Patent US2497528A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4532103A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3479690A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3563530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensing and actuating means for laundry folder
Assignee: GRANTHAM FOLDER Corp A CORP OF CA
•
Filing: 1969-07-24
•
Granted: 1971-02-16
•
Expires: 1989-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A laundry folder for small pieces in which the pieces are folded at an intermediate point such as the middle, including a pair of sensors spaced along the line of travel of the laundry pieces, each laundry piece engaging the first one of the sensors which starts a slow speed advancement of an actuating element away from a control element, and then engaging the second one of the sensors which starts a fast speed return or retracting movement of the actuating element toward the control element, the latter controlling a folding member for folding the laundry piece at a corresponding position between the ends thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W Grantham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:57
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F89/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
A laundry folder comprising conveyor means for conveying laundry pieces singly and successively therethrough, the conveyor means including a component over which all of the laundry pieces are conveyed, a pair of anterior and posterior electric switches associated with said conveyor component and having actuating elements extending thereabove for engagement and actuation by the laundry pieces passing over that component, folding means operatively associated with said conveyor component and when actuated operative for forming a fold in each laundry piece at a predetermined position relative to that conveyor component, control means for controlling the folding means and in turn controlled by said electric switches, said control means including a constantly operating motor and a pair of driving pulleys of different sizes, a pair of driven pulleys, belts interconnecting the corresponding driving and driven pulleys and one of the belts being twisted relative to the other for correspondingly driving the driven pulleys in opposite directions, a driven shaft, discs mounted on the driven shafts, clutch means mounted on each driven pulley, means for shifting the driven pulleys and the clutch means thereon into clutching engagement with the respective driven discs, each to the exclusion of the other, switch means for controlling the folding means, an actuating finger on one of the driven discs operative for actuating the switch means, the first switch means in the conveyor means being Operative for energizing the first clutch means operating at a slow speed and thereupon energizing the second switch means for correspondingly energizing the second clutch means for driving the driven member at a greater speed and in the opposite direction, the second driven element being operative upon continued movement in driven direction for actuating the switch means for controlling the folding means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
A laundry folder comprising conveyor means for conveying laundry pieces singly and successively therethrough, the conveyor means including a component over which all of the laundry pieces are conveyed, a pair of anterior and posterior electric switches associated with said conveyor component and having actuating elements extending thereabove for engagement and actuation by the laundry pieces passing over that component, folding means operatively associated with said conveyor component and when actuated operative for forming a fold in each laundry piece at a predetermined position relative to that conveyor component, control means for controlling the folding means and in turn controlled by said electric switches, said control means including a constantly operating motor and a pair of driving pulleys of different sizes, a pair of driven pulleys, belts interconnecting the corresponding driving and driven pulleys and one of the belts being twisted relative to the other for correspondingly driving the driven pulleys in opposite directions, a driven shaft, discs mounted on the driven shafts, clutch means mounted on each driven pulley, means for shifting the driven pulleys and the clutch means thereon into clutching engagement with the respective driven discs, each to the exclusion of the other, switch means for controlling the folding means, an actuating finger on one of the driven discs operative for actuating the switch means, the first switch means in the conveyor means being Operative for energizing the first clutch means operating at a slow speed and thereupon energizing the second switch means for correspondingly energizing the second clutch means for driving the driven member at a greater speed and in the opposite direction, the second driven element being operative upon continued movement in driven direction for actuating the switch means for controlling the folding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A laundry folder comprising means for conveying laundry pieces therethrough, means for folding the laundry pieces in their progress along the conveying means, means for controlling the folding means including an actuatable member having a normal inactive position and movable into an active position, an actuator movable in a first direction away from the actuatable member and in the opposite direction toward and into actuating engagement therewith, driving means for moving the actuator in each direction and in said opposite direction at a faster rate than in said first direction, and means for controlling the driving means including a first and second sensing means at the conveying means spaced longitudinally therealong and operatively engaged successively by the laundry pieces, the sensing means being operatively associated with respective ones of the driving means for said first and opposite directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
A laundry folder comprising means for conveying laundry pieces therethrough, means for folding the laundry pieces in their progress along the conveying means, means for controlling the folding means including an actuatable member having a normal inactive position and movable into an active position, an actuator movable in a first direction away from the actuatable member and in the opposite direction toward and into actuating engagement therewith, driving means for moving the actuator in each direction and in said opposite direction at a faster rate than in said first direction, and means for controlling the driving means including a first and second sensing means at the conveying means spaced longitudinally therealong and operatively engaged successively by the laundry pieces, the sensing means being operatively associated with respective ones of the driving means for said first and opposite directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laundry folder according to claim 2 wherein the driving means is of electrical character, and the sensing means include switch means with arms projecting into the path of the laundry pieces on the conveying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A laundry folder according to claim 2, wherein the driving means includes a pair of motion transmitting members running constantly, in opposite directions, and at different speeds, said motion transmitting members being mounted as a unit and so shiftable selectively into clutching engagement with the actuator, and means responsive to control of said sensing means operative for shifting said motion transmitting members in respective directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laundry folder according to claim 4 wherein the driving means includes a pair driving and driven pulleys with belts drivingly interconnecting them in relatively twisted attitudes for providing opposite direction of movement in the driven pulleys.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A laundry folder comprising means for conveying laundry pieces therethrough, means for folding the laundry pieces in their progress along the conveying means, means for energizing the folding means including driving means incorporating a pair of electrical switch means having sensing elements positioned for sequential actuation by the laundry pieces moving along the conveyor, a pair of mechanical clutch members running in opposite directions and at different speeds, and means actuated by the switch means including a mechanical member moving away from the switch means and moving reversely into actuating engagement with the switch means in respectively opposite directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A laundry folder comprising means for conveying laundry pieces therethrough, means for folding the laundry pieces in their progress along the conveying means, means for energizing the folding means including driving means incorporating a pair of electrical switch means having sensing elements positioned for sequential actuation by the laundry pieces moving along the conveyor, a pair of mechanical clutch members running in opposite directions and at different speeds, and means actuated by the switch means including a mechanical member moving away from the switch means and moving reversely into actuating engagement with the switch means in respectively opposite directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2783994A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |