US1895204A - Shirt folding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1933.

J. J. OSHEA Filed Feb. 4. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W 72 I 47 J2 n JL 2 F u 3?. 24

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\ INVENTOR HISATTORNEYS J. J- OSHEA SHIRT FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1950 4 Shejcs-Sheet v,2

James J 0 @Aaa,

INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1933.

J- J. OSHEA SHIRT FOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @757; Jog E32,

Filed Feb. 4. 1930 Jan. 24, 1933.

J. J. OSHEA SHIRT FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 memtoz amps CI af 5 duct/"M 5 Patented Jan. 24, 1933 wire!) STATES JAMES J. osnnmor naLLAs, TEXAS snmr ronnme APPARATUS Application filed February 4, 1830. Serial No. 425,847. 7 v

This invention relates to laundryappliances and particularly to a shirt folding apparatus.

The primary object contemplated by the present invention is the provision of an apparatus by means of which a shirt may be quicksite side edges and one end of the form, these boundaries of the form substantially defining 1 the bosom of the shirt.

' Another object is the provision of a form substantially corresponding tothe bosom of a. shirt and means for folding-a shirt along the edges of said form, after whichthe form and the folding means may be inverted,

whereby the operator may secure the folded portions of the shirt in place by suitable fastening means, pins generally being used in the laundries for this purpose.

'lVlore specifically, the invention contemplates-a frame journaled at its ends in a pair of supports and mounted in the frame, so as to rotate therewith, is a shirt form and means for folding or holding the shirt against the edges of the form. The means for holding the shirt along the opposite side edges of the form are preferably collapsible and expansible laterally of the frame, while the'member for holding the shirt along the end of the form is slidable longitudinally of the frame. These two sets of folding means are preferably so arranged that the movement of one is controlled by the movement of the other. That is. the movement of the member toward the end of the form controls the expansion of the means for holding a shirt along the sides of the form and the movement of said member away from the formeifects a collapse or contraction of said expansible means.

1 Any suitable power may be utilized for imparting motion to these shirt folding and holding means, but there are, of course, latching elements for preventing motion of these'parts when desired. The rotatable frame is also adapted to be releasably locked vention longitudinally .55- of Fig. 2;

Fig.2;

ber shown in Fig. 9';

against rotation at times, such as when the shlrt is to be placed on the form, and after the form has been inverted to permitcom- "pletion of the'foldingof the shirt and the removal thereof;

-With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain details'of construction and combinations. and arrangements of parts, allfas Willj hereinafter' be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed. out in theappended claims. v I r.

In the accompanying drawings,

I Figure l is aside elevation ofthe preferred form of apparatus embodying the present Fig. 2 is .a top plan viewthereof, with the shirt holdingand folding means positioned remote from the form; f

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion of the apparatus, showing the shirt holding and folding members in shirt engaging position;

Fig. at is a horizontal sectional View on the line l-of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken of the apparatus on the line Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6t i .of

Fig. '7 is atrans verse vertical sectionon the line 77 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional viewfon thev .line 88 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the member for folding the end of the shirt on the form; Fig. 10 is a detail elevationofthe means for latching the frame against rotation in its support; 1 j

Fig. 11 is a. detail View, partly in section, this view being'taken on the line1111.of F ig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail elevational View of a portion of one end of the frame, illustrating the means for releasing the end folding mem- Fig. 13 is a detail sectional View illustrating themounting of the felt or other resilient material in the means for holding the shirt along the sides of the form;

Fig. 14 is an elevational View, partly in sec- PATENT FFI f ffor imparting motion to the shirt holding 7 stitute supports 11, 11a, for a rotatable frame.

2 members 12a and member that engages the shirt along the end of the form; and.

Figs. 15 and 16 are detail sectional views showing the valve arrangement utilized in the fluid actuation mechanism of Fig.14.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying.

drawings, there is a fixed frame comprising a base lO-and upright end portions which con- 12 mounted therebetween. As before pointed out, the shirt is adapted to be folded on a form which can be inverted to facilitate the folding operations and it is for this reason that the frame 12 is rotatably supported in the supports 11,1161. Frame 12 is composed of side endportions 12?), 120, end 12?) having a stub shaft 13 journaled in bearings 14 on support 11'. Theend 120 of frame 12also has a stub shaft 15 journaled in a hearing 16 on support 11a, this shaft 15being tubular, as shown in Fig. 5, for purposes which will hereinafter appear. Movement of frame 12 longitudinally with respect to its'supports is prevented by collars 17, fixed on stub shafts 13.

' Fix'edly mounted in .,end 12b of the rotatable frame is the form'18,-'on which the shirt is to be folded, this form extending longitudinally of frame 12 in spaced relation with respect to the sides 12a of the frame. The free end of form 18 has a recess o-r notch 19 thereedges of said in, to facilitate the operator centering the shirt on the form. Carried on eachside 12a of the rotatable frame and located in the space between-said sides and the side edges of form. 18, there are means for pressing or creasingandholding a shirt along the side free'end of the form and end 120 of the frame,

there are additiona'lmeansfor holding the shirt along the free edge of said form. Prefer'ably, the holding means at thesides of the frame consist of strips ,of resilient material '20 mounted on bars 21, these strips of resilient material substantially corresponding in length tothe length of form 18.- Bars 21 are secured to thesides 12a ofthe frame by toggle links 22, the joint or knee of each pair of links being pivotally attached to an operating rod 23 for the purpose of contracting them. EX-

pansion or straightening of the toggle links 22 effects a movement of bar 21 toward the side edgesof form 18 and contraction of said links effects a movement of said bar 21 away from the form. Themeans for holding the shirt along the free edge of form 18 consist of a strip of resillent material 24 mounted in a holder 25, said holder having a stem 26, that is slidably mounted in stub shaft 15 of frame 'end120.

The end of stem 26 at the exterior of support 11a is adapted to be engaged by suitable locking means to prevent movement sired by the operator.

weight 33 form and located between the form 18, except when such movement is deis held retracted or away from form 18 by a latch 27 on an extension 38 ofsupport 11a, said latch engaging the shoulder formed by enlargement28 on saidstem 26.. Enlarge- Normally, holder 25 I ment' 28 has an annular groove 29 therein in which engages a U-shaped member 30, and one side of said member has attached thereto a cable 31 running over a pulley 32, the depending portion 31a of said cable havinga 34 atthe end of the apparatus. As will be apparent, if latch 27 is disengaged from head- 28 on stem 26, the weight 33- through cable 31 and member will effect a movement of holder 25 toward the free end edge of formL18, so as to engage a shirt previously placed onthe form. the other side of member 30 has attached thereto a cable 35 extending over pulleys 36,

36a, to one end base 10 so that upon pressing pedal 37 down, the opposite end thereof,-to which cable 35 is attached, willbe elevated so as to retract the holder 25. To disengage latch 27 from the free end of said cable being attached the head 28 on stem 26, there is pivoted on an extension 38 of supportlla, a lever 39 whose handle end extending along supportv 11a is held in elevated position by a spring 40, and

suspended therefrom in a casing To retract holder 25,

of a tre'adle or pedal 37 pivoted on whoseoperating end is offset as at'39a, this "offset end portion being beneath but in vertical:alinement with a pin 41 on the side of latch 27 Spring 40 is coiled 'arounda projection 54 on the handle end of lever 39 and is seated in a housing 55 .on support 11a, but the upward movement of said lever is limited by a stop 52 on 'the supportlla. When the handle portion of this lever is in its elevated.

position, the offset end port-ionj39a is depressed, but, as will be understood, uponthe operator depressing the handle portion, the offset end portion 39a will be elevated so as to engagethe pin 41 onlatch 27 and raise said latch on its pivotal center 27 a to a point Where f it willbe disengaged from'th'e enlargement 28 on stem '26. 'As before *mentioned,lunder these'circumstances, the'holder 25 will be moved longitudinally of the rotatable'fra-me 12 toward form 18 by weight 33. 7

