Folding apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for folding limp merchandise comprising means for supporting the merchandise With one portion of the merchandise which is to be folded over to lie above another portion of the merchandise extending outwardly on one side of said supporting means, and means for folding over said one portion of the merchandise to lie above said other portion thereof comprising a platform, and means mounting said platform for bodily movement and for moving it bodily away from a retracted position at said one side of said supporting means inwardly over said supporting means, and then back to said retracted position, said platform, when in its retracted position, having one end, constituting its inner end, adjacent said one side of the supporting means and having its other end, constituting its outer end, spaced from said supporting means, said inner end of said platform moving bodily inwardly over said supporting means from said one side thereof as said platform moves bodily inwardly, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with said one portion thereof supported on the platform, after which the platform may be moved in the manner stated to fold over said one portion of the merchandise.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is generally flush with said supporting means, and wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said ssupporting means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is generally flush with said supporting means, and wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said supporting means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a conveyor operable after the folding operation to convey away the folded merchandise.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is generally flush with said conveyor, and wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is generally flush with said conveyor, and wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said conveyor.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for folding the merchandise on a card with one end portion of the merchandise folded around one end of the card wherein said supporting means is adapted to support the merchandise with said one end portion thereof extending outwardly on said one side of the supporting means and lying on said platform, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with said one end portion thereof supported on the platform, after which a card may be placed on the portion of the merchandise lying on said supporting means, and the platform then moved in the manner stated to fold said one end portion of the merchandise around the respective end of the card.

Claim 15

Apparatus for folding limp merchandise with end portions of the merchandise folded over one on the other comprising means for supporting an intermediate portion of the merchandise with outer portions of the merchandise extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of said supporting means, and means for folding over one of said outer portions of the merchandise to lie above said intermediate portion of the merchandise and then folding over the other said outer portion of the merchandise to overlap the first folded-over portion comprising a first platform at one side of said supporting means for supporting said one outer portion of the merchandise, a second platform at the other side of said supporting means for supporting said other outer portion of the merchandise, and means mounting each platform for movement and for moving it away from a retracted position at its respective side of said supporting means inwardly over said supporting means, and then back to said retracted position, each said platform, when in its retracted position, having one end, constituting its inner end, adjacent its said one side of the supporting means and having its other end, constituting its outer end, spaced from said supporting means, said inner end of said platform moving bodily inwardly over said supporting means from its said one side thereof as said platform moves bodily inwardly, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with the said outer portions thereof supported on the platforms on opposite sides of the supporting means, after which the first platform may be moved in the manner stated to fold over the said one outer portion of the merchandise and the second platform then moved in the manner stated to fold over the said other outer portion of the merchandise.

Claim 16

Apparatus for folding limp merchandise with end portions of the merchandise folded over one on the other comprising means for supporting an intermediate portion of the merchandise with outer portions of the merchandise extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of said supporting means, and means for folding over one of said outer portions of the merchandise to lie above said intermediate portion of the merchandise and then folding over the other said outer portion of the merchandise to overlap the first folded-over portion comprising a first platform at one side of said supporting means for supporting said one outer portion of the merchandise, a second platform at the other side of said supporting means for supporting said other outer portion of the merchandise, and means mounting each platform for movement and for moving it away from a retracted position at its respective side of said supporting means inwardly over said supporting means, and then back to said retracted position, each said platform, when in its retracted position, having one end, constituting its inner end, adjacent its said one side of the supporting means and having its other end, constituting its outer end, spaced from said supporting means, said inner end of said platform moving bodily inwardly over said supporting means from its said one side thereof as said platform moves bodily inwardly, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with the said outer portions thereof supported on the platforms on opposite sides of the supporting means, after which the first platform may be moved in the manner stated to fold over the said one outer portion of the merchandise and the second platform then moved in the manner stated to fold over the said other outer portion of the merchandise.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each said platform, when in its said retracted position, is generally flush with said supporting means, and wherein the mounting and moving means for each platform includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said supporting means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the mounting and moving means for each platform includes means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein each platform, when in its said retracted position, is generally flush with said supporting means, and wherein the mounting and moving means for each platform includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein each said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said supporting means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said supporting means comprises an upper horizontal reach of an endless belt conveyor operable after the folding operation to convey away the folded merchandise.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein each platform, when in retracted position is generally flush with said upper reach, and wherein the mounting and moving means for each platform includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said conveyor.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is generally flush with said upper reach, and wherein said mounting and moving means includes means for moving the platform upwardly before it moves inwardly.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said platform, when in retracted position, is at a level above said upper reach.

Claim 28

Apparatus for foLding limp merchandise with end portions of the merchandise folded over one on the other comprising means for supporting an intermediate portion of the merchandise with outer portions of the merchandise extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of said supporting means, and means for folding over one of said outer portions of the merchandise to lie above said intermediate portion of the merchandise and then folding over the other said outer portion of the merchandise to overlap the first folded-over portion comprising a first platform at one side of said supporting means for supporting said one outer portion of the merchandise, a second platform at the other side of said supporting means for supporting said other outer portion of the merchandise, means mounting each platform for movement and for moving it away from a retracted position at its respective side of said supporting means inwardly over said supporting means, and then back to said retracted position, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with the said outer portions thereof supported on the platforms on opposite sides of the supporting means, after which the first platform may be moved in the manner stated to fold over the said one outer portion of the merchandise and the second platform then moved in the manner stated to fold over the said other outer portion of the merchandise, said supporting means comprising an upper horizontal reach of an endless belt conveyor operable after the folding operation to convey away the folded merchandise, said mounting and moving means including means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly, the mounting, and moving means for each platform comprising a carriage movable laterally inwardly with respect to said conveyor away from a retracted position at its respective side of the carriage to an advanced position and then movable back to its retracted position, platform-supporting means carried by each carriage for vertical movement relative thereto, each platform being pivoted at the upper end of its respective supporting means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the conveyor, means interconnecting each carriage and the respective platform for effecting said tilting of the platform on its said axis as the respective platform-supporting means moves upwardly, and means for raising and lowering each platform supporting means and moving it and the respective carriage inwardly and outwardly.

Claim 29

Apparatus for foLding limp merchandise with end portions of the merchandise folded over one on the other comprising means for supporting an intermediate portion of the merchandise with outer portions of the merchandise extending laterally outwardly on opposite sides of said supporting means, and means for folding over one of said outer portions of the merchandise to lie above said intermediate portion of the merchandise and then folding over the other said outer portion of the merchandise to overlap the first folded-over portion comprising a first platform at one side of said supporting means for supporting said one outer portion of the merchandise, a second platform at the other side of said supporting means for supporting said other outer portion of the merchandise, means mounting each platform for movement and for moving it away from a retracted position at its respective side of said supporting means inwardly over said supporting means, and then back to said retracted position, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with the said outer portions thereof supported on the platforms on opposite sides of the supporting means, after which the first platform may be moved in the manner stated to fold over the said one outer portion of the merchandise and the second platform then moved in the manner stated to fold over the said other outer portion of the merchandise, said supporting means comprising an upper horizontal reach of an endless belt conveyor operable after the folding operation to convey away the folded merchandise, said mounting and moving means including means for tilting the platform to be inclined downwardly from its outer end when it moves inwardly, the mounting, and moving means for each platform comprising a carriage movable laterally inwardly with respect to said conveyor away from a retracted position at its respective side of the carriage to an advanced position and then movable back to its retracted position, platform-supporting means carried by each carriage for vertical movement relative thereto, each platform being pivoted at the upper end of its respective supporting means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the conveyor, means interconnecting each carriage and the respective platform for effecting said tilting of the platform on its said axis as the respective platform-supporting means moves upwardly, and means for raising and lowering each platform supporting means and moving it and the respective carriage inwardly and outwardly.

Claim 30

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein each said raising and lowering means comprises a follower at the lower end of the respective platform-supporting means, fixed cam means guiding the follower for inward and outward and upward and downward movement thereof, and an air cylinder for moving the follower.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 having means for effecting operation in sequence of one platform, then the other, and then tthe conveyor to convey away the folded merchandise.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein each tilting means comprises cam means on the respective platform and a follower therefor on the respective carriage.

Claim 33

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 for folding the merchandise on a card with said end portions folded over around opposite ends of the card adapted for placement of a card on said intermediate portion of the merchandise, whereby the merchandise may be placed in position for a folding operation on the supporting means with the said outer portions thereof supported on the platforms on opposite sides of the supporting means, after which a card may be placed on the intermediate portion of the merchandise lying on said supporting means, the first platform then moved in the manner stated to fold said one outer portion of the merchandise around the respective end of the card, and the second platform then moved in the manner stated to fold the said other outer portion of the merchandise around the otheR end of the card.

Claim 34

Apparatus for folding limp merchandise comprising supporting means, an inner platform normally occupying a retracted position on one side of said supporting means, and an outer platform normally occupying a retracted position outward of said inner platform, adapted to receive merchandise with portions thereof lying on said supporting means and said platforms, the outer platform being movable away from its retracted position over the inner platform for folding the portion of the merchandise on the outer platform over on the portion on the inner platform, and then back to retracted position, the inner platform then being movable away from its retracted position over the supporting means for folding the two portions of the merchandise thereon over on the portion on the supporting means, and then back to retracted position.

Claim 35

Apparatus for folding limp merchandise comprising supporting means, an inner platform normally occupying a retracted position on one side of said supporting means, and an outer platform normally occupying a retracted position outward of said inner platform, adapted to receive merchandise with portions thereof lying on said supporting means and said platforms, the outer platform being movable away from its retracted position over the inner platform for folding the portion of the merchandise on the outer platform over on the portion on the inner platform, and then back to retracted position, the inner platform then being movable away from its retracted position over the supporting means for folding the two portions of the merchandise thereon over on the portion on the supporting means, and then back to retracted position.

Claim 36

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31 having an inner and an outer platform on the other side of said supporting means.