Improvements in Machines for Folding Fabrics.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Folding Fabrics.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a commu-
nication to me from André Dauvergne, Lace Manufacturer, of 1, Rue Tabareau,
Lyons, in the Republic of France) to be as follows:-
The machine which forms the subject of the present application has for its object
the folding of fabrics in regular folds and of determined lengths. 1
It is composed in principle of a double or split rule through which passes the
fabric; this rule receives a to and fro horizontal movement to form the folds and
a movement of rotation upon itself at the two extremities of its course to present
the folds to a series of clips which hold them when once formed.
The accompanying drawings represent at Figures 1 to 4 the relative movements
of these essential parts.
Figures 5 and 6 show by way of example an elevation and a plan of a machine
for obtainging these movements. Figure 7 is a detail view of part of the mechanism.
The principal part of the apparatus for folding is: The double or split rule
which is composed of two juxtaposed blades AA Fig. 1, between which passes
the fabric V, which is folded on a horizontal table P.
The formed folds are held on each side by two series of clips B and C, which
lift up alternately and one after the other, so as never to leave the fabric unheld.
The rule AA is moved alternately from one fold to another, it can moreover
turn upon trunnions O with which its extremities are furnished.
During its travel, in one direction or the other, its faces are vertical as in Fig. 1.
Arriving near the clips, it makes a quarter revolution and takes the position shown
in Fig. 2, to lead the fold of the fabric above the preceding folds and below the
clips B which are lifted up after the clips C have come to hold the material. Before
the rule commences its return journey, the clips B re-descend and by entering the
notches a a Fig. 6, with which the rule is provided, have seized the fold brought
by this latter. The rule A, A, can then return in the contrary direction again
becoming vertical which it is shown in the act of doing at Fig. 3. The clips C
which were engaged between the two last folds, are withdrawn becoming disen-
gaged by a backward movement, and have returned and taken the position shown
at Fig. 3 ready to be lowered onto the fabric when the clips B are again raised.
These same operations are repeated at the right for the following fold. As the
thickness of the folded fabric increases, the table P descends, either by hand, or
automatically, in order that the folding always takes place at the same height.
The same result would be obtained if the blades A A which compose the rule,
were juxtaposed in the same plane, but then the rule would make a complete revo-
lution before arriving under the clips. Fig. 4, shows this arrangement; during
its travel, the rule A A is horizontal and the fabric traverses it as the figure shows,
the rotation at the extremities takes place in the direction indicated by the arrows;
the first half turn brings the fabric to the position A', and the complete turn brings

page_text: it to the position A2, where it is ready to be seized by the clips arranged as pre-
viously described. The horizontal rule Fig. 4 is formed on its two sides with
notches, similar to those shown at a, a Fig. 6; if it is thought that the notches
might injure the fabric, they might in both cases be covered with a covering piece
having smooth edges which would be removed only at the moment when the clips B
come to seize the fabric. When heavy or stiff fabrics are to be folded, it is found
convenient in order to strain neither the rule nor the fabric to deliver this latter
to the rule by a roller R travelling at the same speed as the folding is taking place.
The parts above mentioned may be operated by any appropriate mechanical
movements. Those hereinafter described are only given by way of example.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the machine Fig. 6 is a plan thereof and Fig. 7, a detail
of construction.
The trunnions of the rule A, A are carried by two carriages D, D, sliding hori-
zontally on the frame G, G, of the machine. These carriages are constructed of
two arms E, E, coupled together, receiving an oscillating movement by the rod F
and the crank pin on the rotating disc H.
At each end of the machine, the two series of clips B and C, acting alternately
on the whole width of the fabric, oscillate on a fixed shaft I, they are made to bear
on the fabric by independent springs and released at the desired times by cams
mounted on a shaft J, which towards the end of the journey of the rule, receives
an oscillating movement by means of the lever K, which has been moved by the
push piece L, fixed to the carriage D. The clips C, which ought to receive a back-
ward movement before rising, are capable of sliding on the shaft I and the cams
which operate them are shaped in such a way as to give this movement. The clips
are covered with a material more or less hard or soft according to the class of fabric
to be folded. The rotation of the rule is obtained by a pin wheel M, Fig. 6, seen
in detail Fig. 7, fixed on one of the trunnions of the rule, and engaged by a fixed
rack N, which causes it to make a quarter revolution at the end of each traverse
and returns it into position in the first moments of the traverse in the contrary
direction. This position is assured during the travel of the rule by a spring catch S,
which engages with a notch in the wheel.
In the case of the horizontal rule shown at Fig. 4, the mechanism remains the
same, with the exception that the rack N has a sufficient length to cause the rule
to make a complete revolution.
In order to be able to vary the length of the folds, the clips B and C, and the
rack N, are mounted on two movable carriers T, T, which may approach or recede
from each other symmetrically. The travel of the rule is accordingly regulated
by displacing the trunnion or axis of the rotating disc H, which is moved by
means of a screw in the slide U.
Finally, the invention is not limited to the mechanical means which are above
described by way of example only.
Dadal
101
1000
Improvements in Machines for Folding Fabrics.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23. Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a commu-
nication to me from André Dauvergne, Lace Manufacturer, of 1, Rue Tabareau,
Lyons, in the Republic of France) and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
The machine which forms the subject of the present application has for its object
the folding of fabrics in regular folds and of determined lengths.
