05/202818

05/22/1973

11/29/1971

Download PDF 3734372       PDF help

Click for automatic bibliography generation

226/114

226/117, 493/414, 226/118.200

B65H45/101; B65H45/00; B65H45/20

270/79,30 226/104,107,114,117,119 317/2

Knowles, Allen N.

What is claimed is

1. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet comprising a feeder having a pair of rollers, through the interval of which is downwardly fed said flexible sheet, an area defined under said feeder and in which said flexible sheet is folded in zigzag by a prescribed length, a plurality of sheet-hanging members for holding the folded portions of said flexible sheet, an actuator for reciprocating one of said sheet-hanging members horizontally in said area, a device for guiding the lowering portion of said flexible sheet from said feeder in a direction opposite to that in which the actuator travels, a pair of members for depressing the folded portions of said flexible sheet to the sheet-hanging member which is being reciprocated in said area, means for taking out the sheet-hanging member with the folded portions of said flexible sheet from one end of a stroke by which said actuator is reciprocated in said area, and means for supplying another sheet-hanging member to the other end of said stroke as the area is vacant.

2. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a power transmission system for syncronizing the motion of said actuator for reciprocating the sheet-hanging member in accordance with the feeding length from said feeder.

3. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 1 in which said actuator comprises a supporting member having left and right side columns, and a plurality of reciprocating assemblies for linearly reciprocating said supporting member in said area, as well as means for supporting the sheet-hanging member to said supporting member columns.

4. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 3 in which said means for supporting the sheet-hanging member to said supporting member columns are solenoid devices each having a retractable rod with a clamping head.

5. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 3 in which said supporting member is shaped into a U-letter by having a cross beam which bridges the lower end portions of said columns, and said actuator is provided with means for eliminating static charge generated to the folded portions of the flexible sheet supported to the sheet-hanging member by the frictional slipping of the folded layers of the flexible sheet to the portion thereof which is being lowered in the area.

6. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 5 in which said eliminating means comprises a rectangle plate-shaped hollow member having a yoke, copper plates attached to the front and rear portions of said yoke so as to form a hollow portions in said member, and means for vertically moving said member, said moving means partly disposed in said hollow portions.

7. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 5 in which said eliminating means comprises a rectangle copper plate member slidably supported to said columns by the bias of springs, and means for downwardly pulling said plate member against said spring bias.

8. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 5 in which said eliminating means comprises a rectangle copper plate member swingably supported to the lower portions of said columns by bias of springs, and means for downwardly turning said plate member against said spring bias.

9. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 3 in which each of said sheet-hanging members involves a copper plate member for eliminating static charge generated to the folded portions of the flexible sheet supported to the sheet-hanging member by the frictional slipping of the folded layers of the flexible sheet to the portion thereof which is being lowered in the area.

10. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 2 in which said taking out and supplying means both are operated with relation to the movement of the actuator in a determined time order by a control-power transmission system for partly transmitting a power rotation from said power transmission system to both means via a clutch device.

11. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 2 in which said taking out said supplying means both are combined with said actuator which comprises reciprocating assemblies having a first arm member swingable by a determined angle, and a second arm member linked with said first arm member, and means for swinging said first arm member over said determined angle when the sheet-hanging member is changed, so as to cause the stroke of the reciprocation of said sheet-hanging member to extend over the length of said area.

12. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 2 in which there is provided means for changing the reciprocating cycle of said sheet-hanging member when said sheet-hanging member is replaced by another one.

13. An apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet claimed in claim 12 in which there is provided means for changing the reciprocating cycle of said sheet-hanging member when said sheet-hanging member is replaced by another one.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet by a prescribed length in an alternate direction, and more particularly concerns in an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet in continuous operation without creating creases at turned portions of said sheet.

Said folding apparatus is mainly used in folding a sheet of woven materials such as silk, cotton and wool. In that case where a belt-like woven fabric sheet directly carried from a machine such as an automatic loom and drier is folded in zigzag by prescribed length, said woven fabric sheet should be successively divided into a plurality of mutually continuous fold units without creases creating in the fabric sheet.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet which makes said sheet divided into fold units with said sheet multi-hanging by a desired length on a successive one of sheet-hanging member intermittently supplied into an area in which said flexible sheet is continuously folded in zigzag.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet improved by means for synchronizing the motion of an actuator for reciprocating the sheet-hanging member in accordance with the feeding length of the flexible sheet from a feeder.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet improved by means for taking out the sheet-hanging member with a fold unit of the flexible sheet from an area in which the actuator travels in an alternate direction so as to reciprocate the sheet-hanging member and means for supplying another sheet-hanging member after the successive one is carried away from said area, both means being operated with relation to the movement of the actuator in a determined time order.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for continuously folding a belt-like flexible sheet improved by the actuator involving means for eliminating a static charge generated in the portions of the sheet which are being folded with their portions multi-hanging on the sheet-hanging member in zigzag.

The feature of this invention will be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views of an apparatus for folding a belt-like flexible sheet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the folding apparatus of FIGS. 1a and 1b in which essential parts of the apparatus are indicated by cross-sections;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a power transmission system involved in the folding apparatus mentioned above;

FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective views of parts of the power transmission system partly broken away;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of means for supplying a sheet-hanging member involved in the folding apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of means for taking out the sheet-hanging member with the fold unit of the flexible sheet;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a device for depressing the folded portions of the flexible sheet to the sheet-hanging member;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an actuator involved in the folding apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a diagramatic view of a circuit for controling the folding apparatus in a determined time schedule;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 14 is a side view of said embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of said embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a speed changing device involved in the folding apparatus of FIGS. 15 and 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment modified from that of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of means for downwardly moving a copper plate modified from that indicated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment modified from that of FIG. 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 12, there is provided an apparatus for folding a bolt-like flexible sheet A such as a woven material of silk, cotton or wool.

