US2000063A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935- l F. J. coUcH. 2,000,063

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR N EY5 F. J. COUCH FOLDING MACHINE Mayy 7, 1935.

Filed Deo. 22, 19253 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw ww www? uw wm.

A E .ww v\ Nn N QN n. NN. H wm. ....swvil ww mw RY l ---f INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH ATTORN EY-S @y May 7 1935,

F. ,1. coucH FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 19315 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ya ,liz f May 7, 1935. F. J. CQUCH 2,000,063

FOLDING MACHI NE Filed Dec. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvEN'roR FORREST J. COUCH B E l J 9rd/ ,"yz

ATTORNEYS Patented my 7, 1 935 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING MACHINE Forrest J. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery' Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 22, 1933, Serial No. 703,593

23 Claims. (Cl. 27o-62) This invention relates to a machine for folding at articles, such as sheets, table cloths and the like, and particularly to a machine for cross-folding such articles.

The invention contemplates providing a machine which passes a flat article, such as a sheet, along a conveyor, thenguides the sheet around and over a unit consisting of rotatable rollers and tapes running oversueh rollers, and eventually cross-folds the sheet by means of a blade which passes up through a space dividing the unit centrally and transversely. The blade thrusts the elliptically rolled sheet between belts which flatten it and impart the cross fold. Closely spaced switches are provided which cause actuation ofthe folding blade when the trailing end of the sheet has passed one such switch but not the other, thus measuring the sheet so that the fold will be accurately placed. At the same time, the switches cause the sheetmoving means, other than the folding blade and the cross-folding belts, to stop automatically, such stopping being necessary while the folding blade is performing its function. Such a machine eliminates complicated timing mechanisms which have heretofore been thought necessary to impart a fold accurately positioned with respect to the dimensions of the article being folded.

In my copending application Serial No. 657,407, filed February 18, 1933, an apparatus is described for cross-folding flat articles of moderate size by deflecting the same from a conveyor into the form of a loose rollwhich can then be flattened by bringing a folding blade transversely against it and directing it between a pair of rollers. This means works very well with small articles but is not practicable with larger articles, such as sheets,` due to the fact that the larger tube necessarily formed cannot be satisfactorily manipulated. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine having suppcrting means for the rolled article, such as spaced drums with tapes extending around the same. 'I'he sheet is then deflected around the structure and adequately and effectively supported in the form of a flattened circle whereof half the perimeter'is equivalent to one of the sides of thev subsequently folded article.

In mest folding machines adapted for folding a series of flat articles in succession without attention from the operator individually to each sheet, the operation of the blades at the proper time with regard to the dimensions of the sheet and the position thereof in the machine hasV been brought about by more or less complicated timing mechanisms which cause the folding blades to function at the right time so as to bring the blade against the center of the article. Such mechanisms are expensive to make and require constant attention in order to maintain their maximum operating efficiency. Another object of the present invention is to do away with such complicated timing mechanisms and provide in their place a machine having an arrangement of switches under which the trailing edge of the article to be folded passes. Both switches must be closed in order to actuate the folding blade and to affect other parts of the mechanism, but one switch is normally open when no article is passing thereunder and the other is open when an article lies under both switches. Consequently, both switches will be closed so as to complete a circuit actuating the operating mechanism only when the trailing edge of the sheet has passed by one switch, leaving it normally closed, and has not yet passed the other switch which it holds also in closed position. In this way, accurate measureyment of the sheet for the purpose of imparting folds thereto is secured since the switches are closely spaced and are also positioned a predetermined distance from the unit about which the sheet is deflected prior to the cross-folding operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for directing a blast of air over the article being folded around the drums, in order to prevent wrinkling'and to cause the work to cling to the drum tapes during the rolling process, in order to produce a smoothly folded article.

Still other objects of the invention include means for simultaneously stopping moving parts which move the article therethrough when the cross-folding blade is functioning, and means for moving the work through the folding machine faster than it is fed to such machine in order to compensate for the delay occasioned by this intermittent cessation of forward movement.

As a further object, the invention includes the provision of means for lowering the deflectors; which direct the article over the forming drums and tapes, to an inoperative position and simultaneously preventing the functioning of the measuring switches mentioned in order' that an improperly laundered article may be shunted through the machine Without being folded.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

One machine, by the use of which the aforementioned objects and advantages'may be secured, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that the same may be modified in various particulars, not affecting the principle of its operation without departing from the scope of the invention.

