US2804298A - Folder control with timer selector - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1957 a. A. Buss 2,304,298

7 FOLDER CONTROL WI TH TIMER SELECTOR Filed Nov. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l m4 m m i:

Aug. 27, 1957 B. A. BUSS .FOLDER CONTROL mm TIMER SELECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nqv'. 6, 1953 5 A FL-Buss wj mi INVENTOR.

United States '1? 2,804,298 FOLDER CONTROL WITH TIMER SELECTOR Benjamin Alvin Buss, East Moline, 111., assignor to American Machine and Metals, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,587

4 Claims. (Cl. 270-81) The present invention relates broadly to automatic control mechanism and more particularly to a sensitive measuring device for controlling the various lines of folds in laundered articles which are folded after being ironed.

In the laundry machine art there has been more and more demand for automatic machinery to perform operations more rapidly than possible when performed by human hands. Accordingly, the speeds of delivery of ironing machines and folding machines has increased to the point where articles to be folded pass through a folder at speeds in excess of one hundred feet per minute. Such speeds have made the problem of accurately measuring and folding an article more difiicult. The time lags involved in ordinary relays, for instance, is such that errors in the folding line of several inches may be encountered because of the time it takes for such devices to operate in their movement of pulling in and dropping out.

In order to eliminate as many time lags as possible I have caused rapid action switches to be operated directly by the power exerted upon measuring fingers or the like as an article to be folded passes a given point in the conveyor tapes of a folding machine. Accordingly, I encounter only one time lag which is that of the acceleration of the mass of the parts of the measuring device. By keeping the mass as low as possible within sound engineering technique and employing as substantial a spring force as can be operated by the articles, it is possible to reduce this time to :a very small fraction of a second. Hence, in practicing my invention, it becomes possible to fold sheets and the like almost as accurately as can be done by hand but at several times the speed that such operations can be performed by hand.

Accordingly, a prime object of my invention is to provide an improved measuring device for folding machines or the like which receive articles of varying length and folds them into a predetermined number of folds.

In another aspect of the invention, an arrangement has been provided particularly useful with the sensing device of the present invention and wherein a plurality of timing means is employed having two characteristic manners of operation, such as two speeds. The particular timing means to be operated is controlled by a selector means, the selector means being operated or turned by a control means. The control means, which includes a rotatable ratchet wheel, is operated by a sensing device having two positions. When the sensing means is in a first position in response to a passing article, the appropriate selector unit will start one of said timers in its first characteristic manner, the control means having been rotated by movement of the sensing units. When the sensing unit is moved to its second position after passage of said article, the control means or ratchet wheel will be moved in the same direction thereby. Upon movement of the selector device in response to movement of the sensing means to said second position the timing means will be caused to operate in its second characteristic manner.

Other objects and advantages of my invention reside in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts to be more fully described below, set forth in appended claims and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a folding machine, Fig. 2 is a semi-detailed semi-diagrammatic view of the measuring switch portion of my invention,

Fig. 3 is a semi-detailed semi-diagrammatic view of a timer shown more in detail in the application of Benjamin S. Kagan S. N. 312,834, now Patent No. 2,774,592, and,

Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in a difierent position such as occurs when a sheet or the like is not in engagement with the measuring finger thereof.

Referring more in detail to the. drawing and first to Fig. l, a folding machine generally indicated at is adapted to receive sheets 11, 12, 13 and 14 in succession from an ironing machine, not shown. Sets of conveyor tapes 15, 16, and 17 deliver these sheets progressively through the machine until finally folded sheets or the like are delivered to a receiving table 18. The rolls carrying the tapes 15, 16 and 17 are suitably power driven by drive means, not shown.

operates controls within a case 21 to set up operation of timing mechanisms within a case 22 to operate folding blades 23 and 24 when the sheet 12 attains the proper position in the folding machine 10. As the sheet passes through the machine and reaches the proper position, first the blade 23 is operated by an electric motor 25 or the like under the influence of the timers in the control box 22. Similarly when the sheet advances adjacent the folding blade 24 a motor 26 or the like operates same to cause a second fold under the influence of the controller in the F control box 22, all to be described more in detail below.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the measuring finger 20 is shown in a position which it would take just during passage of an article. When the sheet 12 is between the conveyor tapes 15, and the leading edge of a sheet 12 or the like engages the finger in its dotted line position, the finger will be rotated clockwise into the position shown in full lines. By such rotation a ratchet 30 is caused to move A of a turn to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position a roller on a switch arm 31 will be forced by a spring 31a into a dwell 32 of a cam 33 and close a contact 34. The spring 31a by forcing the roller into the dwell 32 contributes to proper and accurate operation of the mechanism. Cams 35, 36 and 37 are all similar to cam 33 having two dwells 180 degrees apart but spaced successively radially by forty-five degrees. Thus for every turn of the ratchet 30 the rollers of switches 31, 38, 39 and 40 successively drop into their respective dwells and only one at a time will do so. Thus, as the finger 20 moves to the advanced position shown in Fig. 2 and thereafter back to the retracted position shown in Fig. 4, the ratchet 30 will be advanced by the two said motions by 1 8 of a turn (or forty-five degrees) in two 1 turn increments.

