Folding apparatus

Claim 2

A folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces delivered from an ironer comprising, first conveyor means for receiving the laundry piece from the ironer and transporting the same in one direction, first roll folding means receiving the laundry pieces from said first conveyor means for transversely folding the laundry pieces, said first roll folding means including roll means and air jet means controlled by control means for blowing a portion of a piece into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, second conveyor means following said first roll folding means to receive laundry pieces therefrom and transport the same further in said one direction, pick-up-and-drop folding means at said second conveyor means for transversely folding a laundry piece transversely a second time, third conveyor means under said second conVeyor means to receive the twice folded laundry pieces from said second conveyor means and transport the same opposite to said one direction, second roll folding means associated with said third conveyor means for folding laundry pieces through an opening in said third conveyor means, said second roll folding means including roll means under said opening and air jet means above said opening for blowing a portion of a piece through said opening into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, fourth conveyor means extending transversely relative to said one direction and receiving thrice-folded laundry pieces from said second roll folding means, and further pick-up-and-drop folding means at said fourth conveyor means for longitudinally folding said laundry pieces, said control means for said first roll folding means including first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said first conveyor means for riding on the laundry piece while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means together producing pulses proportional to the speed of the piece starting while a portion of the piece remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said first conveyor means, first and second computer means both capable of receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length at a fractional point, second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor means for feeding pulses after the piece has completely emerged from the ironer proportional to the speed of said conveyor means to one of said computer means for tracking the fractional point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said first roll folding means whereupon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet means, and sequencing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that when measuring is completed and tracking is initiated said first pulse producing means is capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 3

A folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces delivered from an ironer comprising, first conveyor means for receiving the laundry pieces and transporting the same in one direction, second conveyor means following said first conveyor means to receive laundry pieces from said first conveyor means and transport the same further in said one direction, first roll folding means between said first and second conveyor means for transversely folding a piece in transit between said first and second conveyor means, said roll folding means including roll means and air jet means controlled by control means for blowing a portion of a piece into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, pick-up-and-drop folding means at said second conveyor means following said roll folding means for transversely folding a laundry piece transversely a second time, third conveyor means under said second conveyor means to receive the twice folded laundry pieces from said second conveyor means and transport the same opposite to said one direction, said third conveyor means having a slot extending in said opposite direction, second roll folding means at said slot including roll means under said slot and air jet means above said slot for blowing a portion of a piece through said slot into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, fourth conveyor means running transversely relative to said one direction and receiving thrice folded laundry pieces from said second roll folding means, and further pick-up-and-drop folding means at said fourth conveyor means for longitudinally folding said laundry pieces, said control means for said first roll folding means including first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said first conveyor means for riding on the laundry piece while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means together producing pulses proportional to the speed of the piece beginning while part of the piece remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as iT enters said first conveyor means, first and second computer means both capable of receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length at a fractional point, second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor means for feeding pulses after the piece has completely left said ironer proportional to the speed of said conveyor means to one of said computer means for tracking the fractional point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said first roll folding means whereupon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet means, and sequencing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that when measuring is completed and tracking is initiated said first pulse producing means is capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 4

A folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces delivered from an ironer comprising, first conveyor means for receiving the laundry pieces and transporting the same in one direction, second conveyor means following said first conveyor means to receive laundry pieces from said first conveyor means and transport the same further in said one direction, first roll folding means between said first and second conveyor means for transversely folding a piece in transit between said first and second conveyor means, said roll folding means including roll means and air jet means controlled by control means for blowing a portion of a piece into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, pick-up-and-drop folding means at said second conveyor means following said roll folding means for transversely folding a laundry piece transversely a second time, third conveyor means under said second conveyor means to receive the twice folded laundry pieces from said second conveyor means and transport the same opposite to said one direction, said third conveyor means having a slot extending in said opposite direction, second roll folding means at said slot including roll means under said slot and air jet means above said slot for blowing a portion of a piece through said slot into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, fourth conveyor means running transversely relative to said one direction and receiving thrice folded laundry pieces from said second roll folding means, and further pick-up-and-drop folding means at said fourth conveyor means for longitudinally folding said laundry pieces, said control means for said first roll folding means including first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said first conveyor means for riding on the laundry piece while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means together producing pulses proportional to the speed of the piece beginning while part of the piece remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as iT enters said first conveyor means, first and second computer means both capable of receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length at a fractional point, second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor means for feeding pulses after the piece has completely left said ironer proportional to the speed of said conveyor means to one of said computer means for tracking the fractional point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said first roll folding means whereupon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet means, and sequencing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that when measuring is completed and tracking is initiated said first pulse producing means is capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 5

A folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces delivered from an ironer comprising, first conveyor means for receiving the laundry pieces and transporting the same in one direction, second conveyor means following said first conveyor means to receive laundry pieces from said first conveyor means and transport the same further in said one direction, first roll folding means between said first and second conveyor means for transversely folding a piece in transit between said first and second conveyor means, said first roll folding means including rolls means, air jet means and control means, pick-up-and-drop folding means at said second conveyor means following said roll folding means for transversely folding a laundry piece transversely a second time, said pick-up-and-drop folding means including clamping means for picking up and holding the leading edge of a piece while said second conveyor means moves the remainder of the piece after which said clamping means drops the leading edge of the piece of the trailing edge thereof, third conveyor means under said second conveyor means to receive the twice folded laundry piece from said second conveyor means and transport the same opposite to said one direction, said third conveyor means having a slot extending in said opposite directions, second roll folding means at said slot including roll means under said slot and air jet means above said slot for blowing a portion of a piece through said slot into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, fourth conveyor means running transversely relative to said one direction and receiving thrice folded laundry pieces from said second roll folding means, and further pick-up-and-drop folding means at said fourth conveyor means for longitudinally folding said laundry pieces, said control means for said first roll folding means including first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said first conveyor means for riding on the piece while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means together producing pulses proportional to the speed of the piece beginning while part of the piece remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said first conveyor means, first and second computer means both capable of receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length at a half point, second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor for feeding pulses after the piece has completely left the ironer proportional to the speed of said conveyor means to one of said computer means for tracking the half point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said first roll folding means whereupon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet means, and sequencing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that when measuring is completed and tracking is initiated said first pulse producing means is capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 6

A folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces delivered from an ironer comprising, first conveyor means for receiving the laundry pieces and transporting the same in one direction, second conveyor means following said first conveyor means to receive laundry pieces from said first conveyor means and transport the same further in said one direction, first roll folding means between said first and second conveyor means for transversely folding a piece in transit between said first and second conveyor means, said first roll folding means including rolls means, air jet means and control means, pick-up-and-drop folding means at said second conveyor means following said roll folding means for transversely folding a laundry piece transversely a second time, said pick-up-and-drop folding means including clamping means for picking up and holding the leading edge of a piece while said second conveyor means moves the remainder of the piece after which said clamping means drops the leading edge of the piece of the trailing edge thereof, third conveyor means under said second conveyor means to receive the twice folded laundry piece from said second conveyor means and transport the same opposite to said one direction, said third conveyor means having a slot extending in said opposite directions, second roll folding means at said slot including roll means under said slot and air jet means above said slot for blowing a portion of a piece through said slot into said roll means to cause folding of the piece, fourth conveyor means running transversely relative to said one direction and receiving thrice folded laundry pieces from said second roll folding means, and further pick-up-and-drop folding means at said fourth conveyor means for longitudinally folding said laundry pieces, said control means for said first roll folding means including first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said first conveyor means for riding on the piece while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means together producing pulses proportional to the speed of the piece beginning while part of the piece remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said first conveyor means, first and second computer means both capable of receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length at a half point, second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor for feeding pulses after the piece has completely left the ironer proportional to the speed of said conveyor means to one of said computer means for tracking the half point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said first roll folding means whereupon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet means, and sequencing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that when measuring is completed and tracking is initiated said first pulse producing means is capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 7

In a folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces as they emerge from an ironer, an input conveyor to follow the ironer, a roll folder at the output of said input conveyor, an air jet device for introducing a laundry piece into said roll folder, first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said input conveyor for riding on the article while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means to produce pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of a laundry piece entering said conveyor from said ironer beginning while part of the article remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said conveyor from said ironer, first and second computer means for receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length in half, and second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor and feeding pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of said conveyor after the article has completely left the ironer to one of said computer means for tracking the half point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said roll folder whereon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet device, and sequencing means controlled by said sensing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that the measuring pulses are fed to one computer means as the leading edge of a piece actuates said sensing means and the tracking pulses are fed to said one computer means when the trailing edge of a piece actuates said sensing means, whereby said first pulse producing means is then capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 8

In a folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces as they emerge from an ironer, an input conveyor to follow the ironer, a roll folder at the output of said input conveyor, an air jet device for introducing a laundry piece into said roll folder, first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said input conveyor for riding on the article while it emerges from the ironer and sensing means to produce pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of a laundry piece entering said conveyor from said ironer beginning while part of the article remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said conveyor from said ironer, first and second computer means for receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length in half, and second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor and feeding pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of said conveyor after the article has completely left the ironer to one of said computer means for tracking the half point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said roll folder whereon said one computer means initiates action of said air jet device, and sequencing means controlled by said sensing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that the measuring pulses are fed to one computer means as the leading edge of a piece actuates said sensing means and the tracking pulses are fed to said one computer means when the trailing edge of a piece actuates said sensing means, whereby said first pulse producing means is then capable of measuring another piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 9

The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said first and second pulse producing means respectively include first and second wheels, said first wheel riding on a laundry piece entering said conveyor from said ironer to cause pulses to be produced proportional to the speed of the laundry piece, and said second wheel rotating at the speed of said conveyor to produce pulses proportional to the speed of said conveyor.

Claim 10

The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said sensing means comprises a photocell device.

Claim 11

In a folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces as they emerge from an ironer, an input conveyor to follow the ironer, a roll folder at the output of said input conveyor, means to force a laundry piece into said roll folder, first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said input conveyor for riding on the article as it emerges from the ironer and sensing means to produce pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of a laundry piece entering said conveyor from said ironer beginning while part of the article remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said conveyor from said ironer, first and second computer means for receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length in a predetermined fraction thereof, and second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor for feeding pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of said conveyor after the article has completely left the ironer to one of said computer means for tracking the predetermined fractional point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said roll folder whereon said one computer means initiates action of said roll folder, and sequencing means controlled by said sensing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that the measuring pulses are fed to one computer means as the leading edge of a piece actuates said sensing means and the tracking pulses are fed to said one computer means when the trailing edge of a piece actuates said sensing means, whereby said first pulse producing means is then capable of measuring another laundry piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.

Claim 12

In a folding apparatus for folding laundry pieces as they emerge from an ironer, an input conveyor to follow the ironer, a roll folder at the output of said input conveyor, means to force a laundry piece into said roll folder, first rotary pulse producing means located at the entrance of said input conveyor for riding on the article as it emerges from the ironer and sensing means to produce pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of a laundry piece entering said conveyor from said ironer beginning while part of the article remains in the ironer for measuring a laundry piece as it enters said conveyor from said ironer, first and second computer means for receiving said pulses and dividing the piece length in a predetermined fraction thereof, and second rotary pulse producing means rotating at the speed of the conveyor for feeding pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of said conveyor after the article has completely left the ironer to one of said computer means for tracking the predetermined fractional point of the piece until it reaches a fold point at said roll folder whereon said one computer means initiates action of said roll folder, and sequencing means controlled by said sensing means to sequence pulses from said first and second pulse producing means between said first and second computer means so that the measuring pulses are fed to one computer means as the leading edge of a piece actuates said sensing means and the tracking pulses are fed to said one computer means when the trailing edge of a piece actuates said sensing means, whereby said first pulse producing means is then capable of measuring another laundry piece which may follow the preceding piece closely.