Essential parts of said folding apparatus consist of a feeder 110 having a pair of rollers 110a and 110b, through the interval or clearance of which is downwardly fed a flexible sheet A to be folded, an area B defined under said feeder 110 and in which said flexible sheet A is folded in zigzag by a prescribed length L, a plurality of sheet-hanging members C1, C2, . . . . Cn for holding the folded portions of said flexible sheet, an actuator 120 for reciprocating one of said sheet-hanging members horizontally in said area B, a device 130 for guiding the lowering portion of said flexible sheet A from said feeder 110 in a direction opposite to that in which the actuator 120 travels, and a pair of members 140a and 140b for depressing the folded portions of said flexible sheet to the sheet-hanging member which is being reciprocated in said area B.

In addition to the above-mentioned parts, said folding apparatus involves means 150 for taking out the sheet-hanging member with the folded portions of said flexible sheet from one end of a stroke S by which said actuator 120 is reciprocated in said area, and means 160 for supplying another sheet-hanging member to the other end of said stroke as the area is vacant.

Each of the sheet hanging members comprises a bar-member 170 having small diameter portions 171 formed at both ends thereof.

Said actuator 120 involves a U-shaped supporting member 121 having left and right side columns 121a and a beam 121b, which bridges the lower end portions of said columns 121a and has a slide slit 121c formed along the length thereof, and a pair of solenoid devices 122 each attached to the upper portions of said columns 121a in a manner to face one another.

Said actuator 120 further comprises four couples of reciprocating assemblies 123 comprises a first arm member 123a, a second arm member 123b, a counter shaft 123c and three gears 123d, 123e and 123f.

At one end portion of the first arm member 123a is formed a boss 123g rotatably fitted with said counter shaft 123c. One 123d of the gears is fixed to said counter shaft 123c and intermeshed with another gear 123e rotatably supported to a pivot 123h attached to the middle portion of the first arm member 123a. To one end portion of the second arm member is fixedly attached a pivot 123i to which the other end portion of the first arm member 123a is connected, and to which is fixedly secured the gear 123f intermeshed to the gear 123e.

Said solenoid device 122 is supported to the other end portion of the second arm member 123b, and has a solenoid body 122b containing an energizing coil (not shown ) and rotatable round an axis, which is defined at a point far from the pivot 123i by the same distance as that measured from the pivot 123i to the axis of the counter shaft 123c, and a rod 122a with a clamping head 122c retractable into said solenoid body 122b.

Accordingly, the solenoid device 122 can travels along a horizontal line across the center of the counter shaft 123c in an alternate direction when the first arm member is rotated by means which is described hereinafter. In order to move the solenoid device 122 in a straight line, the diameter of the gear 123d should be twice that of the gear 123f.

A sprocket wheel 125 is attached to the boss 123g of the first arm member 123a, and then an endless sprocket chain 125a is stretched between the sprocket wheel involved in the upper one of the reciprocating assemblies 123, and the sprocket wheel involved in the lower one of the reciprocating assemblies 123 disposed at the same side of the area B as the former.

To each of the bosses 123g of the first arm members 123a involved in the upper reciprocating assemblies 123 disposed at both sides of the area B, is fixedly attached a gear 126 associated via a counter gear 126a with a gear 181a fixed to a driving shaft 181 involved in a transmission system 180, which will be detailed hereinafter.

Said transmission system further involves a power transmission shaft 182 journaled by bearings to a frame 190 in parallel to the driving shaft 181 which also is journaled to said frame 190, and speed changing shafts 183 and 184 which are axially connected to each other via a one-rotation clutch 191 (this has conventionally been known as a device operated in such a manner that when an input signal is applied to said device, an input shaft is connected to an output shaft and maintained in said connection only during one rotation of said shafts).

In this embodiment, there is provided an electric motor 185 having a power take off shaft 185a to which is attached a pulley 185b. Said pulley 185b is involved in a belt-transmission system further comprising a pulley 185c and an endless belt 185d stretched between the pulleys 185b and 185c. Said pulley 185c is attached to the input shaft of a clutch 192, the output shaft of which has a driving pulley 185e.

Between the driving pulley 185e and a driven pulley 185f attached to the power transmission shaft 182 is stretched an endless belt 185g.

The rollers 110a and 110b are rotatably supported by bearings to the shafts 181 and 182 respectively. To a trunnion 110c formed at the end of the roller 110a, a sprocket wheel 186a and a gear 186b are attached. Between the sprocket wheel 186a and a sprocket wheel 186c secured to the power transmission shaft 182, is stretched an endless sprocket chain 186d. In this case, the wheel 186c has a circular pitch diameter twice that of the wheel 186a. Said gear 186b is intermeshed with a gear 186e having a circular pitch diameter of three and half times that of the gear 186b and attached to a shaft 186f rotatably supported by bearings to the frame 190. A sprocket wheel 186g is attached to said shaft 186f, a sprocket wheel 186h attached to said speed changing shaft 183, and an endless sprocket chain 186i stretched between the sprocket wheels 186g and 186h. In this case, the wheel 186h has a diameter of three times that of the wheel 186g.