The details of construction'of my improved ratchet mechanism will now be described. The ratchet 30 is mounted on suitable bearings, not shown, in a box which may have a cover 46 sealed by a gasket .or solder or the like 47 to the box 45. An oil seal plug 48 may be provided to fill the box to an oil level 50 submerging all of the operating parts. The measuring finger 24 may have a rod 51 passing through a side of the case through a sealed bearing, not shown, and be secured to a hub 52 on an arcuate segment 53 carrying a cam advancing operating lever 54 and a cam advancing retraction operating lever 55. A spring 57 is connected to the segment at an car 58 and to the box at 59. The spring 57 biases the segment 53 to a stop 60 which limits the counterclockwise motion of the segment 53. In the position shown in Fig. 2

Patented Aug. 27, 1957 It is to be noted in referring to Fig. 2 that a distance x is the effective moment arm of the spring 57 torotate the segment 53. Referring to Fig; 4 it-is" seen-that the distance y is greater than 2;. 'It; isalso to be ncted that a tension spring 65 exerts greater force in theposit onshown, in Fig. 2 than in the position shown in Fig. 4.;

These spring forces may beso balanced; with the variable moment arms x and sothat when the measuring finger is depressed'as shown in Fig. Zorretractedas shown'm Fig. 4 there may be substantiallya constant spring exerted upon the measuring finger-20. Inasmuch'asgthere arms 97 and 98 will engage their respective contacts 99 and 100 to establish a 'holdingcircuit until they disengage after one complete revolution.

When theisheet 12 passes the measuringfinger 20 it is moved by the spring 57 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 4 thus rotating the ratchet 30 turn in the clockwise direction and engaging a contact 101 with the contact arm 31, The contact 34 will be instantly broken so are a large number of these measuringfingers exteiiding up betweenthe conveyor tapes 15 when in the retracted position it is importanbthat a high spring force together with low inertia parts he ,maintained as nearly as possible. My novel spring arrangcmentin connection with the arcuatesegment 53 andthe operating-leversi54 and, 55 provides such relationshipandhencepermits of relatively high springforces for relativelylightparts.

With'the device submerged in oil'as shown and relatively high spring forces ,on the spring 65, his possible to rotatethe ratchet .wheel 'rap-idly {and still stop the same sharply in the two turn positions. It is 'noted in referring to Fig. 2 that the lever arm has been rotated 1 around its pivoting point 55A and has dropped oflfxa.

point 68 of the ratchet 30. The spring will thus rotate the lever 55 .clockwise to cause it to strike 'a blow upon a surface 69 to contribute to quickly stopping the.

rotation of the ratchet 30. At substantially the, same instant the lever 54 will engageasui face-70also to contribute to the stopping motion.

Upon the other sense or movement ,ofthe rneasu'ring finger .20 in a counterclockwise direction, the .lever 55 will rotate the ratchet 30 clockwise. or Inthisinstance, as shown in Fig. 4,.the lever 54 drops ofithe surface 70 and the lever 55 engagesthe surface69 to.contribute to rapid stopping when the lever 20.jrotates counterclocky wise. It is to be understood thatthe, switches 31, 38,39 and 40 accordingly are provided a snapaction by the motion in clockwise and counterclockwise direction of. the

measuring finger 20 and hence, itis not required that.

snap switches be used. However, it is to be understood that the, broad concept of the invention also may use snap switches and such have actually beenlused in devices of this type. V

Each of the switches 31, 38, 39, and controlstime rs 80, 81, 82 and83in the timer box 22.1. Accordingly, a device is provided whichcan have four articlesat a, time in the folding machine and diiferentofjthe timers re-, spond to the measurement of the separateitems and con,-

trol the folding devices 25 and 26 for effecting .the proper folds in the pieces. Inasmuch as allthe, devices. are identical only one will betdescribedIin detail. Withthe contact 34 engaged by the switch,blade;31, current will' flow from line wire L1 to the switchcontact 31, con.- tact 34, wire 85 totimer 80; andthroughjwires 86, and 87to a motor 88 driving ,a free wheeledmverruninggear 89 to rotate a cam'90 in a clockwise. direction. In addition, current passes through a wire, 92 tov a speed motor 93 driving asimilarjoverrunning. gear'94 to .turn a cam 95 ina clockwise direction. Withsuch structure, the cam will rotateiinitially at aspeed corresponding of half. the speed and cam ;will--operatetat% speed of the conveyor tapes in the folding machineaslongas the measuring finger. 20 is .in its depressed positionthus en gaging contact arm31 with contacta'nn'34. Accordingly,

the cams and.95twill rotateto positions proportional Cams, 90 and 950 will" be. rotated clockwise; and: switch:

that the above traced circuits to motors '88 and93 are broken. vHowever, simultaneously therewith the following circuit is established from line wire L-lthrough switch arm 31 a contact 101 wire 102 to the timer 80 throughwire 103, wire 104, contact 99, switch arm 97, wire 105 to a full speed motor 106, wire 107 and wire 108 to line wire L-2.. This circuit will energize motor 106 which through an overrunning gear 110 will drive the cam 90 at a speed corresponding to the fullspeed of the conveyor tapes in the folding machine 10.

