Machine and method for the automatic folding of cloths

Claim 1

A machine for the folding of foldable articles comprised of a first conveyor means for the moving of a foldable article on a substantially horizontal plane, a first drive means for driving the first conveyor means in one direction longitudinally thereof, a guide comb disposed at the end of the first conveyor means for receiving the foldable article therefrom, at least one first nip roller arranged on a horizontal axis positioned substantially close to the guide comb for receiving the foldable article from the guide comb and moving the article in substantially the one direction, a first retractable bridge positioned beyond the first nip roller and having an extended first position wherein the bridge is substantially close to the first nip roller, whereby the article is received from the first nip roller, and having a retracted second position wherein the bridge is substantially away from the first nip roller, a second conveyor means disposed on a substantially horizontal plane for receiving the article from the first retractable bridge when said bridge is in its extended first position, the space between the first retractable bridge in its retracted second position, the first nip roller and the second conveyor means forming a first fold gap, means for retracting the first retractable bridge away from the first nip roller whereby the foldable article falls downwards into the first fold gap, thereby forming a first fold in the article, a second nip roller arranged on a horizontal axis, beyond the first roller and below the first fold gap, whereby the first and second nip rollers grip the article for continued downward movement thereof, a second retractable bridge positioned below the first and second rollers and having an extended first position wherein it is substantially close to the second nip roller, whereby the article is received from the first and second nip rollers and is guided on the surface of the second retractable bridge in a substantially downward direction, the second retractable bridge further having a retracted second position wherein it is substantially away from the second nip roller, a third nip roller arranged on a horizontal axis and positioned substantially below the second nip roller and the second retractable bridge, the third nip roller, the second retractable bridge in its retracted second postion and the second nip roller forming therebetween a second fold gap, means for retracting the second retractable bridge away from the second nip roller, whereby the folded article is received in the second fold gap and is gripped by the second and third nip rollers and moved in a substantially horizontal direction, thereby forming a second fold in the article; and a third conveyor means for receiving the article therefrom and moving the article on a substantially horizontal plane disposed substantially close to the third nip roller and driven in the one direction longitudinally thereof by the first drive means, whereby the article is removed from the machine.

Claim 10

A method for folding a foldable article comprising the steps of moving said article on a substantially horizontal plane on a moving first conveyor across the surface of a guide comb and onto the surface of a first nip roller which aids in further moving said article across a first fold gap on the surface of a first retractable bridge toward a second conveyor moving in substantially the same direction as the first conveyor carrying said article on the second conveyor while bridging said gap; stopping the forward movement of the second conveyor while said article is being carried thereby and simultaneously therewith retracting the first retractable bridge and continuing the movement of the first conveyor and first nip roller so that portion where the first fold is desired is permitted to fall downwards into the first fold gap, thereby forming a fold; providing a second nip roller; gripping the folded article between the first and second nip rollers and continuing to move the folded article in a downwardly direction where it is received on the surface of a second retractable bridge and carrying the folded article downwardly across a second fold gap; retracting the second retractable bridge, while continuing the movement of the first and second nip rollers, so that the portion of the article where the second fold is desired is received in the second fold gap; wherein the folded article is gripped by the second nip roller; providing a third nip roller; gripping the folded article by the second and third nip rollers and moving the article in a substantially horizontal direction, thereby forming a second fold; and providing a third conveyor means having a surface for receiving and moving the double folded article from the machine.

Claim 11

A method for folding a foldable article comprising the steps of moving said article on a substantially horizontal plane on a moving first conveyor across the surface of a guide comb and onto the surface of a first nip roller which aids in further moving said article across a first fold gap on the surface of a first retractable bridge toward a second conveyor moving in substantially the same direction as the first conveyor carrying said article on the second conveyor while bridging said gap; stopping the forward movement of the second conveyor while said article is being carried thereby and simultaneously therewith retracting the first retractable bridge and continuing the movement of the first conveyor and first nip roller so that portion where the first fold is desired is permitted to fall downwards into the first fold gap, thereby forming a fold; providing a second nip roller; gripping the folded article between the first and second nip rollers and continuing to move the folded article in a downwardly direction where it is received on the surface of a second retractable bridge and carrying the folded article downwardly across a second fold gap; retracting the second retractable bridge, while continuing the movement of the first and second nip rollers, so that the portion of the article where the second fold is desired is received in the second fold gap; wherein the folded article is gripped by the second nip roller; providing a third nip roller; gripping the folded article by the second and third nip rollers and moving the article in a substantially horizontal direction, thereby forming a second fold; and providing a third conveyor means having a surface for receiving and moving the double folded article from the machine.