In this embodiment, in order to transmit a main power to the actuator 120, there are provided a chain transmission system involving a driving sprocket wheel 187a attached to the shaft 182, a driven sprocket wheel 187b rotatably supported to the shaft 181, said driven sprocket wheel 187b being involved in a differential gear system 193, and an endless sprocket chain 187c stretched between said wheels 187a and 187b. In this case, the driven sprocket wheel 187b has a circular pitch diameter twice that of the driving sprocket wheel 187a.

Said differential gear system 193 involves an input bevel gears 193a rotatably supported to the shaft 181, an output bevel gear 193b secured to the shaft 181, a large diameter spur gear 193c rotatably supported to the shaft 181, a plurality of plantary bevel gears 193d journaled to the internal portion of the spur gear 193c and intermeshed with the gears 193a and 193b.

In order to transmit a separate power to said differential gear system 194, there are provided a driving Zeneba gear wheel 194a attached to the shaft 184 and having an engaging pin 194b and a circular guide protrusion 194c formed at the surface of a disc body 194d; a driven Zeneba gear wheel 194e which has a gear body 194f, four radial grooves 194g formed in the body 194f in a manner to be spaced with each other in an equal angle, i.e., a right angle and four circular guide grooves 194h capable of sliding on the periphery of the circular guide protrusion 194c; a sprocket wheel 194i attached to a journaled shaft 194j to which is secured said driven Zeneba gear wheel 194e; a sprocket wheel 194k attached to a journaled shaft 194l and associated with the sprocket wheel 194i by an endless sprocket chain 194m stretched between said wheels 194i and 194k; and a spur gear 194n secured to said journaled shaft 194k and intermeshed with the large diameter spur gear 193c. Said wheel 194k has a diameter of twice that of the wheel 194i, and the gear 194n has a diameter of three tenth times that of the gear 193c.

Accordingly, when the one-rotation clutch 191 is closed into an engaged position by a signal, the first the pin 194b (this is previously placed at a starting position) is instantly engaged with one of the grooves 194g so as to cause the driven Zeneva gear wheel 194e to be rotated by one third rotation of said shaft 184, and then the pin 194b is disengaged from said groove 194g and simultaneously one of the circular grooves 194h begins to slide on the periphery of the protrusion 194c and maintains said sliding until the clutch 191 is opened to a disengaged position by a rotation of the shaft 183 or 184.

During a seven tenth rotation of the sprocket wheel 187b, i.e., a first one third rotation of the shaft 184, the shaft 181 is driven for a rotation through the differential gear system, so as to cause the first arm members 123a of the actuator 120 to be rotated by a quick speed.

When the one-rotation clutch 191 is opened, the shaft 181 is driven by the same rotation as that of the sprocket wheel 187b, so as to cause the first arm members 123a to be rotated by a conventional speed.

Said actuator 120 is additionally provided with means 195 for eliminating static charge generated in the folded portions of the flexible sheet A supported to the sheet-hanging member by the frictional slipping of the folded layers of the flexible sheet A to the portion thereof which is being lowered in the area B.

Said eliminating means comprises a rectangle plate-shaped hollow member 195a, which involves a yoke 195b having slits or grooves 195c formed at both sides thereof in a manner to extend in a vertical direction, and copper plates 195d attached to the front and rear portions thereof so as to form a hollow portions 195e in said member 195a.

Both side portions of the hollow member 195a are slidably inserted into vertical guide slits 121d formed on the columns 121a respectively and said hollow member 195a is vertically movable through the slide slit 121c.

In order to avoid the fold unit of the flexible sheet A from being engaged with the member 195a when the fold unit is taken out from the area B, serves means for vertically moving said member 195a.

Said moving means consists of a pair of link assemblies 195f disposed at both sides of the member 195a, each of which involves a first arm link 195g, a second arm link 195h, a tension spring 195i, and a guide wheel 195j. Said guide wheel 195j is pivoted to one end of the second arm link 195h, and one end of the first arm link 195g is pivoted to a bracket 195k attached to the upper corner of the interior 195e of the member 195a. The free ends of the links 195g and 195h are pivoted to each other, and the links are disposed in the hollow portion 195e. The link 195h extends outwards through the slit 195c and an aperture 121e formed at the column 121a, and is pivoted at a position near the wheel 195j to a bearing block 195l which is attached to the column 121a.

The tension spring 195i is stretched between the bracket 195k and the first arm link 195g so that the member 195a is always urged upwards as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

At the outside of the column 121a is located a channel-shaped guide rail 196 having upper and lower walls 196a and 196b between which said guide wheel 195j is disposed. Said guide rail 196 is provided with a solenoid assembly 196c having a solenoid body 196d containing an energizing coil ( not shown ) and a retractable rod 196e to the solenoid body 196d. The outer end of the rod 196e is attached to the rail 196 and supports it at a prescribed level.

When the solenoid coil is enegized, the rod 196e is upwardly projected from the solenoid body 196d so as to guide the wheel 195j to a prescribed high level, with the resultant pulling down of the member 195a.

The supplying device 160 for a sheet-hanging member comprises a driving shaft 161 journaled to the frame 190 by bearings, a rotation rod 162 the end of which is secured to the shaft 161, three gears 163a, 163b and 163c, the first gear 163a being attached to the shaft 161, the second gear 163b rotatably supported to the middle portion of the rod 162 and intermeshed with the first gear 163a, and the third gear 163c rotatably supported to the other end of the rod 162 and intermeshed with the second gear 163b, and a carrying member 164 with a fork 164a fixed to the third gear 163c.

The diameter of the first gear 163a is the same as that of the third 163c, so that the fork 164a is maintained in an upward position though the rod 162 is turned by the rotation of the driving shaft 161.

At the rear place of the supplying device 160 are disposed a pair of supplying shoots 165 of angle-bar members, each of which has a flat stage 165a with a stop wall 165b and is downwardly inclined to said stage 165a. Said stage 165a is located at a position across which the fork 164a travels.

Accordingly, one of the stocks of the sheet-hanging members, descending on the stage 165a from the inclined portion of the sheet 165 is carried to an entrance of the area B, defined at one end of the stroke S, by the fork 164a when the rod 162 is turned, and remains on a rail 191a disposed at a level at which the sheet-hanging member is reciprocated.

The taking out device 150 for a sheet-hanging member comprises a pair of link motion assemblies located to both sides of the other end of the area B. Each of the link motion assemblies includes a driving shaft 151 rotatably supported to the frame 190 by bearings, a rotating rod 152a having its one end attached to the shaft 151, a carrying rod 152b with a supporting groove 152c formed at the free end of said rod 152b, the other end of said rod 152b being pivoted to the other end of the turning rod 152a, and a swingable rod 152d one end of which is pivoted to the frame 190 and the other end of which is pivoted to the middle portion of the carrying rod 152b.

One rotation of the shaft 151 results in tracing a carrying point, defined at the groove 152c, along a locus illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the sheet-hanging member together with the prescribed volume of the sheet remaining on a delivery port of the area B defined at the other end of the stroke S is carried out from the area B.

The taking out device 150 further comprises a pair of conveyors 153 each having a driving shaft 153a rotatably supported to the frame 190 by bearings, a driving sprocket wheel 153b secured to the shaft 153a, a counter shaft 153c journaled to the frame 190 in parallel with the shaft 153a, a driven sprocket wheel 153d attached to the shaft 153c, an endless sprocket chain 153e stretched between the sprocket wheels 153b and 153d, and a plurality of fork members 153f with recieving grooves 153g which are attached to the chain 153e in a manner to be spaced for an equal distance. To the driving shaft 153a is attached a driven sprocket wheel 153h, and to a counter shaft 153i journaled to the frame 190 is attached a driving sprocket wheel 153j. A driven gear 153k is secured to said counter shaft 153i and intermittently engaged with a driving gear 153l secured to the driving shaft 151.

Accordingly, during one rotation of the shaft 151, i.e., one tracing of the carrying point of the carrying rod 152b, the fork member 153f is carried for one carrying pitch of the chain 153e in such a manner that the carrying motion of the fork member 153f is finished at least before the carrying point of the rod 152b arrives to the next fork member 153f carried on the tracing locus.

In order to transmit a power to the supplying and taking out means, there is provided a controlling power transmission system 197. Said transmission system 197 includes a driving sprocket wheel 197a attached to the shaft 184, a driven sprocket wheel 197b secured to a counter shaft 197c journaled to the frame 190 by bearings, and endless sprocket chain 197d stretched between the wheels 197a and 197b, sprocket wheels 197e and 197f secured to said counter shaft 197c respectively, a sprocket wheel 197g attached to a counter shaft 197h journaled to the frame 190 by bearings, an endless sprocket chain 197i stretched between the wheels 197e and 197g, a gear 197j secured to the shaft 197h and intermeshed with a gear 197k attached to a counter shaft 197l rotatably supported to the frame 190, a large diameter sectorial gear 197m-1 and a small diameter sectorial gear 197m-2 both attached to said counter shaft 197l, as well as a small diameter sectorial gear 197n-1 and a large diameter sectorial gear 197n-2 both attached to the shaft 151, the former 197n-1 being intermeshed with said gear 197m-1, and the latter 197n-2 with said gear 197m-2.

Said transmission system 197 further includes a sprocket wheel 197o secured to a counter shaft 197p journaled to the frame 190 by bearings, an endless sprocket chain 197q stretched between the wheels 197f and 197o, a large diameter sectrial gear 197r-1 and a small diameter sectorial gear 197r-2 both secured to the shaft 197p, and a small diameter sectorial gear 197s-1 and a large diameter sectorial gear 197s-2 both secured to the shaft 161, the former 197s-1 being intermeshed with the gear 197r-1, and the latter 197s-2 with the gear 197r-2.

Consequently, the shafts 151 and 161 are quickly rotated by first rotating angles in an instant that the sheet-hanging member remains at the taking out position of the area B by the one-rotation clutch being closed into an engaged condition, so that the sheet-hanging member is carried upwards by the carrying rod 152b and then a new sheet-hanging member is carried by the rod 162 on the feeding position defined at the end of the area B, and thereafter the shafts 151 and 161 are slowly rotated so that the former sheet-hanging member carried upwards is brought on the conveyors 153 with the both end portions of said sheet-hanging member engaged with the fork members 153f, and the rod 162 is turned back to an original position far from the end of the area B.

The depressing members 140a and 140b are provided with a pair of swingable members 140c and 140d extending in a vertical direction and the upper ends of which are pivoted by a common pin 140e and to the lower ends of which are respectively pivoted the upper ends of the members 140a and 140b. A stopper 140f is disposed at a middle position of the frame 190 defined between the swingable members 140c and 140d. To the common pin 140e is further pivoted a swinging lever 140g with an operating pin 140h formed at the lower end thereof. A crank rod 140i is pivoted to said lever 140g and rotatably supported to the eccentric portion of a wheel 140j.

The swingable members 140c and 140d have grooves 140k and 140l formed into a circular hole into which the pin 140h is inserted. Said wheel 140j is associated with the shaft 181 in a manner to be driven by the rotation of said shaft 181.

The depressing members 140a and 140b are further provided with guide pins 141 and 142 attached to eccentric portions of rotating members 141a and 142a respectively, and touch the depressing members 140a and 140b. Said rotating members 141a and 142a are associated with the shaft 184 in a manner to be driven by the rotation of said shaft 184.

Accordingly, when the one-rotation clutch is opened, the depressing members 140a and 140b are alternately brought to contact with the folded portions of the sheet hanging on the sheet-hanging member during the driving operation of the wheel 140j. And when the one-rotation clutch is closed so as to cause the shaft 183 to be engaged with the shaft 184, the depressing members 140a and 140b are pulled upwards by the operations of the guide pins 141 and 142 respectively, so that the sheet-hanging member, with a fold unit of the sheet which is formed into a mass of the folded portions of the sheet supported on the sheet-hanging member, is free from the contact of the depressing member 140b, as well as another sheet-hanging member supplied from the supplying means passes through a position defined under the depressing member 140a, and is fed into the area B.

The guiding device 130 comprises a pair of guide plates 131, a pair of end plates 132 bridging said guide plates 131, both plates 131 and 132 being formed into a V-shaped shoot having an opening 133 disposed at the lower end portion thereof, a pair of pivots 134 for rotatably supporting said shoot to the frame 190, and a reciprocating rod 135 pivoted to the side portion of said shoot far from the pivot 134 and operated by suitable means (not shown) so as to cause the shoot to be inclined in such a manner that the opening 133 is moved toward a direction opposite to that in which the sheet-hanging member travels by the operation of the actuator.

In operation, the sheet-hanging member is disposed in the reciprocating area B with its both ends forcedly supported by the action of the solenoid means 122 in a manner to push the ends of the sheet-hanging member by the ends of the rods 122a, and is reciprocatingly moved in front and rear directions, so that the flexible sheet A fed from the feeding device 110 through the guide sheet is directed alternatively to the front and rear sides of the sheet-hanging member so as to be folded in zigzag, with the resultant prescribed length of the folding.

As already described, to the top of the sheet-hanging member reciprocating in the area B, the sheet-depressing members 140a and 140b by their weight are alternately urged during the movement of the sheet-hanging member from a position slightly far from the center of the area B to the end positions of said area B and vice versa.

Either when the sheet A is folded for a prescribed length to form a fold unit or when the folding operation is stopped by an accident, the sheet, hanging member is disengaged from the solenoid assemblies 122 by applying an electric signal to the solenoid coil. Said electric signal is generated in that case where the seamed portion of the flexible sheet passes through a detecting device 198, and should be applied to the solenoid coil at the time when the sheet-hanging member 4 is reached to the delivery port of the area B.

As soon as released from the engagement of the solenoid rods 122a, the sheet-hanging member with the fold unit of the sheet A is carried from the rails upwards by the operation of the carrying rod 152b, because the one-rotation clutch 191 is closed into an engaged condition by an electric signal also applied thereto.

Another sheet-hanging member is therefore fed by the supplying means 160 to the introducing port of the area B.

In order to apply electric signals to said solenoid assemblies 122 and said one rotation clutch 191, a suitable device or circuit should be provided, for example, as shown in FIG. 12.

Relays R1 and R2 are connected to each other via a normal closed switch SW and disposed between terminals t1 and t2. At the interval of the terminal t2 and relay R1, a normal open switch R1-S1 operated by said relay R1 and a normal open switch SW1 operated by a signal supplied from a predetermined portion are parallel connected to each other. At the interval of the terminal t1 and relay R2, a normal open switch R2-S1 operated by the relay R2 and a normal open switch SW2, which is operated in a close condition when the sheet-hanging member is reached to the delivery port, are parallel connected to each other.

Between the terminal t1 and relay R2, a normal open switch R1-S3 is disposed. And to the terminals t1 and t2 are serially disposed a normal open switch R1-S2 operated by the relay R1, a normal open switch R2-S2 operated by the relay R2 and a third relay R3 via the switch SW.

The relay R3 is operated into a close condition by a signal applied from the detector 198 at a suitable position near the input of the feeder 110.

In operation, in the case that a signal is supplied to the switch SW1 at the suitable time, the relay R1 is operated to cause the switches R1-S1, R1-S2 and R1-S3 to be closed, and the relay R1 itself is maintained at the closed position by action of the switch R1-S1.

In such condition, as the sheet-hanging member is reached to the delivery port, the switch SW2 is closed (in this case, where the switch R1-S3 is closed )whereby the relay R2 itself is maintained at a closed position, by the action of the switch R2-S1. Accordingly, the relay R3 acts to cause the signal from the seam-detecting device 198 to be applied so as to operate the one-rotation clutch 191 and solenoid assemblies 122, thereby to disengage the sheet-hanging member from the solenoid rods 122a and cause the sheet-hanging member to remain on the delivery position of the rails. Simultaneously, the supplying and taking out means are energized, by the engagement of the one-rotation clutch 191.

