GB1490969A - Sheet feeder for feeding sheets to a laundry calender or ironing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1490969 Feeding sheets into ironing machines; calendering fabrics CHERRY TREE MACHINE CO Ltd 21 Oct 1974 [20 July 1973] 34850/73 Headings D1A and D1S Sheet feeding machine for feeding sheets to a calender or ironing machine, particularly in laundries, comprises at least one pair of grippers 4, 5, Fig. 1, and drive means to which the grippers are selectively attachable and detachable, the grippers being movable together transversely to the direction of sheet feed to a desired position along the machine framework and are then movable relative to each other to draw the sheet to width. In operation, the two forward corners of a sheet are placed between respective gripping jaws 34, 35 Fig. 6 of the grippers 4, 5 or 6, 7. The upper jaw 34 is pushed down and thus energizes a microswitch 42 and thereafter an air cylinder 40 closing the jaw. Air cylinders 19 are then actuated causing engagement of the grippers and carrier plates 8 with a drive belt 18 which transports the grippers to the centre of the machine. The left hand carrier plate 8 remains engaged with lower run 18b of the belt and the right hand carrier plate is engaged with the top run 18a. Thus the right hand gripper moves to the right and tautens the sheet. The sheet is then moved forward towards the calendering machine, and when in position the microswitch 43 is operated and the jaws release. The cylinders 19, 20 also change over so that the left hand returning to the right hand end of the machine. The carrier plates are then disengaged from the belt. In practice two sheets are separately loaded at opposite sides of the machine and fed alternately. In modifications, the belt drive 18 may be replaced by a chain-and-sprocket arrangement and air lines for the cylinders may be mounted on a spring-return drum.