1n said annexed drawings: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2, through an ironing machine and a folding machine constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the folding machine; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the drums and associated tapes about which the articles are wound prior to the folding operation; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of a clutch operating means for automatically actuating the crossfold blade and the stripping rollers and for declutching certain drive members, this view showing the clutch operating means in the disengaged position; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the clutch operating means in engaged position; Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the various clutch operating levers illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of the secondary clutch means for automatically operating the crossfolding mechanism; Fig. 10 is a detail partly in section taken along the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the construction of the article-measuring switches; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation of the article deilectors and associated means for rendering the switches inoperative when an article is to be passed through the machine without folding; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit forming a part of the apparatus; Fig. 14 is a vertical section through a portion of the machine, showing the clutches and driving mechanism for the crossfold blade and the conveyor tape drive rollers; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section taken along the line I5I5 of Fig. 3, showing the sprockets and drive chains; and Fig. 16 is a similar view of the opposite side of the machine,the section being taken along the line I6--I6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an ironing vmachine I, positioned to feed work through a folding machine 2. Work is conveyed between the ironing rolls 3 and the chest 4, thence back against the under side of the chests by means of the'conveyor'belt 5, between this conveyor belt and the lower conveyor tapes 6 to the folding machine 2. The spaced workconveying tapes 6 are substituted for the customary conveyor apron and the upper laps thereof travel from right to left, as viewed in Fig. l, around a driving roller 1 and idler rollers 8, 9, III and II. The work is taken from the tapes 5 by a plurality of spaced endless cords I2 passing around the roller I3 and the shaft 20 and is transferred to the work-conveying tapes I4 and I5 of the folding machine. The work, upon leaving the ironing machine, passes between the fabric-covered roller I3, extending transversely of the frame I6 and journalled in the inner end rails of the frame, and a plurality of spaced narrow rollers I1 constructed preferably of wood, fiber or like material and securelyv mounted on the shaft I8.

The purpose of these rollers is to accelerate the speed of the work through the folding machine as compared to the speed with which the work is fed from the ironing machine, such increased speed being requisite to permit continuous feeding of work from the ironing machine to the folding machine, as will appear hereinafter. The roller I1 is driven from 'the roller I3 through a gear I9 rigidly secured to a portion of the shaft I8 projecting outside the inner rail of the machine frame and arranged in meshing relation with a gear 2l, of similar ratio, which is securely mounted on an outwardly projecting portion of the roller shaft I3.

The work, thus accelerated by passage between the rollers I3 and I1, passes onto the conveyor tapes I4 and is carried under the laterally extending drums or cylinders 22, over which run spaced endless narrow tapes 23. The work is directed by a plurality of deflectors 24 around and upon the tapes 23 to form the article into a roll of attened elliptical shape. 'Ihe rolls -22 are carried by the side rails of the machine IB and extend inwardly across the width of the machine, terminating in stationary members 25 in which they are rotatably mounted. A longitudinally extending space is thus left between the two halves of the unit constituted by the drums and encircling tapes, through which-is adapted to pass the cross-folding blade 26. This blade is moved upward by suitable mechanism at the proper time and pulls the flattened elliptical roll, into which the article has been formed, off vthe drums 22 and tapes 23 and thrusts it between cross-folding belts 21 and 28, this action being assisted and guided by stripper rollers 29 and 3|. The article roll is thus simultaneously flattened and cross-folded by the cross-folding belts and can be delivered onto suitable conveyors for stacking or other disposition.

In the course of its travel through the machine, as above outlined, the work to be folded is nrst changed from the flat condition to the form of a flattened roll of predetermined size fixed by the dimensions of the unit made up of the drums 22 and tapes 23, and by which onehalf the circumference of the elliptical roll will be equivalent to the width of one of the sides of the finished folded article. The roll of work is next changed from the rolled form to the cross-folded condition by action of the folding blade which forces the roll between the crossfolding belts.

The drums 22 are, as stated, journalled in the end rails of the frame I6 and have outwardly extending end portions carrying sprocket gears 32, around which sprocket chainsA 33 and 34 pass for driving the drums. The rollers 35, which drive the conveyor tapes I5, are furnished with sprocket gears 36 securely fixed to their outwardly extending ends and are driven by the sprocket chains 33 and 34.

