US800726A - Folding-machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

G. J. DORMANDY. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRY J. DORMANDY, OF TROY, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHIRT & COLLAR COMPANY, OF TROY, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEl/V YORK.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed June 8, 1904. Serial No. 211,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, GARRY J. DomiANDY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Troy, county of Rensselaer, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for inturning or infolding the edges of blanks for cufi's, collars, or like articles, and more particularly to mechanisms and parts for effect ing the folding and pressing of the folds of blanks to constitute the two parts of a cuff or analogous article preparatory to sewing such parts together.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to produce a machine that will afford a more simple construction and operation, and

more particularly by such an arrangement that a single member or part may be made to fill the oilice of a die or templet for defining the folds of the blanks and the further oifice of cooperating in the production of a suitably-powerful creasing pressure upon the folds of the blanks which lie between the infolders and the bed or support.

Other objects will appear during the description hereinafter following.

I will first describe a folding-machine embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of a folding-machine embodying my invention, the particular machine illustrated being one adapted for the infolding of cuff-blanks having two square and two rounded corners and the parts being in the position that they occupy at the moment that the extending edges of the blanks have been inturned. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the die, infolders, and a portion of the bed, the parts being in the same position illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2, but showing also pressure-producing mechanisms or connections and the parts being in a different position namely, that stage of operation during which the pressure is being applied to the folds of the blank.

Similar letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A designates the bed of a folding-machine embodying my invention, which bed is intended to serve as a support for the blanks to be infolded in said machine. The bed and infolding mechanism illustrated in the particular machine herein are, generally speaking, of a well-known type, such as illustrated in several prior patents granted to me, and which therefore need not be described in very great detail. The folding mechanism comprises a series of infolding-plates B B B B B, which are fitted to move inwardly and outwardly relatively to the blanks on the bed of the machine by any suitable means, such as the following: Slideways O C O, which may be integral with or ad justably or otherwise connected to the bed of the machine, are arranged in substantially radial directions, and within each slideway is provided a slide 0, at the inner end of which is connected a suitably-heavy infoldersupporting part O. The infolderplates may be connected to the members O in any desired mannersuch, for example, as that shown in Fig. 1, in which the infolderplates corresponding to the rounded corners of a cuff are rigidly connected, so as to receive diagonal inward and outward movements, whereas the infolderplates corresponding to the square corners of a cuff are each suitably connected with two of the members C, so that such corner-plates may be caused to move inwardly first in one direction and then at right angles to the original direction, depending upon the order of operation of the slides 0.

A convenient infolder-actriating device is I the oscillating ring D, provided with a handle b, which is convenient for operating the same when the machine is not operated by power. Intermediate of the oscillating ring D and the slides 0 are a series of cams comprising in the present instance cam-plates E, the eccentric cam-slots e of which are preferably mounted in such manner that upon a continued movement of the oscillating ring in one direction the infolders will be caused to operate successively in order of time, this being a well-known means for infolding of locked corner-blanks.

The ring D in its normal or original position should be moved to the extreme right, and it will be clearly seen that the first move-. ment of the handle (Z to the left will first effect an inward movement of the slide 0 at the left hand which remains idle for a period of Lin continued movement of the handle (7, while the slide 0 at the front (the bottom of Fig. 1) next comes into play, followed by the inward movement of the slide 0 at the right-hand side. This is the position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 1. Examination of the cam slots 0 of that figure will disclose that each is provided with an additional cam surface, whereby on a continued movement of the ban-- dle (Z beyond the position shown in Fig. 1 all of the slides c, and thereby the infolders D, will be given an additional inward movement. This is for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The die or templet illustrated in the present machine is one in which the edge portions of the plates which define the folds of the blanks are capable of being withdrawn from the folds after the formation of the latter, but without the necessity of removing the blanks from the bed of the machine. The expanding and contracting die is a convenient form for effecting this purpose.

The expanding and contracting die shown in the figures of the drawings is of a not unusual type in that it is provided with a heavy or stock portion G, beneath which are movably mounted, by means of (.lownwardly-extending hangers 72., the die or templet plates H. The die-stock G is mounted at the forward end of the swinging arm F, which by reason of the pivots or hinges f at the rear of the machine constitutes a convenient means whereby the die or templet may be elevated above the bed or lowered to bring it in contact with the blanks upon the bed, and the arm F may conveniently be provided with a counterweight F to facilitate the elevation of the die. The hangers it may be connected to the stock portion G of the die or templet through any suitable guiding means, such as diagonal slideways, in a well-known manner. To communicate inward and outward movements to the hangers may be provided an operatinghandle J, which is centrally pivoted to the diestock (i and connected through links y'to two reversely-moving cam-plates K, the cam-slots of which engage with pins b, that extend upwardly from the hangers /t.

The mechanism already described would be su'l'licient for the mere iufolding of cuffblanks if it were not desired to press the same upon the bed of the machine before removal therefrom. If it were attempted to collapse the die by means of the handle J after theinturning of the edges of the blank over the edges of the die and thereafter to expand the die-plates to their normal or outer position and bring them downwardly upon the infolders while the latter are in the position to which they are moved during the infolding operation, it will be found that owing to the necessary thinness of the fold-defining dicplates H and their resultant flexibility a suitably-powerful creasing pressure could not be brought to bear upon the folds of the blank beneath the infolders through the instrumentality of the die. Practice has shown that a very heavy creasing pressure is necessary to produce an effective creasing of the folds of the blank, and for ordinary work about one ton pressure is considered to be about the smallest desirable pressure.

In order that the die or templet of the present machine may be adaptable to transmit such high pressure to the blanks through the infolders, l have taken advantage of the existence of a heavy portion of the templet or hanger slightly back of or within the thin and flexible edge portions of the plates H and have provided means (already described) whereby the in folders may be given an additional extent of inward movement after the withdrawal of the die and its elevation above the infolders. The result of this is that the in'folders may be brought into such position that they come directly beneath the heavy portion of the templet within the flexible portions of the templet-plates ,H. Inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 will make this clear. in Fig. 2 the infolders are at the farthest possible inward movement that they can be given during the in folding operation. As already explained, a further inward movement is desired during the pressing operation, and this stage is illustrated .in Fig. 3. In this position if a suitably-powerful downward force is brought to bear upon the die or templetas, for example, through its support and armsuch pressure will be communicated without loss through the heavy portions of the templet to the infolders, where they extend over the inturned edges of the blanks. In order to effect such suitably-powerful downward force upon the die or templet, a treadle may be employed as a convenient powcr-a iiplying means. 1 represents such a treadle, and 7) p and Q represent suitable link and leverage connections between the treadle l and the templetcarrving arm F. The link Q is preferably a hooked member adapted to engage a complementary projection upon the arm F and a fixed roller (1 adapted to engage an inclined surface on the rear of the ring Q surface as a means of effecting an operative connection between the parts Q and F when the treadle is lowered, the same becoming automatically disengaged when the treadle is again released, so that the templet-carrying arm F may be elevated. A spring (1' may be employed to press the link Q toward the roller (7 to insure a disengagement of the parts Q and F.

The operation of the machine heretofore described may be as follows: The operator places one or more thicknesses of material constituting a blank upon the bed of the machine in a position in which the blades of the expanded die or templet may be brought into contact with the blanks, the edge portions of the die plates resting directly upon the blanks upon the bed and within the edge portions of the blanks. At this initial stage of the operation the infolders will be in their outward position. Having brought the expanded die into contact with the blanks, the operator then moves the handle (Z to the position shown in Fig. 1 herein, resulting in moving inwardly in succession the infolders to their position shown in Fig. 1 and shown also in Fig. 2, with the result of inturning the extending edges of the blanks over the edge portions of the dieplates. The next step will be to contract the die by means of the handle J, so as to withdraw the plates therebf from within the folds of the blanks. After this the die or templet should be elevated and expanded by means of the handle J and then lowered until the plates thereof rest upon the infolders, which latter are still in their inward position of Fig. i. The operator then gives an additional movement to the left of the handle (Z, causing all of the infolders to move inwardly to an additional extent, governed by the slant of the terminal portion of the cams e,to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The heavy portion of the templet now being above the infolders, the operator may press the treadle l effecting an automatic engagement of the link Q with the templet-carrying arm F, and thereby transmitting to the die and through the infolders to the folds of the blanks'an effective creasing pressure. After this the operator may release the treadle, elevate the die, move the in folders outwardly, and remove the blanks from the bed, when the machine will be in readiness for a second operation.

It is well known that it increases the efficiency of the creasing operation by heating the bed upon which the pressing is accomplished, and l have shown the usual means for that purpose, consisting in a steam-pipe for admittingsteam to the hollow chamber within the bed.

Obviously some features of my invention may be used without others, and the invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms. Therefore, without limiting the invention to the construction shown and described nor enumerating equivalents, 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to be infolded; a

contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong portions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressureapplying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with a powerful creasing pressure.

2. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to be infolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong por tions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressure-applying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders witha powerful creasing pressure, said pressure-applying means comprising a treadle with connections engaging with said templet during the pressing operation.

3. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to be infolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong portions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressureapplying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with a powerful creasing pressure, said pressureapplying means comprising a treadle with connections engaging with said templet during the pressing operation, and automatically disengaging therefrom on removal of pressure.

4. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to be infolded; acontracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; a templet raising and lowering arm, infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong portions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressure-applying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with a powerful creasing pressure.

In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to be infolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; a templet raising and lowering arm, infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of theblanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong portions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressure-applying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with a powerful creasing pressure, said pressure applying means being automatically engageable with and disengageable from said templet raising and lowering arm.

6. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outward position, an inward position reached during the fold-producing operation, and a farther-inward position occupied during the fold-pressing operation; mechanism for effecting such movements of said infolders and pressure-exerting means operative through said infolders when in their last-named position.

7. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outward position, an inward position reached during the fold-producing operation, and a farther-inward position occupied during the fold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effecting such movements of said infolders; and a combined fold-defining and pressure-applying member.

8. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outward position, an inward position reached during the fold-producing operation, and a farther-inward position occupied during the fold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effecting such movements of said infolders; a combined fold-defining and infolder-engaging member, a templet raising and lowering arm; and mechanism acting through said lastl named member for bringing about a powerful fold creasing pressure upon said infolders l while in their said farther-inward position, to

lix the folds with a sharp crease.

9. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outward position, an inward position reached during the fold-producing operation, and a farther-inward position occupied during the fold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effecting such movements of said infolders; a combined fold-defining and infolder-engaging member, a templet raising and lowering arm; and mechanism acting th rough said last-named member for bringing about a powerful foldcreasing pressure upon said infolders while in their said farther-inward position, to fix the folds with a sharp crease, said fold-defining and infolder-engaging member having thin edge portions and relatively thick portions within said thin edge portions.

10. In an infolding-machine for cuff-blanks or like articles the combination of a bed or support for the blanks to be infolded, a die or templet having thin edge portions for defining the folds of the blanks, and means for withdrawing said die from such folds and elevating it thereabove, infolders having one range of inward and outward movement for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of the die or templet, means for moving said folders to and from a farther-inward position after elevation of the die or templet, and pressure mechanism intermediate the support and die for producing a relative squeezing movement while the infolders are in their said farther-inward position, whereby a powerful creasing pressure may be applied to the folds of the blanks while beneath said infolders, and the folds fixed with a sharp crease.

11. An infolding-machine for cuff-blanks or analogous articles comprising in combination, a blank-supporting member; a blank-defining member, means for positioning said blankdelining member upon the blanks upon the support, for withdrawing it from the folds of the blanks, and for moving it away from the blanks and support; infolders, means for moving said infolders inwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of the blank-defining member and returning them outwardly therefrom, said infolders fitted also to receive a fartherinward ing movement and subsequently to the withdrawal of said fold-defining member from and its movement away from the support, but prior to the return outward movement of such infolders; and pressure mechanism for effecting a relative movement of the blank-supporting member and blank-defining member toward each other while the said infolders are in their farthest-inward position, whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with a powerful movement subsequently to their infold-formcreasing pressure and thereby fixed with a sharp crease.

12. In a folding-machine, in combination, a support for the blanks to be infolded; infolders capable of slight vertical movement relatively to said support and having three positions namely, a normal outward position. a normal inward position and a farther or abnormal inward position; means for moving such infolders from and to each of said positions; a die having thin, blank-defining edge portions and relatively thick portions within said thin edge portions, means for moving said die to and from the blanks on said support, and for expanding and contracting said die; and pressure-applying mechanism capable of forcing said die toward said support; whereby while the die in outward position rests upon the blanks the infolders may be moved from normal outward to normal inward position to produce folds; and subsequently, after the die has been moved to inward position, and while the infolders are in abnormal inward position, and the die is in outward position above the infolders, the pressurc-applying mechanism may be actuated to cause the thick portions of the die to press forcibly against the infolders whereby the folds may be pressed between the infolders and support with a powerful creasing pressure.

13. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and a relatively thin folddelining plate, an infolder, means for moving said infolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolder is in such position.

1%. In a folding-machine, a bed, a contractible die having a stock portion and a relatively thin fold-defining plate, an infolder, means for withdrawing the blade of said die from the folded edge of a blank, means for moving said infolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolder is in such position.

15. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die havinga stock portion and a plurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality of infolders, means for moving said infolders inward to a fold producing position, subsequently-operated means for moving said infolders outward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolder is in such last-named position.

16. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and a plurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality of infolders, means for moving said infolders successively inward to a fold-producing position, subsequently-operated means for synchronously moving said infolders inward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolders are in such last-named position.

17. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and a plurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality of infolders, a moving part, cams in said part, each engaging with one of said infolders for moving said infolders successively inward to a fold-producing position, and afterward inward to a position between said stock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolders are in such last-named position.

18. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and a relatively thin folddefining plate, an infolder, means for moving said infolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and a treadle detachably engageable with said die for forcing it toward said bed while said infolder is in such position.

19. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and a relatively thin folddefining plate, an infolder, means for moving said infolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, and a treadle for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolder is in-such position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GARRY J. DORMANDY.

Witnesses:

E. O. I-IoUsE, E. H. House.

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