Movement of holder 25 toward and from the free end of form 18 is adapted to control the movement of bars 21 toward and from the side edges of said form. This is preferably lid accomplished by providing the holder with converging surfaces which are engaged by rods 23, so that when the holder 25 is moved toward the form, bars 21 may be urged to ward one another or toward form 18 by springs 42 attached to said bars 21 and to projections 43 on frame'end 120. tion of holder 25, the converging surfaces on holder 25 tend to force the bars 21 away from i 1% Upon retrac- 5 theform 18. Preferably, the specific construction for accomplishing this result consists of cross pieces 44 formed integrally with holder 25 and stem 26, said cross pieces being disposed at an angle of approximately with respect to said stem and similarly disposed surfaces 45 formed on the offset end portions 23a of rods 23. To serve as a guide for the purpose of preventing surfaces 45 moving vertically upward with respect to cross pieces 44, there is aplate 46 overlying the cross pieces 44. v

When a shirt is to be folded, it is placed on the'forin 18 with the buttoned up front of the shirt on the top surface of the form and the shoulders of the shirt extending approximately along the free end edge of the form. Latch 27 is then disengaged from the head 28 on stem 26, whereupon weight 83 will move holder 25 and the resilient material carried thereby into engagement with the shirt along said free end edge of the form. Simultaneously, toggle links 22 will be straightened by the influence of springs 42 so that resilient material 20 carried by bars 21 will be brought into engagement with the shirt a'long the opposite side edges of the form. At thistime, the shirt will be firmly held along three edges of the form with the sleeves hanging downwardly. The frame 12 is then given a one-halfrevolution so .as to invert form 18, the shirt being held in place on the form by the holding means described during this movement. After form 18 has been inverted, the sleeves of the shirt can then be folded onto the back of the shirt and pinned in place, as is customary. As will be understood, the frame 12 is readily rotatable, due to the shafts 13 and 15 being journaled in their supports 11, 11a. When the shirt is being placed on the form 18, frame 12 is held against rotation by a latch 47 mounted on one of the supports, being shown on support 11a in the present instance. This latch has a recess 48 in which is received edgewise the end-120 of frame 12, the latch being urged toward the frame by a spring49, so to firmly hold the latter against unintentional movement. Movement of the latch toward the frame is limited by stop 50, mounted on support 11a. This structure-is shown in detail in Figs; 10 and-11, from which it will be clearly seen that the operator may release the frame for rotation simply by pressing latch 47 toward support 11a. Latch 47 should not be held retracted so, the frame will again engage in recess 48 upon completion of a half revolution, under which circumstances form 18 will have been reversed or inverted. It will be understood that only one one-half revolution of the frame and form is required for each shirt folded, because, with the form in one position, the shirt is placed thereon, the frame and form inverted, thesleeves of the shirt folded and operator has full use of his attached as described, whereupon the folded shirt is then removed and another shirt placed on the form before the next half rotation is given the frame and form.

I11 F1gs.-14.to 16, there are shown connections for reciprocating holder 25 by fluid I pressure. In thisa-rrangement, stem 26 o f the. holder is provided with the head 28 havingthe annular groove 29 .therein, but in this instance, the projections ofa yoke '61 engage in said groove. Yoke 61 is carriedon the exterior end of the stem 62 ofa plunger 63 working in a cylinder 64, this cylinder being mounted on the extension 38 of support I, 1

and 16. This valve, indicated at 68, has the two ports 69, therein, and the valve is manually operated by the handle 71. Assuming the plunger or piston 63 to be positioned in the right hand end of cylinder 64, as

shown in Fig. 14, and it is desired to advance holder 25 toward form 18, handle 71 would be moved to the position shown in-dotted lines in Fig. 14. This moves valve 68 to the position shown in Fig. 16, so that working fluid flows from supply pipe 67 through pipe 66 to the right hand end of cylinder 64 and the working fluid admitted to the cylinder is exhausted through pipe65 and discharge outlet 72. i This operationwould move holder 25 toward the form 18. After the shirt on the form had been folded, lever handle'71 would then bereturned to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, moving valve 68 to the position shown in Fig. 15. In this position, the valve will admit working fluid to cylinder 64 through pipe 65, and exhaust the previously admitted fluid outlet 7 2.