The deiiectors 24, which direct the work in a flat state from the tapes I4 and I5 upwardly and around the tapes 23 of the drums 22 and form it into an elliptical roll, are mounted on a rotatable shaft 31 which extends transversely of the frame, as shownin Fig. 4, and is journalled in the end rails of the frame and in brackets 38 and 39. The deflectors consist of a series of arms formed on a circumference centering at, or approximately at, the centers of the rear pair of drums 22. These deflectors can be moved into and out of operating position rela- Cri tive to the tapes I5 and the rear drums 22 by means of a hand crank 4I which is xed to a portion of the shaft 31 extending outside of the outer end railof frame I6.

In the operation of the article-rolling portion of the apparatus, the tapes I4 and I5 are set in motion to pull work in the fiat state from the feed end of the frame toward the opposite end, the drums or cylinders being rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Flg. 1. The crank 4I is operated to rotate the shaft 31 to swing the deilectors 24 from the inoperative position, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 12, wherein they are beneath the upper laps of the tapes I5, into the position shown in full lines wherein vthey are in deilecting position with respect to the tapes I5 and the drum 22 and drum tapes 23. In normal operation, the work is conveyed in the flat state through the apparatus by the tapes I4 and I5 until it strikes the deflectors and is curved upwardly around the aforementioned drums and associated tapes by continued movement of the work and the rotation of these drums and tapes. VThe work is finally rolled into the elliptical shape illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l.

While the apparatus is operating, an inspection operator is stationed at a point approximately between the rear of the ironing machine and the rear of the folding machine to observe the condition of each article being folded. Articles which have been properly washed are permitted to be folded, but those which have not been properly washed, those commonly termed wash-overs in the laundry, are shunted through the machine without being folded. This is brought about by manually operating the crank 4I to lower the deflectors below the upper tapes of the feed aprons I5 so as to allow the articles to pass by the folding mechanism without being folded and into a receptacle 42 provided at the rear of the machine.

An article which has been given an elliptical shape on the drums and tapes must now be reduced to a flat folded condition. This is accomplished by the cross-fold blade 26 which, at the proper time, is moved upwardly between the inner support members 25 of the cylinders and between adjacent tapes to engage the cylinder of work at approximately its longitudinal center so as to pull the work off the drums or cylindersl 22 and the conveyor tapes and thrust it upwardly between the stripper rollers 29 and 3| into the bite between a plurality of crossfolding belts 21 and 28. The work is then pulled upwardly between these cross-folding belts and is reduced to a flat, cross-folded condition.

The cross-fold blade 26 is moved up and down in guides 43 in which the rods 44, rigidly secured to the bottom of the cross-fold blade, are adapted to slide. A cross rod 45 is securely fixed to the vertical rods 44 at approximately their vertical center and links 46 are rotatably mounted on such cross rod. Cranks 41 are pivotally assembled to the links 46 by means of pins 48, the opposite ends of the cranks being securely pinned to a shaft 49 journalled in the brackets 5|. This shaft 49 carries a bevel gear 52 meshing with another bevel gear 53 fixed to-a drive shaft 54. At its opposite end: this shaft 54 is assembled to the driven member of a clutch mechanism. A spring 55 is secured to the frame of the machine and to the lower portion of the cross-fold blade so as to cause ously rendering the driving mechanism for the conveyor tape drive rollers 20 and 35, the rollers I3 and I1, and the drums 22 inoperative. `This control means is actuated by movement of the work through the apparatus and thus requires no manual intervention. The control includes mercury switches 5S and 51 having arms 58 and 59 which project downwardly between the upper laps of the tapes I4. An article travelling over the tapes beneath the switches operates the arms as its trailing edge passes them, with the result that an electrical circuit to a solenoid 6I is controlled. Energization of the solenoid actuates a lever 62 through a link 63 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, togset the clutch operating mechanism on the shaft 64 for accomplishing the above mentioned objects.

