaft 230 supported by pivoted arms 231. A lower roll 224 having a soft covering is provided. A feeding apron 236' of adjustable inclination has a curved edge 237. Arms 239 carrying a folding blade or fingers 241 and are movable about a pivot 240 by a motor 242. In operation, the sheet is folded in half by the operator and is positioned under the rolls 233. A handle is rotated to rotate a starting bar 247 to drive the roll 224 and thus the roll 229. A plate 245 ensures that the sheet passes over the 229. As the sheet passes down a slide 238 its leading edge trips a selected switch 249, 250, 251, e.g. 251, to move the arms 239 to engage the sheet between the fingers 241 and a soft surface 243A of a back plate 243, Fig. 25 (not shown). Continued movement of the sheet forms a loop (254), Fig. 26 (not shown), which slides down the slide 238. When the lengths of the second and third quarters are substantially the same as the first quarter, the arms 239 move the fingers 241 to push the sheet between the rolls 224, 229 and the quarter-folded sheet drops onto the apron 236', Fig. 27 (not shown): A circuit for the operation of the machine is described, Fig. 28 (not shown).