As shown in Figure 1, there is mounted on through pipe 66 and discharge that had previously been base 10 a holder or tray 73 for articles being I laundered. lVith the construction shown, it will be apparent thatrshirts may beplaced on the form 18 and folded rather expeditiously. Except for theshortinterval of time re quired for the operator to release latch 27 when holder 25 is to be'movedinto engagement with the .form 18 and the short interval of time required to release latch 47 when it is desired to rotate the frame and form, the hands for the purpose of folding the shirt on the form. If desired, the structure at each end of the re volving frame may be enclosed by cover plates 51.

Vvhat I claim is: v

1. In a shirt folding apparatus, a frame, an elongated form around which a shirt may be placed, supporting means for said form,

said form being invertible in said support,

, against said edges, and means for revolving 'saidpressmg means in their for pressing and holding and means carried by said frame for holding a shirt along'the side edges and oneend of said form. r 7

2. In a shirt folding apparatus, a form around which a shirt may be placed, means for pressing and holding a shirt against the opposite side edges and one end of said form,

and means for inverting said form with a shirtthereon.

3. In ashlrt a form around which a shirt may be placed,

' means carried by said frame for holding said shirt against the opposite edges of said form, and means for inverting said form with a shirt positioned thereon. v v

4:. In a shirt folding apparatus, an elongated form substantially corresponding in area to the bosom of, a shirt, means mova le toward and from opposite edges of said form for pressing and holding a shirt on the form said form around itslongitudinal center wi an r shirt holding position. i

v 5 In a-shir t folding apparatus, an elongated form substantially corresponding in length and breadth to the bosom of a shirt and on which a shirt may be placed, means shirt-against the of said form, and

side edges and one end 3 form and pressing means for revolving said means aboutthe longitudinal center of the form with the latter in shirt holding p I osition; 6. In a shirt folding apparatus, a frame, a form around which a shirt may be placed,

means carried by said frame for holding said shirt along the side edges of-said form, and means for rotatably mounting said form and holding means for rotation about the longitudinal center of the form. V

7. In a shirt folding apparatus, a rotatably supported frame, ashirt form mounted in said frame and around which a shirt may be placed, andmeans carried by said frame for holding the shirt along the edges o-fthe form.. V p 3 8. In a shirt folding: apparatus, a rotatable elongated frame, a shirt form mountedin said frame and around which a shirt may be placed, and means mounted on opposite sides of said frame and movable toward and from said form for presslng andvholding a sn :5

' along opposite edges of the form.

ble elongated frame, a shirt form mountedin one end of said frame and extending befolding apparatus, a frame,

the laterally movable means.

tween the sides of said frame, means at 0p:

posite sidesof said frame movable toward the form for pressing and holdingfla shirt along opposite sldie' edges of the latter, and

means for pressing and holding a shirt along one end of saidform, r

11. In ashirt folding apparatus, a pair of a frame rotatable in said supports,

supports, a shirt form mounted in said frame, means carried by said frame ing a shirtagainst opposite side edges and one end of said form, and means for releasably locking said frame against rotation.

12. In a shirt folding" apparatus, a pair of supports, a frame rotatable in supports, a shirt form mounted in said frame, means rotatably mounted in one of said vsupports for pressing and hold and movable relatively to the frame to press and hold a shirt against one end of the form, and means for holding said shirt againstthe opposite edges of the form.