Said solenoid assemblies 122 are operated by a suitable means at the moment at which the second arm members 123b is reached to the introducing port, so as to fixedly support by the retractable rods 122a another sheet-hanging member which is prepared by the supplying means 160 after the one-rotation clutch is operated and before the second arm members 123 b are reached thereto.

The switch SW is mechanically operated when the one-rotation clutch 191 is finished by a rotation, so as to be opened by a moment, thereby to cause the relays to be returned to the original open states.

FIGS. 13 and 14 indicate a second embodiment of this invention partly modified from that of the first embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 12.

The modified parts of the second embodiment from detailed hereinafter and the same the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 18 are hereinafter described move in detail and the same parts as those of the first embodiment are illustrated by numbers each having the same digits of first and second places and the same suffix letter as, and a "2 " digit of the third place different from that of the first embodiment.

The modified parts are means for eliminating static charge generated to the folded portions of the flexible sheet A merely consisting of a copper plates 295 attached to the columns 221a, means 260 for supplying a sheet-hanging member, means 250 for taking out the sheet-hanging member, and means 240 for depressing the folded portions of the flexible sheet A to the sheet-hanging member.

Said supplying means 260 and taking out means 250 both have mechanisms of the same type.

Said mechanisms consist of a pair of assemblies comprising a rotating shaft 261 (251), a rotating arm 262 (252) one of which is attached to said shaft 261 (251), a swingable arm 263 (253) having the same span as that of the rotating arm 262 (252) and pivoted at its one end, and a vertical extending rod 264 (254) with a fork 265 (255) formed at the upper head thereof, said rod 264 (254) being pivoted to the other ends of the arms 262 (252) and 263 (253) at the upper and lower positions thereof respectively.

The sheet-hanging member is supplied to or taken out from the area B with the end portions thereof supported to the forks 265 (255) traces along a circular locus.

In this embodiment the rotating shaft 261 (251) may be driven by a uniform rotation.

The depressing means 240 comprises a pair of plate members 240a and 240b and swingable members 241 the upper end of each of which is pivoted to the wall of a guide member 130 having a narrow opening 130a formed under there, and the lower end of each of which is pivoted to the plate member 240a (240b ) so as to hang said plate member.

FIGS. 15 to 17 indicate a third embodiment of this invention. Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, there is provided a device 301 for delivering a belt-like flexible sheet A consisting of a pair of rollers between which said sheet released from a sheet-winding shaft 302 is pinched so as to be fed downwards. At the feeding port of said device 301 is disposed a guide member 303 having front and rear walls, an opening of which is downwardly spreaded. Said guide member 303 has supporting bars 303a projecting from both side ends thereof, swingable arms 303b attached to said supporting bars 303a respectively, and supporting shafts 303c to which are respectively supported said swingable members 303b in rotation. A crank rod 303d is provided to be intermittently driven in accordance with the number of the revolution of the feed rollers by a prescribed cycle in a manner to swing the swingable arms 303b each time said cycle is accomplished.

Under the feeding means, there are bordered an area B in which is reciprocated a member 304 for hanging the flexible sheet A to be folded, said member 304 being detailed hereinafter. A pair of actuating members 305 are disposed at both sides of said area A so as to detachably support and drive the sheet-hanging member 304 with reciprocating it. Said actuating member consists of a swinging arm 305b pivoted to a pin shaft 305a, and a holding arm 305d rotatably supported to the free end of said swinging arm 305b by means of a pivot 305c, and said holding arm 305d is turned by a swing angle making twice that of rotation of the swinging arm 305b.

Namely, in order to operate said holding arm 305d under the above-mentioned condition, there is provided means wherein a stational gear 305e of a half-circular form disposed coaxially to said pin shaft 305a is intermeshed with a spur gear 305g rotatably supported to said swinging arm 305b by means of a pivot 305f, and a spur gear 305h having a diameter being half of that of the gear 305e is intermeshed with said gear 305g and fixed to the holding arm 305d via the means of said pivot 305c.

The holding arm 305d is provided with a solenoid means 305i having a pushing rod 305j axially movable, the axial center of said rod 305j positioned away from the pivot 305c by the same distance as that between the pivots 305c and 305a, whereby the rod 305j linearly reciprocates in accord with the rotation of said swinging arm 305b.

To said pivot 305f is connected a crank rod 306 with its one end pivoted thereto. Said crank rod 306 communicates a driving power source through means 307 for temporarily changing a stroke, by which the crank rod 306 is reciprocated, for a prescribed cycle. Said stroke-changing means comprises a driving shaft 307a connected to said power source, a rotating member 307b of an arm-form secured to said shaft 307a, a pivot 307c rotatably attached to the end of said member 307b, a crank arm 307d fixedly connected to said pivot 307c and having its end pivoted to the crank rod 306, a gear 307e fixed to the pivot 307c, a gear 307f rotatably supported to said rotation member 307b so as to intermesh with said gear 307e, and a gear 307g having teeth, the number of which is twice of that of the gear 307e, and rotatably mounted on said driving shaft 307a so as to intermesh with said gear 307f. To the boss of said gear 307g is formed an engaging tooth 308 having a helical round end face 308a and a stepped portion formed on said face 308a. A changing element 307b is mounted on said driving shaft 307a in a manner to be axially moved and prevented from being rotated to said shaft 307a, and has an engaging tooth 309 detachably engaged with the tooth 308. Said changing element 307b has an annular groove 310 formed around the periphery thereof, and into said groove 310 is slidably inserted a fork portion 312a formed at the end of an operating lever 312 rotatably supported to an axis 311. Said operating lever 312 is urged by means of a twisting spring 313 so as to cause the changing element 307b to be depressed in a direction to which the engaging tooth 309 should be engaged with the tooth 308. Said operating lever 312 faces a solenoid device 314 having a reciprocatable rod 314a operating to turn the operating lever 312 in a moment against the urging force of the spring 313. There is provided a solenoid device 315 having a reciprocatable rod 315a facing the end face of the gear 307g. Said changing element 307b is provided with an annular pressing portion 316 facing a limit switch 317. Said limit switch 317 acts to give a release signal to said solenoid device 315 by being switched with the button of the switch 317 pushed by the pressing portion 316 when the changing element 307b is axially moved.

To the driving shaft 307a is attached an oval gear 318 which intermeshes with an oval gear 319 fixed to an output shaft 320a provided in an electric motor 320.

The above mentioned sheet-hanging member 304 consists of tubular sleeves 304a positioned at upper and lower ends, a panel-shaped body 304b of copper, and a holding bar 304c slidably inserted into and through the tubular sleeve 304a, said sleeve having two annular banks 304e formed at the end thereof so as to form an annular groove 304d between said banks.

This folding apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the position of the hanging member 304 in a direction of the width of the flexible sheet to be folded. Because the flexible sheet delivered from the feeder is often slided in a direction of its width, with the resultant necessity of the alinement of the sheet edges.

Means for aligning the sheet edge in a direction of which of the sheet involves rail-shaped guide members 321 slidably fitted in said grooves 304d of upper and lower sleeves 304a and connected to a reciprocatable rod 322a provided in an operating means 322 such as a hydraulic means or print motor so as to move in a direction of width of the sheet. At the outside of the area B, the upper portion of said guide member 321 is provided with supporting frames 323 having top portions projecting to the inside of the area B, said top portion supporting photo tubes 324a and 324b, and an electric source 325 attached thereto. Said photo tubes 324a and 324b are mutually positioned at slightly different points in a direction of the width of the flexible sheet. Said guide member 321 is moved toward the outside of the area B by the signal applied to the operating means 322 when the edge of the lowered sheet from the feeder shuts off the light beam from the source 325 to both photo tubes 324a and 324b, is moved toward the inside of the area B when the edge of the lowered sheet is positioned at an innermost place in which the light beam from the source 325 get to both photo tubes 324a and 324b, and is stopped when the edge of the lowered sheet shuts off the light beam from the source 325 only to the photo tube 324b and the light beam passes through to the photo tube 324a. In order to move said guide member 321 in the above mentioned manner, there is provided an electrical control means (not shown ).

At the portion of the area B for supplying a sheet-hanging member 304 are disposed rail-shaped supporting members 326 and 327, one of which has a guide groove 326a for guiding the annular bank 304e at the central portion and is adapted to be moved in a direction of the width of the sheet synchronously to the movement of the guide member 321.

Similarly, at the portion of the area B for removing a sheet-hanging member 304 on which has already hung the flexible sheet, are disposed rail-shaped supporting members 328 and 329, one of which is adapted to be moved in a direction of the width of the sheet synchronously to the movement of the guide member 321.

In the area B, there are disposed members 330 for depressingly maintaining the hung sheet on the sheet-hanging member 304 said depressing members being positioned at the front and rear place of that at which the sheet from the feeder is lowered. Said depressing member 330 journaled to a supporting beam 331 bridging both supporting frames 323, and has an engaging piece 330b attached to the outer end of a stationary shaft 330a involved in said depressing member, so as to be capable of engaging with the pivot 305c.

In operation, the sheet-hanging member 304 which is disposed in the area B with the holding bar 304c supported between the rods of the solenoid devices 305i positioned at the end of the supporting arm 305d, is reciprocated in forward and rear directions by the action of the crank rod 306 so that the sheet A is hung on the sheet-hanging member 304 by being folded in an alternate direction with a prescribed span. In this case, the crank rod 306 for swinging the arm 305b by a prescribed stroke is maintained in such a manner that the changing element 307b is engaged with the gear 307g of the stroke-changing means 307, so that the distance between the center of the driving shaft 307a and the common pivot point of the crank rod 306 and crank arm 307d is constant so as to define the rotation radious of the crank arm 307d, thereby to cause the crank rod 6 to be operated.

And the driving shaft 307a is rotated by nonuniform speed resultant from the action of the oval gears 318 and 319, so that the sheet-hanging member is moved quickly through the central portion of the area B and slowly at the forward and rear portions of the area B by the action of the supporting arm 305d.

The depressing member 330 depress the folded sheet on the top of the sheet-hanging member 304 at a place slightly far from the central portion of the area B by the gravity thereof.

In that case where the side edge of the flexible sheet hanging on the member 304 is slided in a direction of the width of the sheet, the action of the photo tubes and means communicated with said tubes mentioned above adjusts the position of the slide portion 304a of the sheet-hanging member 304 in the wide direction so as to align the edge of the sheet alway.