A circuit-for a fullspeed motor 111 may be traced from wire 103 under control of switch contact 101 through a wire 112 contact 100 switch arm 93 a wire 115 motor half andquarter folder mechanisms 25 and 26 respect tively through circuits now to be described.

When the switch blade 121 engages the contact'120 the article to be folded will be so positioned in the folding machine that when the folding device 25 moves the folding blade 23 to the folding rolls cooperable therewith substantiallythe exact center point of the article measured will be forced between these rolls. Such action'of the control motor is accomplished through the following circuit. From linewire L1wi r'es125 and ,126 to control motor 25 through wirel127 and 128 to the control box 80, wire 129, contact 120, switch blade121, wire 130 and wire 108 to line wire L-2t Hence, as the dwell in the cam 90 passes a roller 131 connected with the switch blade 121 the above described circuit is established to cause actuation of the /2 folding operator motor 25. v

When the article to be folded controlled by the folding control 80 is in-position adjacent 13% fold blade 24 the dwell in cam 95 will be so positioned adjacent a roller 133 to cause engagement of switch blade 123 with contact 122 to establish the following circuit from, line wire L-1 through wire 125, wire 1 35, folder operatorl26, wire 136, wire 137' to folder control 80, wire 138, contact 122, switch blade 1 23, wire 140 and Wire 108 toiline wire L-2. This circuit will cause actuation of the 4 fold device.

Measuring finger operated cams 35, 36 and 37 cooperate respectively and in, succession with switch: arms 38, 39 and 40. The contact arm 38fcooperates with con- I trolled an operation the cam 33 will next be brought into play to control the folding of the next following article. a p t In the foregoing description it is seen that I have provided a novel and accurate folder control mechanism to more accurately provide folding operations at high speeds. Inasmuch as alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in view of-this disclosure itis to, be understood that I am;not to be limited in my invention only to the specific forms shown and described but by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding machine having conveyor means for carrying articles to be folded along a path and folding means for said articles, the combination of a plurality of timing means having first and second characteristic manners of operation, each of said timing means being adapted to cause operation of said folding means when operating in said second characteristic manner, measuring means operable by movement of an article along said path and having a first position when sensing said article and a second position when not sensing said article, control means directly connected to and rotatably moved one step by said measuring means when in said first position and. a second step in the same direction when in said second position, and selector means moved by said control means for controlling the operations of said several timing means respectively in said first characteristic manner when said measuring means is in its first position and controlling the second characteristic operations of said timing means when said measuring means is in said second position.

2. In a folding machine having conveyor means for carrying articles to be folded along a path and folding means for said articles, the combination of a plurality of timing means each operable in a first characteristic manner at a first time and in a second characteristic manner at a second time, each of said timing means being adapted to control the operation of said folding means when operating in said second characteristic manner, measuring means sensitive to movement of an article along said path and having a first position when sensing said article and a second position when not sensing said article, control means including a ratchet wheel moved by said measuring means when in said first position to a first position for causing operation sequentially of said timing means in said first characteristic manner, said control means being moved to a second position by said measuring means when it is in its second position, and selector means moved by said control means for selecting the timing means to be operated and also controlling the second characteristic operation of the timing means being operated when said measuring means' moves to said second position.

3. In a folding machine control having means for carrying an article to be folded along a path, the compasses said point, said means including a pair of operating levers, selector means including a ratchet Wheel cooperable with said levers and operable thereby, and spring means connecting said levers and biasing each of said levers into contact with said ratchet Wheel to act as ratchet pawls, said spring means being located relative to each other so that the combined force exerted is substantially uniform, said wheel being moved in predetermined steps by said levers in one direction by said measuring means upon each movement of said measuring means.

4, In a folding machine control having means for carrying an article to be folded along a path, the combination including measuring means responsive to the passage of an article past a predetermined point, said measuring means being movable in one sense when the leading edge of an article reaches said point and biased for movement in the opposite sense when the trailing edge of said article passes said point, a ratchet wheel, oscillatable means connected with and movable by said measuring means, a pair of operating levers contactable with said ratchet wheel for driving the same, said levers being connected to said oscillatable means, said operating levers being located either side of the axis of oscillation of said oscillatable means, spring means biasing said levers into engagement against said ratchet wheel, spring means urging said oscillatable means in one di rection, said spring means being located to provide a predetermined substantially uniform force thereto regardless of the position of said measuring means, and selector means moved in predetermined steps in one direction by said measuring means regardless of the sense of movement of said measuring means.

2,659,598 McLogan Nov. 17, 1953

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