Switches 5S and 51 are preferably of the mercury type, the switch 56, which is. the rst in the path of the article travelling through the machine, being so disposed as to be normally closed, while the other switch 51 is so disposed as to be normally open, such disposition being brought about by proper positioning of the contacts E5, 66 and 65' and 66', with respect to the pool of mercury in the switch. A flat article passing under the switches strikes the arms 58 and 59 and moves them in a clockwise di rection, or to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, such movement opening the switch 53 and closing the switch 51, as will be apparent. The switches remain in this position, the circuit to the solenoid being still open since closing of both switches is necessary in order to close the circuit, until the trailing edge of the article i passes from under the arm 58 of the rst switch, permitting the arm to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and close the circuit since the arm 59 of the second switch is still being held up by the article which has not yet completely passed the second switch. The circuit is thus closed only while the trailing edge of the article is between the two switches or, more exactly, between the arms of the two switches, and the circuit thus established during this short period oncrgizes the solenoid which actuates the main clutch for operating the various mechanisms. The switches will be placed close to the forward drum 22 so that only a small portion of the article fails to lie under the tapes 23. This small portion allows for the spreading of the rolled article when folded, so that the trailing edge may be aligned with the folds, if desired. Since the folding blade is actuated only when this trailing edge lies between the two switches, or the corresponding space between their respective arms, and since, moreover, the spacing of the switches may be made quite small, it will be seen that very accurate measurement of the sheet for folding purposes may be had without recourse to complicated timing mechanisms.

The main clutch, actuated by these switches, isillustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and includes a sprocket gear 61 rigidly secured to the shaft 64, the gear having a plurality of axially extending rollers 68 circumferentially spaced upon its inner face. 'I'he shaft also carries a cam 69 loosely mounted thereon and has a dog 1| on its inner face opposed to the inner face of the sprocket gear 61. One end of the dog 1| is adapted to be moved into contact with the rollers 68 on the gear by means of a spring 12 to connect the loosely mounted cam with the rigidly mounted sprocket gear. This is brought about when the solenoid 6| is energized to pull the trigger arm 62 into the position shown in Fig. 6, where the dog has been released by the trigger arm and the spring 12 vhas pulled it into engagement with the rollers 68. The opposite action is secured when the solenoid is deenergized by the passing of the article from under the switch arms 58 and 59, whereupon the trigger arm 62, loosely mounted on the shaft 13, is moved in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 14 which returns the trigger arm to a position where it will contact with one end of the dog 1| when the rotation of the cam has brought the dog into abutment with the trigger arm. This forces the dog around its axis and swings the operating end thereof into a position where it will not contact with the roller 68 and thus disconnects the cam 69 from the sprocket 61. Thus, Fig. 5 illustrates the automatic control mechanism in the disconnected position and Fig. 6 illustrates the same in the connected position.

The cam 69 has an indentation 15 therein which is adapted to receive a roller 16 carried on the end of an arm 11 rotatably mounted on a shaft 18. 'I'he opposite end of this arm 11 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 19, this shaft, in turn, being rotatably mounted in slide members 8| and 82. The slide members are slidably assembled in guides located in the side rails of the frame |6 and have stripper rollers 29 and 3| rotatably assembled in their lower ends. A spring 83 is secured at one end to the shaft 64 and at the other end to the arm 11 in order to maintain the roller 16 in constant engagement with the periphery of the cam 69.

When the main clutch mechanism described above becomes engaged, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the cam 69 is rotated in a clockwise direction to cause the roller 16 to ride out of the indentation and onto the higher portion of the cam periphery, thus causing the arm 11 to be rotated in a clockwise direction. This moves the slide members 8| and 82 downwardly and lowers the stripper rollers 29 and 3|, carried on the lower ends of these slide members, to a position adjacent the drums 22 to approach the upwardly moving cross-fold blade 26. The stripper rollers will remain in this lower position until the cam has completed one rotation and the roller 16 has again come to rest in the cam indentation.

At the same time that the stripper rolls are Kthus being lowered, the cross-fold blade 26 is also being raised. This is brought about by means of the counterclockwise rotation of the arm 84, fixed to the shaft 13, which operates through the linkage consisting of rod 85, bell crank 86 and rod 81, to release clutch trigger arm 88. As may be seen in Fig. 8 of the drawings, arm 84, being rigidly attached to the shaft 13, turns, when the solenoid is energized, simultaneously with the turning of the arm 62 to release the dog 1| for the operation of the stripper rolls. Release oi.' the clutch trigger arm 88, as maybe seen in Figs. 9 and 10, permits the dog 89 to become engaged with one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending rollers 90 on a driving member 9| rigidly secured to a shaft 92. Upon release of the dog in this manner, a spring 93, attached to the dog and to the cam, pulls the dog into engagement with one of the aforesaid rollers, thus turning the disk member 94 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 54. Rotation of the shaft 54, in turn, rotates the bevel geary 53 and the bevel gear 52 meshing therewith, and the shaft 49, as seen in Fig. 1, is rotated to raise the cross-folding blade through cranks 41, links 46, and the rods 44.

As the cranks 41 continue to rotate, the blade is again lowered, aided by the spring 55, and, at the same time, opening of the second switch 51, as the trailing edge of the article passes it, deenergizes the solenoid and permits the spring 14 to bring the lever 62 into position to lock the cam 69 out of engagement with the sprocket gear 61. This releases the pull on the rod 85 and permits a spring 95 to operate the bell crank lever 86 in a counterclockwise direction to lower the rod 81, as shown in Fig. 14. The rod forces the trigger arm 88 into engagement again with the dog 89 and locks the latter out of engagement with the rollers 90 so as to disconnect the driven member 94 from the driving member 9|. This mechanism thus brings about controlled operation of the folding blade 26.

While the stripper rolls 29 and 3| are lowered and the folding blade 26 is raised in order to remove a rolled article from the rollers 22, it will be apparent that some means must be devised to prevent the continued operation of these rollers and of the feed means while the blade yis functioning, otherwise interference with the smooth and accurate operation of the machine will result. Simultaneously with the operation of the cross-folding parts, cessation of movement by associated conveying elements is brought about in the following manner: When the main clutch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 becomes engaged by the closing of the switches and consequent energizing of the solenoid 6|, the cam 69 is rotated in a clockwise direction and causes, among other effects, a counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 96 by means of a lug |00 mounted on thev outer face of the cam and contacting with the bell crank which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 13. The shaft is journalled in bearings in the front and rear rails of the frame, as may be seen in Fig. 3. This counterclockwise movement of the bell crank operates on a clutch 91 through the rod 98 attached to the bell crank 96, the bell crank 99, rod |0| and the clutch operating member |02 to disengage the clutch. The female member of the clutch is slidably mounted on the shaft |03, being held against rotation by the key |04, and the male member is attached to the shaft |05. A spring |06 is attached to the frame and to the operating member |02 for the purpose of moving the clutch back into engaging position immediately upon return of the cam to its normal position wherein the roller 16 rests in the indentation 15, after the completion of one revolution.

Disengagement of the clutch 91 in this manner vdisconnects the drive from the conveyor tapes |4 and |5 and the tapes 23 during the time that the folding blade is being moved upwardlyl into engagement with the work, as will appear more fully hereinafter in connection with the description of the drive for the various parts. Following the drive back from the operating parts; the

2,ooo,oes -5 cylinders 22 and tapes 23, aswell as the drive rollers 20 and 35, are driven by sprocket chains 33 and 34, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, one on each side of the machine. The sprocket chains engage sprockets 2|, |01, 32 and 36 and drive the same, the chains being driven by the sprocket |08 fixed on one end of a stub shaft |09 suitably journalled in the frame. A sheave pulley is rigidly mounted on the opposite end of this shaft and is arranged to be driven by a series of V-belts 2 extending around a drive pulley ||3 xed to the shaft |05. The shaft |05, as mentioned above, has the male member of the clutch 91 rigidly attached thereto. The drive 'for this shaft |05 is through the clutch which connects it with the aligned shaft |03, this latter shaft having mounted on one end the pulley which is belted to a pulley on the shaft of the motor ||4. The forming cylinders and tapes and the conveyor drive rollers and tapes are thus driven through the clutch 91 and are subject to intermittent stoppage according as the clutch is moved into or out of engaging position by the above described control mechanism.

The drive for the main clutch-operating mechanism and for the cross-folding belts 21 and 28 includes the shaft ||5 journalled, at one end, in the drive sprocket |08 and journalled at the opposite end in a suitable bearing 6 in the end rail of the frame, the shaft carrying lsheave pulley ||1 mounted thereon. The pulley ||1 is connected to the motor drive by means of belts ||8 running over pulley |I9 rigidly attached to shaft |03. Midway between the sprocket and frame, a bevel gear |2| is rigidly mounted on the shaft in meshing relation with another bevel gear |22 rigidly attached to a shaft |23. A sheave pulley |24 is also rigidly attached to the shaft |23 and carries V-belts |25, as may be seen in Fig. 2, to drive the pulley |26 fixed on a shaft |21. 'I'he shaft |21 has an outwardly extending portion which carries the sheave pulley |28 having V-beltsv |29 passing thereover and driving sheave pulley |3| fixed to the shaft 18. Referring to Fig. 3 a sprocket |32 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 18 at a point approximately midway of its length between the front and rear rails of the frame I6, and carries a sprocket chain |33 for driving the driving member 61 of the main clutch mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The rearwardly extending portion of the shaft 18 is provided with a sheave pulley |34 rigidly mounted thereon and carrying the V-belts |35 which drive sheave pulley |36. The sheave pulley |36 is mounted rigidly on the conveyor tape drive shaft |31 together with a spur gear |38 which meshes with another spur gear |39, of equal ratio, rigidly mounted on one end of drive shaft |4|. Since cross-folding belts 21 pass around shaft |4| and belts 28 pass around shaft 31, it will be seen that the two gears, of equal ratio, accomplish the drive for the belts. It will furthermore be noted that, since the drive for these belts as well as for the main clutch-operating mechanism, is not through the clutch 91 but directly from the shaft ||5, the belts and main clutch control mechanism operate continuously.

The drive for the cross-folding blade 26 is taken off the shaft ||5 by means of V-belts |40 running over pulley |42 on the shaft ||5 and pulley |43 on shaft 92. The rotation of shaft 92 is thus continuous but the shaft 54 is turned to operate the blade only when the clutch members 9| and 94 are connected by the rod 81 actuated by means of theY main clutch operating mechanism. In brief, it may be said that the drive for the conveyor rollers 20 and ,35 and for the article-forming cylinders 22 is taken from the shaft |03 through the clutch 91, the drive for the main clutch control mechanism and for the cross-folding belts is taken from' the shaft |5 driven directly from the motor, Without intervention of a clutch mechanism, and the drive for the cross-folding blade is taken from the shaft 92 through the clutch constituted by the membcrs 9| and 04, all three shafts being parallel and diven through appropriate belting by the motor The electrical circuit for actuation of the solenoid 6| to control the main clutch mechanism for operating the various portions of the folding machine, is illustrated in Fig. 13, wherein line |44 leads from L2 to contact 65 of the first switch 56, and line |45 leads from the other contact 66 to contact 65' of the second switch 51.

' A line |46 leads from the other contact 66 of this switch to the solenoid 6|, and aline |41 connects the solenoid to LI. It will be noted from the diagram that switch 56 is normally closed since its contactors are positioned at the bottom of the switch where they are both immersed in a pool of mercury while the switch 51 is normally opened since its contactors are positioned at one side where at least one of them will not be in contact with the pool of mercury. During the period when no article is passing under the arms 58 and 59, the second switch will be open.

and during the time that an article is under both arms, the first switch will be open, due to the raising of one or both of the contactors 65 and 66 out of the pool of mercury, so that, in either case, the circuit is broken and the solenoid is not energized. The only time when the circuit is complete is that occurring when the trailing edge of the article lies between the arms 58 and 59, the rst switch being released to return to normally closed position and the second switch still being held in closed position by the article. The folding of the article is thus accurately timed automatically by the position of the article in the folding machine.

The switches are mounted on arms |65 rigidly assembled in insulating blocks |66, of fibrous or other non-conductive material. These blocks are rigidly assembled in the free ends of shafts |61 rotatably mounted in the machine frames I6. While the switch mechanisms are shown as being of the well-known mercury type, it will be obvious that other switch constructions may be used without departing from the inventive principle involved.

While means have been provided to direct a flat article from the tapes |4 and I5 around and over the tapes 23, such means being the defiectors 24, it is found that the operation is improved by directing a blast of air downwardly upon the article as it rests on the upper runs of the tapes 23 in order to prevent wrinkling and the like. This is accomplished by a blower |48 driven by a motor |49, the blower and motor therefor being securely mounted on a bracket |5|. The blower` is connected to a duct |52 which directs a blast of air at room temperature over the top surface of the article being folded. Blades |53 are located above theA top of the :cylinder tapes 23, extending the full length thereof and curving around the forward end of such tapes to confine the ow of air against the are delivered to the folding machine by the ironing machine. The work is carried toward the drums or cylinders 22 and the deflectors 24, the deilectors being in the operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The deilectors direct the article upwardly around the rear drum and the tapes 23 carry it in the reverse direction to the forward drum 22, around which it is directed by the air blast which is confined against the work by the blades |53. The article is thus converted into a flattened elliptical form of dimensions calculated to produce a folded article of the required size. When the article is fully wrapped around the drums, its` trailing edge has passed beyond the switch arm 58 but has not yet freed the switch arm 59. This leaves both of the switches in the closed position and causes energizing of the solenoid 6| which actuates the main clutch mechanism. The main clutch mechanism then stops the movement of the tapes I4, I5 and 23 and simultaneously raises the cross-folding blade 26 between the inner drum-supporting members 25 to lift'the article from the drums. The action of the folding blade is aided by the stripper rollers 29 and 3| which are moved downward at the same time that the blade is moved upward to pull the article from the drums and guide the center thereof into the bite of the cross-fold belts 21 and 28.

