US1420480A - Folding machine for fabric blanks - Google Patents

Description

A'. 'w. GAVITT.

FOLDING MACHINEHFOB FABRIC BLANKS.

' APPLICATION. FILED JULY 26. I920- 1,420,480. Patented June 20,1922.

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A. w. GAV ITTL FOLDING MACHINE FOR FABRIC BLANKS.

APPITICATION FILED JULY 26, 1920.

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mammal m W %%UIIIM A..W. GAVITT.

FOLDING MACHINE FOR FABRIC BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1920.

1,420,480. Patented June 20,1922.

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ff) v g 49 UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR w. GAVI'IT, or onIoAeO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To A. s'rnnv & oourrmjor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

FOLDING MACHINE FOR FABRIC BLANKS. I

Application filed July 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. GAVITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Machines for Fabric Blanks, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention has relation to that class of folding machines more particularly designed for folding the edges of fabric blanks from which such articles as garter pads, collars, cuffs and the like are to be formed, and the invention consists in the features of novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, my invention isshown as applied to a folding machine set forth in an application for Letters Patent filed in the United States Patent Ofiice by Alexander D. Elliott January 22, 1920, Sr. No. 353,323, in which machine the fabric blanks to be folded are adapted to be acted upon by a series of groups or units of folder blades and dies or templets,the groups of folder blades being carried by a revoluble table that is moved by a step-by-step motion so as to bring the folder blades successively beneath the dies or templets that cooperate therewith in folding the edges ofthe blanks. In the machine set forth in said Elliott application, the fabric blanks, after their edges had been folded and pressed, were removed from the revoluble table by means of an arm Drovided'with pins adapted to engage the fabric blank and move the same from the machine into a suitable receptacle.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simpleand effective mechanism whereby the fabric blanks after they have been folded can be conveniently aggregated and moved to such position that they can be readily formed into bundles or packages.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a folding machine, such as set forth in said Elliott application. having my invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, showing a portion of the revoluble table with the folder blades carried thereby, showing a por Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '20, 192 2.

1920. Serial No. 399,073.

tion of the vertically movable frame beneath the revoluble table and showing the folded blank receiver above the movable table. Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in different position. Figure 4 is anenlarged detail plan View of one of the groups of folder blades mounted upon the revoluble table. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the manner in which the folded fabric blanks are' m'ov'ed into the folded blank receiver. Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view in cross section on line 77 of Fig. 1. line 88 of Fig. 9. Figure 9 is a .view in vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 2.

The main frame of the machine is similar in construction to that set forth in the above mentioned Elliott application, and comprises corner posts A, the upper portions of which are connected together by the skeleton frames or cross plates A and A theframe A serving, as in said Elliott machine, to support the templets (not shown) and the presser devices that cooperate with the units or groups of folder blades carried by the revoluble table 14 that is fixed to the vertical shaft 15. r

In my present machine, as in said Elliott machine, there is mounted beneath the revoluble table A that carries the groups or units of folder blades, a vertically movable table A having depending cams a that are Figure 8'is a View in section on acted upon by rollers a carried by a shift- I ing plate or bar A that is moved in the direction of the arrow Fig".- 1 by a cam B upon a vertical cam shaft B. The table A is provided with a plurality of groups of upstanding cam fingers a adapted when the table A is raised, to shift the depending bars or arms a whereby the folder blades a will be moved back and forth to fold the edges of the fabric blanks. As these features form no part of my present invention and,

in front of the operator, a fabric blank will be delivered to each group or unit of folder blades and the blanks will be successively carried first beneath the die or dies that co operate with the folder blades in folding the edges of the fabric blanks, and, after the edges are folded, the blanks are advanced by the revoluble table beneath the presser mechanism shown at A in 1 of the drawings. After the fabric blanks 'have been thus folded and pressed, they Will. be in readiness to be removed from the revoltible table by my improved mechanism next to be described. I

Through the revoluble table 14 and through each of the revoluble supports a associated with each group or unit of folder blades pass the rods that have fixed to their upper ends a plate 31, on which the fabric blank to be folded will be placed. These rods 30 are encircled by coiled springs 32 the upper ends of which bear against the revolubletable 14, while their lower ends bear upon a plate or bar 33 that is fixed to the lower ends of the rods 30. The springs 32 thus serve to hold the rods 30 and the plate 31 in the normally retracted position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Upon the top of the vertically movable table A (see Figs. 1 and 2) are mounted upright bars or posts 35 adapted to contact with the bar or plate 33 when the table A is raised.