It is composed in principle of a double or split rule through which passes the
fabric; this rule receives a to and fro horizontal movement to form the folds and
a movement of rotation upon itself at the two extremities of its course to present
the folds to a series of clips whch hold them when formed.
The drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification represent at Figures 1
to 4 the relative movements of these essential parts.
Figures 5 and 6 show by way of example an elevation and a plan of a machine
for obtaining these movements. Fig. 7 is a detail view of part of the mechanism.
The principal part of the apparatus for folding is:-The double or split rule
which is composed of two juxtaposed blades A A Fig. 1 between which passes
the fabric V, which is folded on a horizontal table P.
The formed folds are held on each side by two series of clips B and C, which
lift up alternately and one after the other, so as never to leave the fabric unheld...
The rule A A is moved alternately from one fold to another, it can moreover
turn upon the trunnions O with which its extremities are furnished.
During its travel, in one direction or the other, its faces are vertical as in Eig1.
On arriving near the clips, it makes a quarter revolution and takes the position
shown in Fig. 2, to place the fold of the fabric above the preceding folds and
below the clips B which are lifted up after the clips Chave come to hold the
material. Before the rule commences its return journey, the clips 1 re-descend
and by entering the notches a a Fig. 6, with which the rule is provided, have seized
the fold brought by this latter.
The rule A A can then return in the contrary direction again becoming vertical
which it is shown in the act of doing at Fig. 3. The clips C which were engaged
between the two last folds (Fig. 2), are withdrawn, becoming disengaged by a
backward movement, and have returned and taken the position shown at Fig.
ready to be lowered on to the fabric when the clips B are to be again raised. These
same operations are repeated at the right for the following fold. As the thickness
of the folded fabric increases, the table P descends, either by hand, or automati-
cally, in order that the folding may always take place at the same height.
The same result would be obtained if the blades A A which compose the rule,
were juxtaposed in the same plane, but then the rule would make a complete revo-
lution before arriving under the clips. Fig. 4 shows this arrangement during its
travel, the rule A A is horizontal and the fabric traverses it as shown by the figure,
the rotation at the extremities takes place in the direction indicated by the arrow;
the first half turn brings the fabric to the position A', and the complete turn brings
it to the position A2, in which it is ready to be seized by the clips arranged as pre-
viously described.
The horizontal rule Fig. 4 is formed on its two sides with notches, similar to
those shown at a a Fig. 6; if it is thought that the notches might injure the fabric
they might in both cases be covered with a covering piece having smooth edges
which would be removed only at the moment when the clips B come to seize the
fabric. When heavy or stiff fabrics are to be folded, it is found convenient in
order to strain neither the rule nor the fabric to deliver this latter to the rule by
a roller R travelling at the same speed as the folding is taking place.
The parts above mentioned may be operated by any appropriate mechanical
movements. Those hereinafter described are only given by way of example.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a plan thereof and Fig. 7 a detail of construction.
The trunnions of the rule A A are carried by two carriages D D sliding hori-
zontally on the frame G G, of the machine. These carriages are constructed of
two arms E E coupled together, receiving an oscillating movement by the con-
necting rod F and the crank pin on the rotating disc H.
T

page_text: At each end of the machine, the two series of clips B and C acting alternately
on the whole width of the fabric, oscillate on a fixed shaft I, they are made to
bear on the fabric by independent springs and released at the desired times by
cams mounted on a shaft J, which towards the end of the journey of the rule, re-
ceives an oscillating movement by means of the lever K, which has been moved
by the push piece L, fixed to the carriage 1). The clips C, which ought to receive
a backward movement before rising, are capable of sliding on the shaft I and
the cams which operate them are shaped in such a way as to give this movement.
The clips are covered with a material more or less hard or soft according to the
class of fabric to be folded.
The rotation of the rule is obtained by a pin wheel M, Fig. 6 shown in detail
at Fig. 7, fixed on one of the trunnions of the rule, and engaged by a fixed rack N,
which causes it to make a quarter revolution at the end of each traverse and returns
it into position in the first moments of the traverse in the contrary direction. This
position is assured during the travel of the rule by a spring catch S which engages
with a notch in the wheel.
In the case of the horizontal rule shown at Fig. 4, the mechanism remains the
osame, with the exception that the rack N has a sufficient length to cause the rule
.bito!make a complete revolution.
In order to be able to vary the length of the folds, the clips B and C, and the
rack N, are mounted on two movable carriers TT, which may approach or recede
from each other symmetrically. The travel of the rule is accordingly regulated by
moving the trunnion or axis of the rotating disc H, which is moved by means of a
serew in the slide U.
Finally the invention is not limited to the mechanical means above described
these being shown only by way of an example.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
A machine for folding fabrics, composed essentially of a rule for folding formed of
two juxtaposed blades between which passes the fabric, and of two series of clips
bearing alternately on the fabric to hold the folds already formed without at any
time releasing them, the said folding rule having a horizontal movement to carry
the fabric, and a rotary movement on its own axis at the ends of its traverse, to
present the folds to the clips, substantially as herein shown and described.
.” L
T
1900
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.