The cross-fold `belts not only cross fold the article but also fiatten the ellipse formed on the drums 22 to produce longitudinal folds in the article. The finished work is thus folded both transversely and longitudinally and passes upwardly between the cross-fold belts onto a stationary conveying means |56 which changes the direction of travel of the article and deposits it upon a wrapping table, not shown, located at the rear of the machine. The cross-fold belts and the shaft 64 are continuously driven while the folding machine is operating but the clutch 91 is rendered inoperative at the same time that the folding blade and stripper rollers are actuated in order that stationary conditions may prevail while the article is being lifted off the forming drums by the folding blade. This intermittent stoppage of the conveying means during the folding operation necessarily slows up the passage of articles therethrough and, since it is desired to feed such articles continuously n-succession from the ironing machine, delay would be occasioned if the folding machine operated at the same speed as the ironing machine conveying belts. Accordingly, the speed of travel of the articles is accelerated as they pass between the rollers I3 and |1 in order to compensate for the time lost during the cross-folding step.

As previously stated, an operator is stationed by the machine for the purpose of inspecting work which passes therethrough and rejecting any improperly washed article, termed a washover. The article to be rejected is passed directly through the folding machine without being wound about the drums or cylinders 22 by lowering the deflectors 24 below 'the tapes I5, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The article will then pass along the tapes I4, over the tapes I5 and will drop into a receptacle 42. Means are Aalso provided for maintaining the control mechanism in the inoperative position and thus preventing actuation of the folding blade and other parts when such an article passes through, this means taking the form of a device for holding the switch operating levers raised position. `Referring to Fig. 12, the arms |51 and |58 are adapted to move in a clockwise direction each time that the crank 4I is turned in a counterclockwise direction by hand. The movement of the arms |51 and |58 is effected through fingers |59 and |6I, pivotally mounted on the side frame I6 at one end and pivotally connected to operating lever |82 at a point approximately midway of their pivotal points and free ends, as at |63. The operating lever is pivotally connected at the opposite end to an upwardly extending portion of the crank 4|, as at |64. Throwing of the crank 4| to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 depresses the defiectors and simultaneously moves the fingers |59 and |6| counterclockwise against the switch arms |51 and |58 to raise the articlecontacting arms 58 and 59 above the work. Such raising of the arms will, of course, leave one of the switches in the open position and prevent any actuation of the folding mechanism. The rejected article thus passes directly through the machine without any delay consequent on operation of the apparatus, so that folding is interrupted for a minimum period of time.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding machine, means for feeding a fiat article therethrough, means for forming said article into a iiattened elliptical shape, means for directing said article from said feeding means about said forming means, a blade adapted to remove the lformed article from said forming means, and belts for cross-folding said formed article.

2. In a folding machine, means for feeding a flat article therethrough, means for forming the article into a roll, cross-folding means for removing said article from said forming means and folding the same, and means for actuating said cross-folding means including spaced electrical switches adapted to close an actuating circuit when the trailing edge of the article lies between said switches.

3. In a folding machine, means for feeding a at article therethrough, means for forming the article into a roll, cross-folding means for removing said article from said forming means and folding the same,l and article measuring means for timing the operation of said crossfolding means including spaced electrical switches adapted to close an actuating circuit only when the trailing edge of the article lies between said switches.

4. In a folding machine, means for feeding an article therethrough, means for forming the article into a roll, cross-folding means for removing said article from said forming means and folding the same, spaced switches intersecting the path of said article, one of said switches being normally open and the other normally closed and being adapted to reverse those positions successively when an article passes thereunder.

5. In a folding machine including means for conveying a at article therethrough and means for cross-folding the same, a measuring means for alternately actuating said conveying means and said cross-folding means, comprising s'paced electrical switches in circuit with a solenoid, contact points in one of said switches normally electrically connected and contact points in the other of said switches normally disconnected,

and arms on said switches adapted to be raised by the passage of an article along said conveyor to reverse the condition of said switches successively.

6. In a folding machine including means for feeding a fiat article therethrough, means for forming the article into. a roll and cross-folding means for removing said article from said forming means and folding the same, the combination which comprises a drive for each of said means, and means for producing intermittent operation of said cross-folding means, said feeding means and said forming means being stationary during operation of said cross-folding means.

'7. In a folding machine including means for feeding a fiat article therethrough, means for forming the article into a roll and cross-folding means for removing said article from said forming means and folding the same, the combination which comprises a drive for each of said means, a clutch for each of said means and a main clutch-operating means for periodically connecting the clutch for said cross-folding means and simultaneously disconnecting the clutch for said feeding means and said forming means.

8. In a folding machine including means for feeding a fiat article therethrough, means for forming the article into a roll and cross-folding means for removing said article from said form.

ing means and folding the same, the combination which comprises a drive for said means, spaced switches intersecting the path of travel of said article to measure the same, a solenoid energized when the article is passing said switches, a clutch-operating mechanism adapted to be actuated by said solenoid, and clutches connecting said feeding, forming, and folding means to said drive and controlled by said clutch-operating mechanism. s

9. In a folding machine, a device for rolling an article to be folded into a cylindrical shape, which comprises spaced rotatable drums and tapes running between and about said drums.

10. In a folding machine, means for feeding an article therethrough, spaced rotatable drums having tapes running thereover and positioned adjacent said feeding means, means for directing said article over said drums and tapes, and

means for directing a blast of air against said article on said tapes.

11. In a folding machine, means for feeding an article therethrough, means for rolling said article into a flattened roll, deflectors for directing said article from said feeding means to said `roll-forming means, and means for manually lowering said defiectors below said feeding means to shunt an article past said roll-forming means.

12. In a folding machine, means for feeding an article therethrough, means for rolling said article into a flattened roll, deflectors for directing said article from said feeding means to said roll-forming means, and means for manually lowering said defiectors below said feeding means to shunt a rejected article past said roll-forming means and for simultaneously preventing the operation of said roll-forming means and said cross-folding means.

13. In a folding machine, means for feeding an article to be folded therethrough, means for rolling said article into the formof a flattened roll, electric switch actuated means for operating said roll-forming means, deilectors for directing said article from said feeding means to said roll-forming means, and means for manually lowering said deflectors below said feeding means to shunt a rejected article past said rollforming means and for simultaneously rendering said switches'inoperative.

14. In a folding machine, means for conveying an article therethrough, means for forming said article into a roll, means for removing said article from said roll-forming means, means for flattening said roll and cross-folding the same, and means for receiving and guiding said article between said roll-forming means and said flattening means.

15. In, a folding machine, means for conveying an article therethrough, means for forming said article into a roll, a reciprocable blade adapted to pass through said forming means and lift the roll of! said roll-forming means, stripper rolls adapted to move downward as the blade moves upward to receive and guide said article, and belts adapted to receive the article from said stripper rolls and fold the same.

16. In combination, a flatwork ironer and a folding machine, means for feeding articles in close succession through said ironing machine to said folding machine, means for conveying said articles through said folding machine. means for cross-folding the same, means for stopping said conveying means while said crossfolding means operates, and means for driving said conveying means at a greater speed than said feeding means from said ironer to fold said articles continuously in close succession.

17. In a folding machine,` means for forming a substantially flat article into generally flattened elliptical form, conveyor means for delivering such an article to said forming means, and means for cross-folding such elliptically formed article.

18. In a folding machine, means for forming a substantially flat article into generally flat` tened elliptical form transversely disposed relative to the direction of travel of said article,- conveyor means for delivering such an article to said forming means, and means for cross-folding such elliptically formed article.

19. In a folding machine, means for forming a substantially fiat article into generally flattened elliptical form and including two spaced parts, conveyor means for delivering such an article to said forming means, and means movable between the two spaced parts of said forming means for removing such elliptically formed article from said forming means.

20. In a folding machine, means for forming a substantially fiat article into generally flattened elliptical form and including two spaced axially aligned roll members, conveyor means for feeding such an article to said forming means, and means movable between the axially aligned roll members of said forming means for removing the elliptically formed article therefrom.

21. In a folding machine, means for forming an article into generally roll form and including generally parallel roll members interconnected by travelling tape members, conveyor means for bers 'of said forming means, means for removing a formed article from said formin'g'means, and means for cross-folding said removed formed article.

23. In a folding` machine, an article conveyor,

article forming means positioned thereabove and including spaced 'roll members interconnected by tape members, and deflector means .for deecting from said conveyor to said forming means the leading edge oi.' an article' to be 10 formed by said forming means.

FORREST J. COUCH.

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