After a. fabric blank has been folded and pressed by being moved (as in the Elliott machine above mentioned) successively beneath the dies or templets and the pressing mechanism A (see Fig. 1), it will next be moved beneath the folded blank receiver 'designated as D, the position of the parts then being as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The folded blank receiver D preferably comprises a cage or receptacle formed of a series of rods 40 the .upper ends of which are connected to a plate 41 fixed to the top of the cross plate A above an opening formed therein, this plate 41 having an 'and 2 of the drawings.

opening corresponding in outline to the form of the folder blanks W. Preferably the upper ends of the rods 40 are formed with vertical seats to receive guide pins 42 that constitute an extension of the folded blank receiver, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 The top plate A of the main frame will be open at a point above the rods 42. The lower ends of the rods 40 have fixed thereto a plate 43, this plate being preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. To'the plate 43 beneath the lower end of each of the rods 40 is'atta'ched, as by set screws 45, a-channelshaped bracket 46 (see Fig. 8) in which is pivoted, as at 47, a dog or catch 48 that normally gravitates to the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Each pawl 48 is formed with a slot through which passes'a pin 49, the ends of this pin 49 being mounted in the side walls of thebracket 46. V

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when a fabric blank has had its edges folded and pressed and has been brought beneath the folded blank receiver 1), a vertical movement is imparted to the table A the posts 35 will contact with the plate and will lift the plunger rods and the plate 31 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thereby lifting the folded fabric blank past the pivoted dogs or catches 48 until the blank is within the receiver D, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As the table A recedes, the dogs 48, the free ends of which have been forced backward by the upward movement of the fabric blank, will resume their normal posltlon and w ll serve to engage the edges of the fabric blankand prevent its downward movement with the plate 31; it being understood that the dogs 48, when in normal position, will permit the plate 31 to pass, In this way, the fabric I blanks, after they have been folded and pressed, will be successively added 'to the stack of blanks within the receptacle D and gradually the blanks will pass from between the rods 40 upwardinto the space between the supplemental rods 42, from which they may be readily lifted by the operator from. 4

t me to time and formed into bundles.

While I have'described what I regard as the preferred embodiment of nay-invention, i

folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit "the folded fabric blanks, and dogging mechanism to hold 'said' fabric blanks within the receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks. of asupport for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for,

moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks; a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks. and movable catches at the bottom of said receiver for holding the fabricblanks within the receiver after they have been delivcred thereto. v V

3. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, and pivoted dogs at the bottom of said receiver for holding said fabric blanks within the receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks and open at its opposite end for the removal of the fabric blanks, and means for preventing the fabric blanks from passing from the bottom of the receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks and open at its top for discharge of the fabric blanks, said receiver comprising vertical rods, and means for preventing the dropping of the fabric blanks from the bottom of said receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, means for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks and open at its top for the discharge of said blanks, a series of brackets arranged beneath said receiver, and a series of pivoted dogs or catches carried by said brackets and adapted to prevent the dropping of said fabric blanks from said receiver.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, said support being arranged adjacent said means for folding the fabric blanks, a vertically movable member arranged to lift, said support, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks, and means to prevent said fabric blanks from dropping from said receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, spring mechanism for forcing said support normally downward, a movable member for moving said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks, and means for preventing the fabric blanks from dropping from said receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a support for the fabric blanks to be folded, rods connected to and depending from said support, spring mechanism for forcing said support normally downward, a movable bar for raising said support vertically to lift the folded fabric blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to admit the folded fabric blanks, and'means to prevent said fabric blanks from dropping from said receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

10. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with suitable means for foldin the fabric blanks, means for lifting the fo ded blanks, a blank receiver open at its bottom to receive said folded blanks, and means for holding said blanks within the receiver after they have been delivered thereto.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a support for the blanks to be folded, of means for folding the blanks on said support, a receiver for the folded blanks disposed above said support, and means for lifting said support to deposit the folded blanks in said receiver.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with suitable means for folding the fabric blanks, of a movable support for the fabric blanks to be folded,

a receiver for the folded blanks, and means mounted on and movable with said support for lifting the folded blanks from the support into the receiver when the support is brought into position beneath said receiver.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of movable supports for the blanks to be folded, of means for folding the blank on each of 'said supports, a stationary receiver for the folded blanks, means for successively moving said supports opposite said receiver, and means for conducting the folded blank from each support to said receiver when the support is opposite said receiver.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of movable supports for the blanks to be folded, of means for folding the blanks on each of said supports, a stationary receiver for the folded blanks, means for successively moving said supports opposite said receiver, and means mounted on and movable with each of said supports for conducting the folded blank thereon to said receiver when the support is opposite said receiver.

ARTHUR W. GAVITT.

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