US2245348A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1941. F. LAVER FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l OOMOOOOOOQOOOQOOO00000000 OOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO June 10, 1 941. LAVER 2,245,348

FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Hi 26 I Altar/26 I Patented June 10, 1941 FICE 11 Claims.

'moisture, generates the heat that sets the curls.

A pad of this type is formed of a sheet of foil or foil and paper having one longitudinal edge folded inwardly over the sheet and the opposite edge folded over the first mentioned inwardly folded edge. After such infolding of the edges one end is given a double fold whereby the container or envelope is closed at that end and is ready to receive through the other end the heat generating material. When the material has been inserted in the envelope or pad the other open end may be similarly folded to close the envelope whereupon the pad is ready for use or ready to be packed for sale.

The folding of the ends of the container has heretofore been done generally by hand, which not only is tedious but the folding is not always uniform and the number of pads that can be so folded by hand in a given time is quite limited and hence such method of folding adds considerably to the cost of the pads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for closing the end or ends of pads of the type mentioned.

A more specific object is to provide mechanism whereby pads having open or unfolded ends can be advanced through the machine and during the passage of the same through the machine one end thereof will be given a double fold to close that end and the fold so formed preferably will be pressed or flattened down to-retain it in the closed position and thus prepare the semiformed pad for the reception of the heat generating material.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the type mentioned which is adapted to advance pads successively into engagement with folding devices and which retain the pads in proper alignment with respect to such devices during the folding operation and during the advancement of one of such pads from one device to another to assure that the folds in the pads will be uniformly formed.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangements of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan view of a folding machine embodying the present improvements;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line l4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a broken sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a folding machine and certain of the associated cooperating parts of the machine;

Figure 7 is an edge view of a pad prior to the folding of an end thereof;

Figure 8 is a progress view showing the pad of Figure 7 as it appears when one end has reeeived a single fold;

Figure 9 illustrates the pad with a double fold formed at the end of the pad;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the pad of the type shown in Figure 9 and which is adapted to have the folds formed therein by the present mechanism;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line H--H of Figure 10.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a machine is shown as comprising an endless conveyor l0 which passes around pulleys or rollers II and I2 which are suitably supported in appropriate bearings not shown. Roller H may be the driving pulley and is operable from any suitable source of power such as by a belt l3. Beneath the upper run of the conveyor ii) is a suitable support or bed l4 upon which the mechanism about to be described may be mounted for cooperation with the upper end of the conveyor.

The mechanism comprises means for aligning pads, such as the pad shown in Figure 7 to 11, properly with reference to the direction of movement of the upper end of the conveyor and causing the same to be moved with the conveyor into end-folding relation with one or more, preferably two, folding devices which form folds in an end of the pad such as are shown in the progress views of Figures 8 and 9. As shown in the drawings, a support I5 is shown attached to the bed Id by means of any suitable fastening devices. The support I5 has upstanding flanges l6 and I! provided with recesses at the upper edges in which are supported the shafts or journals l8 of a plurality of rollers l9.

It will be noted in Figure 3 that the supporting flange I! is located inwardly of the righthand end of the rollers and is received within an annular space between the main roller section Isa and an end section I917. The rollers l9, as shown in Figure 2, are closely spaced together and are disposed beneath the upper run of the conveyor H! for supporting the same in a proper plane against deflection by the pressure exerted on said conveyor by a corresponding series of upper rollers 20. The rollers 20 are individually supported each in a carrier or bracket member 2|, which members are provided with end flanges 22 and 23 in which the shaft of the respective roller is journaled. Each of the upper rollers likewise is provided with a main roller section 26a and an end roller section 26b which sections cooperate with the corresponding sections of a subjacent roller. The brackets 2! in the embodiment illustrated each is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 24 which pass through vertical openings 25 formed in an upper supporting plate 26 which, in turn, is supported by standards 21 secured as at 28 to the bed or table it. Disposed between the lower surface of the plate 25 and each roller carrying member 2i are springs 28 which encircle the respective pins 2 and press the members 2| downwardly to force the respective rollers 20 into contact with the upper surface of the conveyor ill.

As shown in Figure 2, the members 2| are disposed closely together; in fact, they are shown in contact and each of the upper rollers 29 is located directly over one of the lower rollers H The resilient mounting of the upper rollers which is afforded by the construction above described enables each of the upper rollers to move vertically with reference to the plane of the upper surface of the upper run of the conveyor so that each roller can recede as required with reference to the adjacent rollers as a pad moves under such rollers 20 in its passage through the machine during which an end of each pad is folded to close an end of the same. The independent vertical movement of the rollers 28 accommodate pads of varying thickness but exert sufficient pressure upon the pads to retain the same against movement relative to the conveyor whereby the pads are moved uniformly through the machine.

Suitable means are provided adjacent the upper run of the belt for initially aligning the pads properly with reference to the conveyor whereby the pads will be advanced through the machine uniformly and their ends folded uniformly by the folding device or devices to be hereinafter described. Such aligning means for the pads may be in the form of brackets 36 and 3! shown in Figure 1, which are adjustable laterally of the conveyor to accommodate the same to pads of different lengths, such as a pad 32 shown in Figure 1, for aligning the edge to be folded in proper position with reference to the folding devices. When pads are placed in the position of pad 32 of Figure l and moved forwardly or in the direction of movement of the belt, that is, to the right, as shown in Figure 1, they will be guided in such feeding movement by the first roller 20 of the upper set and by that roller pressed into non-slipping contact with the conveyor. The pads thus move with the conveyor from contact with one upper roller into contact with the adjacent roller as the pads progress through the machine, it being understood that the lower rollers l9 retain the upper run of the belt against downward deflection by the pressure exerted by the upper rollers and thus support the belt and the pads thereon in the proper plane.

The folding of an end of each pad passing through the machine is effected by means of one or more folding devices located adjacent the right-hand end of the conveyor as viewed in Figure 3. Such a device, indicated by the numeral 33, is shown in Figure 6 and comprises a plate adapted to be supported in position as viewed in Figure 3 by a supporting member HQ. The plate is shaped adjacent its right-hand end as viewed in Figure 6 to provide a shoulder 33a, which shoulder decreases in width toward the left-hand end of the device adjacent the central portion thereof. The upper edge of the lefthand end of the device as shown in said figure is folded over to form a flange 331) which is directed inwardly of the machine as shown in Figure 3. The shoulder 33a is located, as shown in Figure 3, slightly below the plane of a pad 32 being advanced through the machine, while the flange 33b is located in a plane slightly above the plane of the pad and also above a horizontal foldsupporting plate 35, which has an upright flange 35a by means of which the plate 35 is attached to and supported by a bracket 36 which is mounted atits outer and lower end on the bed or-table [4 as by screws 31.

The feeding device comprising the plates 36 and ti are so locatedas to cause a pad 32 about to be fed into the machine to extend an appropriate extent over the right-hand edge of the conveyor, asshown in Figure 3. Due to the location of the journal supporting flanges l1 and 23 inwardly of the ends of the respective rollers, the roller sections 19b and 2% are adapted to cooperate with the extreme right-hand edge of the conveyor in affording support for the pads close to the free ends as the latter are moved into positions for the operations thereon by the foldingdevices. As a pad 32 advances from the aligning devices and 3| toward the folding device 33, as shown in Figure l, the outer edge thereof is brought into overlying relation with the shoulder 33a of the device 33. As this end advances toward the central portion of the device, due to the curvature of the upper portion of the device the end portion of the pad is turned upwardly at the outer or right-hand edge of the fold supporting plate 35. Further movement of the pad through the machine causes the upturned end of the pad to come into contact with the flange 33b of the folding device which causes such end to be turned inwardlyinto horizontal position as shown in Figures 3 and 6 over the surface of the plate 35. As the pad so folded emerges from the folding device 33 the folded end thereof passes between a pair of cooperating pressing rollers 33 and 39, which flatten down the fold to the position indicated in Figure 8.

Preferably a second folding device 4 3 is provided similar to device 33 and adapted to form a second fold in each pad in cooperation with a plate (not shown) similar to plate as the pad passes through the machine. Such a double fold is illustrated in Figure 9. The device 40, as shown in Figure l, and its cooperating fold support plate are set inwardly slightly, depending on the width of the fold first formed in the pads so as to engage the end of each pad as they advance successively into folding relation with the device 4:] to form the second fold as stated.

At the rear of the folding device a second pair of rollers indicated by numeral ll in Figure l, but corresponding with rollers 38 and 39 of Figure 3, is provided, which press or flatten the second fold, thus forming a suiflciently permanent closure at one end of the pad. As the folded pads emerge from the second folding device they may 1 the conveyor with an end ortion of each probe removed from the conveyor by any suitable means or manually, or be discharged into a suitable receptacle. When so removed the heat generating material is inserted through the unfolded ends thereof and such ends then folded to close the pad against loss of the material. Such folding may be done manually, or the pads may be run through the machine a second time with their enclosed ends disposed in position for engagement with the folding devices as above described. The cushioned or spring mounted rollers 20 accommodate the filled pads of increased thickness but prevent slippage of the pads with respect to the conveyor and hence cause the pads to be moved into the desired engagement with the folding devices.

