GB1081871A - Improvements relating to timing devices and arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

1,081,871. Folding piece goods. BRITISH LAUNDRY MACHINERY CO. Ltd. July 1, 1965 [April 2, 1964], No. 13543/64. Heading D1S. A device for timing a folding operation on a laundered article carried on a conveyor comprises members 7a, 7b driven to rotate in synchronism with the movement of the article, members 1a, 1b engageable with the periphery of the members 7a, 7b to be driven thereby at a speed dependent on the peripheral speed of the members 7a, 7b, means to engage the members 7a, 7b with the members 1a, 1b in response to the passage of an article past reference positions, and a switch 8a arranged to be actuated by the member 1b, when driven far enough, to initiate the folding operation. In one embodiment, Figs. 1-3, two resinbonded fabric boards 1a, 1b are pivoted about pivots 2a, 2b which lie on a single axis and are carried by levers 3a, 3b pivoted at 4a, 4b and coupled through springs 5a, 5b with solenoids 6a, 6b. Upon energization of the solenoid 6a or 6b the member 1a or 1b is drawn against the edge of a wheel 7a or 7b. The wheels 7a, 7b are geared to the conveyor to move in synchronism therewith and are mounted on a common axis. The wheel 7b is twice the diameter of the wheel 7a and the member 1b is correspondingly smaller in radius than the member 1a. A pin 10 is mounted in the member 1a and accommodated in a recess 11 in the member 1b so that if the solenoid 6a is energized the member 1b is drawn upwards at the same rate as ,the member 1a but if the solenoid 6b is energized only the member 1b is drawn upwards at twice this rate. In operation, the article to be folded is continuously fed by a conveyor 12 and the leading edge thereof passes a microswitch 19 which ensures that the circuitry is set for operation. Passage of the leading edge past a second switch 18 energizes the solenoid 6a and the members 1a, 1b move upwards. When the trailing edge of the article 14 passes the switch 19 the solenoid 6b is de-energized so that the member 1a drops onto an adjustable stop 9a and the member 1b only proceeds upwards at twice its former speed until it strikes a microswitch 8a which energizes a solenoid 16 to move a plate 17 forward to tuck the mid-line of the article 14 between counter rotating rollers 15 to effect a fold. The solenoid 6b is de-energized and the member 1b drops onto the stop 9a. In modifications (not shown), the members 1a, 1b may be slides mounted to slide up the levers by contact with the rotary wheel and interlocking may be by an arm from one member projecting underneath the other. The levers may be operated by hydraulic or pneumatic pistons and cylinders instead of solenoids and the return of the members to the initial position may be by springs instead of gravity. The wheels 7, 7a, 7b, may be replaced by moving belts.