. 13. In a shirtfolding apparatus, a pair "of supports, a frame rotatable in said supports, a shirt form mounted in said frame, means rotatably mounted in onev of said supports and movable longitudinally of the frame'to hold shirt along one end of SfilCl' form, and means movable laterally of the frame to hold a shirt along: the side edges of said'form, the movement of thelast mentionedmeans being;

controlled by the movement of the means for holding the shirt atthe end of t is form.

14. In a shirt folding apparatus. a pair of supports, a frame rotatable in said supports, a shirt form mounted, in said frame, means movable laterally of the frame to engage and hold a shirt along the oppositesideedjres of said form, means for yieldingly urging; said holding means laterally of the frame toward the form, and means movable longitudinally of the frame for holding); a shirt along one end of said form, the movement of'the last mentioned means controlling the movement of 15. In a shirt folding apparatus, rotatable frame, a shift form rigidly mounted in said frame and spaced from opposite sides thereof, means mounted atsaid opposite sides of the frame movable'toward said form for holding a shirt along opposite edges of the frame, springs for urging said holding means movable totoward sa d form, and means ward and from one end of the form for bolding the shirt alone; one end of the form, the movement of the holding means at the sides ofthe frame being controlled by the movement of the last mentioned holding means.

16. In a shirt folding apparatus, a rotatable frame, a shirtform rigidly mounted in said frame and spaced from two'opposite sides thereof, collapsible members at opposite sides of the frame, and spring means for yieldingly expanding said collapsible members to engage and a hold a shirt on said form along opposite edges of the form, I

17. In a shirt folding apparatus, a rotatable frame, a shirt form rigidly mounted in said frame and spaced from two opposite sides thereof, expansible members mounted on said opposite sides of the frame and adapted to engage and hold a shirt along opposite side edges of said form, spring means for yieldingly expanding said expansible members to engage a shirt on said form, and means for engaging a shirt along one end of said form, said last mentioned means controlling the movement of said expansible members. a

18. In a shirt folding apparatus, a pair of supports, a frame rotatable in said supports, a shirt form rigidly mounted in said frame and spaced from two opposite sides thereof, means rotatable in one of said supports and slidable in said frame to hold a shirt along one end of said form, means for releasably locking said holding means against movement, means carried by said frame and movable laterally thereof to engage and hold a shirt along opposite side edges of said form, and means for releasably latching said frame against rotation.

19. In a shirt folding apparatus, a rotatable frame, a shirt form rigidly mounted in one end of said frame, a member movable longitudinally of the frame to engage and hold a shirt along one end of said form, said member having formed thereon a pair of converging surfaces, expansible elements mounted at the sides of said frame, means for yieldingly expanding said elements to engage and hold a shirt along opposite edges of said form, and converging surfaces on said elements engaging the converging surfaces on said slidable member for controlling the expansion of said elements as said member is moved toward the form and for contracting said elements as said member is moved away from said form.

20. In a shirt folding apparatus, a rotat able frame, an elongated shirt form rigidly mounted in said frame, a member slidably mounted in said frame movable toward one end of the form to hold a shirt along that end of the form, expansible elements mounted at the sides of said frame adapted to engage and hold a shirt along opposite side edges of said form, means for expanding said elements, and cooperating means on said elements and member for controlling the expansion of said elements as said member is moved toward the form and for contracting said elements as said member is moved away from the form. 1

21, In a shirt folding apparatus, an elongated form having a surface substantially conforming to the bosom of a shirt, said form being adapted to have the sleeves of a shirt folded around it, a support on which said form is mounted for pivotal movement, and means carried by said support and associatand means on said support for forming a crease o-r fold in a shirt along the side edges of the form and shirt bosom.

23. In a shirt folding apparatus, an elongated form around which the sleeves of a shirt are adapted to be folded, said form also having a surface substantially conforming to the bosom of a shirt, a support on which said form is mounted for pivotalmovement, and means on said support for forming a crease or fold in a shirt along theside edges of the form and shirt bosom, said crease forming means being movable laterally of the form toward and from the edges of said form.

JAMES JOSEPH OSHEA.

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