US3980290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Towel folder
Assignee: Team Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-17
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Granted: 1976-09-14
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Expires: 1993-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for quarter or French folding towels, or the like. When quarter folding, a single, central longitudinal fold is made by conveying one side of the towel into engagement with one of two oppositely oriented, diagonal folding blades. When French folding, opposite sides of the towel are conveyed into engagement with the respective folding blades. The longitudinal folds are made around laterally spaced forms one of which is movable laterally toward or away from the other, the spacing of the forms depending on the width of the towel and also depending on whether the towel is being French or quarter folded. (If the towel is being quarter folded, the spacing of the outer edges of the forms is one-half the towel width, and, if the towel is being French folded, this spacing is one-third the towel width.) Alternatively usable inlet guides at the inlet end of the longitudinal folding mechanism guide the towel thereto in a laterally offset position for quarter folding, or a laterally centered position for French folding. The forms are longitudinally corrugated. After being folded longitudinally in either of the foregoing ways, the towel is cross folded by inserting a central lateral zone thereof between upper and lower cross folding belts. The upper cross folding belt is capable of floating vertically to accommodate towels of varying thicknesses.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl F. Sjoman
- 👤 Edward L. McClain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a towel folder or the like, the combination of: a. a first pair of spaced apart frame plates; a second pair of spaced apart frame plates mounted between said first pair of plates; b. at least two rods connected to said first pair of plates, at least one of said rods having a threaded portion and being rotatably connected to said first pair of plates, said rod with a threaded portion having a first plate of said second pair mounted thereto and movable therealong, the second plate of said second pair being fixedly mounted to another of said rods; c. means connected to said rotatable rod for rotating said rod and thereby spacing the first and second plates of said second pair of plates; d. two elongated generally horizontal forms, each form attached to a plate of the second pair of plates, the form attached to said first plate of said second pair being movable therewith thereby determining the distance between said spaced forms; e. a conveyor belt seated on and extending longitudinally of said forms and adapted to slide a towel longitudinally along said forms with at least one longitudinal side of said towel depending from said forms; f. means positioned beneath said forms and supported by at least one plate of said first pair of frame plates for folding the depending longitudinal side of the towel upwardly; and g. means supported by said first pair of frame plates for cross folding the longitudinally folded towel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a towel folder or the like, the combination of: a. a first pair of spaced apart frame plates; a second pair of spaced apart frame plates mounted between said first pair of plates; b. at least two rods connected to said first pair of plates, at least one of said rods having a threaded portion and being rotatably connected to said first pair of plates, said rod with a threaded portion having a first plate of said second pair mounted thereto and movable therealong, the second plate of said second pair being fixedly mounted to another of said rods; c. means connected to said rotatable rod for rotating said rod and thereby spacing the first and second plates of said second pair of plates; d. two elongated generally horizontal forms, each form attached to a plate of the second pair of plates, the form attached to said first plate of said second pair being movable therewith thereby determining the distance between said spaced forms; e. a conveyor belt seated on and extending longitudinally of said forms and adapted to slide a towel longitudinally along said forms with at least one longitudinal side of said towel depending from said forms; f. means positioned beneath said forms and supported by at least one plate of said first pair of frame plates for folding the depending longitudinal side of the towel upwardly; and g. means supported by said first pair of frame plates for cross folding the longitudinally folded towel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a towel folder, or the like as claimed in claim 1, including guide means connected to said first pair of frame plates and forming generally a geometric trapezoid when seen in a plan view for centering a towel for French folding prior to the towel sliding along said horizontal forms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an apparatus for folding towels, or the like the combination of: a. a supporting structure carrying two laterally spaced, elongated forms having inlet and outlet ends; b. a conveyor belt carried by said supporting structure and seated on and extending longitudinally of said forms and adapted to slide a towel longitudinally along said forms, from their input end toward their output end, with at least one side of the towel depending from the corresponding form; c. one of said forms being fixedly connected to said supporting structure and the other being mounted on said supporting structure for lateral movement relative to said one form to vary the spacing between said forms; d. means for laterally moving said other form relative to said one form to vary the spacing between said forms; e. a first blade fixedly carried by said supporting structure below said one form for folding a corresponding depending side of the towel upwardly; f. a second blade fixedly carried by said supporting structure below said other form for folding upwardly a corresponding depending side of a towel; g. said first and second blades having first and second diagonal edges which face generally inwardly toward each other and which converge in the downstream direction; and h. said second diagonal edge being long as compared to said first diagonal edge to accommodate lateral movement of said other form relative to said second blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an apparatus for folding towels, or the like the combination of: a. a supporting structure carrying two laterally spaced, elongated forms having inlet and outlet ends; b. a conveyor belt carried by said supporting structure and seated on and extending longitudinally of said forms and adapted to slide a towel longitudinally along said forms, from their input end toward their output end, with at least one side of the towel depending from the corresponding form; c. one of said forms being fixedly connected to said supporting structure and the other being mounted on said supporting structure for lateral movement relative to said one form to vary the spacing between said forms; d. means for laterally moving said other form relative to said one form to vary the spacing between said forms; e. a first blade fixedly carried by said supporting structure below said one form for folding a corresponding depending side of the towel upwardly; f. a second blade fixedly carried by said supporting structure below said other form for folding upwardly a corresponding depending side of a towel; g. said first and second blades having first and second diagonal edges which face generally inwardly toward each other and which converge in the downstream direction; and h. said second diagonal edge being long as compared to said first diagonal edge to accommodate lateral movement of said other form relative to said second blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second blade is upstream of said first blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second blade is between said first blade and said forms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-14 | 1980-03-15 | 1980-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-14 | 1984-03-15 | 1984-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-14 | 1988-03-15 | 1988-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |