Laundry finisher folder

Claim 2

Apparatus for folding and ironing fabric flatwork comprising: a first folding device; a first ironing device; a second folding device, a second ironing drum; and means for conveying the flatwork in sequence past said first folding device to be cross-folded a first time by the latter, then partially around said first ironing drum to be ironed thereby, then past said second folding device to be crossfolded a second time by the latter, and then Partially around said second ironing drum to be ironed thereby.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each ironing drum has heating element means thereon for heating the flatwork as it passes over the drum.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each folding device is a pick-up-and-drop folder.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for conveying comprises: a first flexible, endless-belt conveyor for carrying the flatwork past said first folding device and from there partially around said first ironing drum; a second flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said first ironing drum in confronting relationship to said first conveyor to sandwich the once-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around said first ironing drum, said second conveyor extending tangentially away from the first ironing drum to carry the once-folded flatwork away from the first ironing drum and past said second folding device to be folded a second time by the latter, said second conveyor beyond said second folding device being wrapped partially around said second ironing drum to carry the twice-folded flatwork around the latter; and a third flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said second ironing drum in confronting relationship to said second conveyor to sandwich the twice-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around said second ironing drum, said third conveyor extending tangentially away from said second ironing drum to carry the twice-folded flatwork away from the latter.

Claim 6

Apparatus for folding and ironing fabric flatwork comprising: a first flexible, endless-belt conveyor; a first folder positioned along the path of the first conveyor to cross-fold the flatwork carried by the latter; a first ironing drum around which the first conveyor passes after passing said first folder; a second flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said first ironing drum in confronting relationship to said first conveyor to sandwich the once-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around the first ironing drum; a second folder positioned along the path of the second conveyor after it passes said first ironing drum to cross-fold the flatwork a second time; a second ironing drum around which the second conveyor passes after passing said second folder; and a third flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said second ironing drum in confronting relationship to said second conveyor to sandwich the twice-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around the second ironing drum, said third conveyor extending away from said second ironing drum to convey the flatwork away from the latter.

Claim 7

Apparatus for folding and ironing fabric flatwork comprising: a first flexible, endless-belt conveyor; a first folder positioned along the path of the first conveyor to cross-fold the flatwork carried by the latter; a first ironing drum around which the first conveyor passes after passing said first folder; a second flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said first ironing drum in confronting relationship to said first conveyor to sandwich the once-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around the first ironing drum; a second folder positioned along the path of the second conveyor after it passes said first ironing drum to cross-fold the flatwork a second time; a second ironing drum around which the second conveyor passes after passing said second folder; and a third flexible, endless-belt conveyor wrapped partially around said second ironing drum in confronting relationship to said second conveyor to sandwich the twice-folded flatwork snugly between them as it passes around the second ironing drum, said third conveyor extending away from said second ironing drum to convey the flatwork away from the latter.

Claim 8

Apparatus for folding and ironing fabric flatwork comprising: a stationary ironing drum; a first flexible, endless-belt conveyor extending from one side of the drum contiguously across the top of the drum and down around the opposite side of the drum and beneath the drum back to said one side thereof; a second flexible, endless-belt conveyor contiguously overlapping said first conveyor around said opposite side of the drum; a folding device adjacent said first conveyor ahead of said ironing drum and operative to cross-fold the flatwork thereon before it reaches the drum; and said first and second conveyors sandwiching the flatwork snugly between them while wrapping it around said opposite side of the drum.

Claim 9

Apparatus for folding and ironing fabric flatwork comprising: a stationary ironing drum; a first flexible, endless-belt conveyor extending from one side of the drum contiguously across the top of the drum and down around the opposite side of the drum and beneath the drum back to said one side thereof; a second flexible, endless-belt conveyor contiguously overlapping said first conveyor around said opposite side of the drum; a folding device adjacent said first conveyor ahead of said ironing drum and operative to cross-fold the flatwork thereon before it reaches the drum; and said first and second conveyors sandwiching the flatwork snugly between them while wrapping it around said opposite side of the drum.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said ironing drum has heating element means thereon for heating the flatwork as it passes around the drum.