As the folding is finished with a prescribed volume, the electric signal is supplied to the solenoid devices 314 and 315 so as to cause the operating lever 312 to be driven, the changing element 307b to be axially moved, the engaging tooth 309 to be disengaged from the engaging tooth 308, and then the gear 307g to be maintained at a stationary position by the pressing of the rod 315a. Accordingly, the pivot point of the crank rod 306 and crank arm 307d travels on an oval-revolution locus and thus the stroke of the crank rod 306 is increased, so that the supporting arm 305d at the first stage is moved toward the removing portion of the area B so as to cause the hanging member 304 with the hung sheet to be removed out of the area B. The supporting arm 305d at the next stage travels to the supplying portion of the area B so that at the turning point of the travel of the supporting arm 305d a new sheet-hanging member 304 is supported with its supporting bars 304c pressed by the rods of the solenoid devices 305i supplied with a signal. And then the supporting arm 305d is returned in the area B for the continuous reciprocation of the hanging member.

The rod of the solenoid device 314 is returned to an original position after operating the changing element 307b so that the changing element 307b is urged by the spring action against the operating lever 312 so as to be again returned to the gear 307g. The engaging tooth 309 is slided on the helical face 308a and again engaged with the engaging tooth 308 after the driving shaft 307a is rotated just for one time. At a moment before the rotation of the driving shaft 307a is finished, the limit switch 317 is operated by the pushing portion 316 so as to send the signal to the solenoid device 315 and then cause the gear 307g to be free from the static position itself simultaneously to cause the engaging tooth 308 to be engaged with the tooth 309.

Consequently, the pivot point of the crank arm 307d travels along a circular locus so as to cause the sheet-hanging member 304 to be reciprocated within the area B by the action of the supporting arm 305d.

In this embodiment, the guide member 303 is swung to a direction opposite to that to which the sheet hanging member 304 travels, so that the sheet is guided to the above mentioned opposite side.

FIG. 18 indicates a modification of the speed changing device of FIGS. 15 to 17.

In this embodiment, a speed-changing element 418 with dog-clutches 418a and 418b formed to both ends thereof is fitted with the driving shaft 407a of the same type as that illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, with the element 418 movable in an axial direction of the shaft 407a and rotatable together with the said shaft.

Gears 419a and 419b, having tooth of different number from each other, are rotatably fitted with said shaft 407a and prevented by a suitable means from being moved in an axial direction.

Said gears 419a and 419b further involve dog-clutches 418c and 418d engageable with and disengageable from said dog-clutches 418a and 418b. There is provided a motor 20 having an output shaft 220a which is disposed in parallel with the driving shaft 407a and to which are attached gears 419c and 419d intermeshed with the gears 419a and 419b respectively. When the speed changing element 418 is driven by a suitable means, the dog-clutch 418a or 418b is engaged with the dog-clutch 418c or 418d so as to cause the driving shat to be transmitted by a determined rotation speed.

Therefore, when the reciprocating stroke of the crank rod (operated similarly as that 306 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 ) is changed each time a prescribed cycle, the speed-changing element 418 acts to cause the driving shaft to be driven by a low speed rotation, until the crank rod is returned to the original position. When the crank rod be reached to the original position, the changing element 418 further acts to cause the driving shaft 407a to be driven by a high speed, conventional rotation.

FIG. 19 indicates means 500 for downwardly moving a copper plate modified from that indicated in FIG. 2.

Said means involves a pivot block 501 attached to the under portion of a copper plate 502 which is capable of passing through a slit 503 formed in an under cross beam 504 bridging a pair of columns 505 involved in an actuator.

Said copper plate 502 is urged upwards by spring means 506 attached to the upper portions of the columns 505, and associated with a pair of link members 507a and 507b through a pivot pin 508 secured to said block 501.

Said link members 507a and 507b are mutually connected by a pin 509 and the link member 507a has a stopper 510a and the link member 507b has a stopper receiving portion 510b which is capable of being engaged with said stopper 510a when the link members have a maximum angle formed between the lengths thereof. To the link member 507a is touched a roller 511 which is retractably moved by a solenoid or hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 512.

When the assembly 512 is energized, the link member 507a is downwardly depressed by said roller, so that the stopper 510a is engaged with the stopper receiving portion 510b and then the copper plate 502 is downwardly pulled against the bias of the springs 506.

Such operation serves when a sheet-hanging member C is changed.

FIG. 20 indicates a modification 600 of means for downwards moving a copper plate shown in FIG. 19.

Said means 600 involves a pivot portion 601 for pivoting a copper plate 602 at the lower portions of a pair of columns 603 involved in an actuator.

Said copper plate 602 has an engaging finger 604 disposed near the pivot portion 601 and stoppers 605 disposed at the upper portion thereof.

Said copper plate 602 is urged by a torsion spring 606 provided with the pivot portion 601, as shown in FIG. 20, and then the stoppers 605 can be engaged with the columns 603.

Hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 606 are disposed under the actuator. Said assemblies 606 have a common rail 607 horizontally extending and pushing the finger 604 upwardly when the assemblies are energized, so that the copper plate is rotated against the bias of the spring 606 as indicated by a dotted line.

The assemblies 606 are urged when a sheet-hanging member C is changed when the urging of the assemblies 606 is released, the plate 602 is returned to an original position with the stoppers 605 abutted to the columns 603.