The rollers l9 and 20 are of such size as to enable the same to be spaced sufficiently close together that two or three of the rollers 20, as shown in Figure 5, will constantly engage each pad as it is advanced through the machine and prevent displacement of the pads with reference to the conveyor IB and consequent improper alignment of the ends of the same with reference to the folding devices.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Folding apparatus comprising. an endless conveyor for articles to be folded, a folding element adjacent one edge of the conveyor adapted to engage and form a fold in an end of an article moving along said conveyor, and presser rolls contacting the upper surface of said conveyor for retaining said articles against slippage relative to the conveyor during the folding operation.

2. Folding apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor for articles to be folded, a series of rolls contacting the upper surface of the upper run of said conveyor for pressing. articles against said surface to prevent slippage of the articles with respect to said surface, aligning means for directing articles on to said conveyor with the ends to be folded projecting beyond an edge of the conveyor, and folding means disposed adjacent said edge in the path of the projecting ends of the articles for forming folds in said projecting ends.

3. Folding apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor for articles to be folded, a series of rolls contacting the upper surface of the upper run of said conveyor for pressing articles against said surface to prevent slippage of the articles with respect to said surface, aligning means for directing articles on to said conveyor with the ends to be folded projecting beyond the edge of the conveyor, and folding means disposed adjacent said edge in the path of the projecting ends of the articles, said means comprising a plate located immediately above the plane of the projecting ends of the articles and a member arranged .to engage the ends of the articles and turn the same over said plate as the articles are retained by said rollers against the conveyor.

4. Means for closing the ends of articles of the class described comprising a conveyor for such articles, rollers above the conveyor for pressing the articles into contact with the conveyor to prevent slippage of the articles relative to the conveyor, means for initially aligning the articles on 'jecting beyond an edge of the conveyor, a plate disposed above the plane of the projecting end portions of the articles and having an outer edge located inwardly of the line of movement of the ends of said portions, and a folding plate disposed adjacent the line of travel of said end portions for engaging and folding the same over said edge of said plate.

5. Means for closing the ends of articles of the class described comprising a conveyor for such articles, rollers disposed above said conveyor for pressing the articles against the conveyor to prevent slippage of the articles relative to the conveyor, means for initiallyaligning articles on the conveyor whereby an end portion of each article projects beyond an edge of the conveyor, and a pair of folding devices disposed adjacent said edge of the conveyor in the path of said articles for engaging and forming folds in'the end po-rtions of the articles as the articles are pressed by said rollers against said conveyor and are moved by the latter along said devices.

6. Folding means for ends of articles formed of sheet material comprising an endless conveyor, means for aligning articles thereon whereby ends of the article project beyond an edge of the conveyor, folding means mounted adjacent said edge of the conveyor in the path of movement of said projecting ends of the articles for engaging and forming a fold in each article moving along the conveyor, and a plurality of individually springpressed rollers above the conveyor for retaining the article thereon against displacement relative to the conveyor as the latter moves the articles into engagement with the folding means.

7. Folding means for ends of articles formed of sheet material comprising a conveyor for the articles, means for aligning the articles on the conveyor whereby an end of each article projects laterally beyond an edge of the conveyor, means cooperating with the conveyor for preventing relative movement of the articles with respect to the conveyor during the folding operation, and means for forming folds successively in the projecting ends of the articles as the same are moved by the conveyor, said means comprising a plate disposed adjacent the plane of and parallel with said end portions and having a free edge located inwardly of the outermost line of movement of said end portions and a member adapted to engage the sections of the end portions projecting beyond said free edge of the plate for turning such sections over said free edge of the plate and into contact with the surface of the latter.

8. Folding means for articles of sheet material comprising an endless conveyor, means for retaining articles on the conveyor against displacement from given positions thereon during the folding operations, and a pair of longitudinally spaced means in the path of movement of the,

articles for engaging ends of the articles and folding the same in succession as the articles are moved by said conveyor into engagement with said means.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising an article folding device, an endless conveyor for conveying articles into operative relation with said device, and a plurality of rollers transversely disposed with respect to the conveyor and arranged to retain the articles on the conveyor against displacement during the folding operation.

10. Mechanism of the class described comprising an article folding device, an endless conveyor for conveying articles into operative relation with said device, and a plurality of rollers transversely disposed with respect to the conveyor and arranged to retain the articles on the conveyor against displacement during the folding operation, said rollers being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the front and rear edges of the advancing articles whereby a plurailty of said rollers are in engagement with each article during the folding operation thereon.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a conveyor, a stationary plate mounted above the conveyor in spaced relation with respect thereto, a plurality of inverted co-planar U- shaped roller-supporting members having rollers journaled therein and arranged in mutual sliding contact in the space between said plate and conveyor, means independently attaching each of said supporting members to said plate for reciprocation relative thereto, and springs for each of said supporting members for pressing the roller thereof against an article passing beneath the same on said conveyor.

FRANK LAVER.

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