US2616595A - Garment folding device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Augusiine Anfluda yww ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE '7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. Augasfine Afiruda ATTORNEY.

Nov. 4, 1952 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TUQ.

ATTOR E Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

%ezL Z ATTORNE).

Nov. 4, 1952 Filed Sept. 11. 1947 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE 7 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTOR. Augusi'me Armada A T TORNE X Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 III! III 1 I INVENTOR. 70a 69a Augusiine APPuda BY 7 ZZLWM %4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED PAT O F FI C E Augustine Arruda, Yonkers, N. Y1, assignor to Time. Savers, Inc.,.Mntclair, N. .L, acorpora tion. ofiNew-Jersev Application September 11, 1941,,Serial No., 773,412

24: Claims.

1 This invention relates to garment folding apparatus: and has particularapplication to apparatus suitable for use in laundries, cleaning establishments, shirt factories and the like for folding garmentssuch as mens shirts.

I am awarethat it is already-known to performgarment folding operations on apparatusdesigned for such purposes. Indeed, such-apparatus in somewhat general use'in establishments such as those above indicated. Further; it canbe said;- that someof' theknown devices ofthe kind under consideration have given and are are at present giving satisfactoryservice when compared with hand-folding techniques.

Nevertheless, known garmentfolding devices do havecertain-characteristicswhich render-them disadvantageous not only from thestandpoint of the operators who use them and the proprietorsof -the.establishments in which they are used; but also from the standpoint of theshirt user. In this, connection, for example, it is a known fact that with. the known devices most.andin somecases, substantially all-of the operations are manualin nature- Therefore, the operator-necessarily has to expend acomparatively highamount of energy per, shirt or other garment being folded. Fatigue of the operator often results. and: this in turn reducesthe quantity; of; garments folded. peroperator-in a given: period of time; andthequalitv of the. garments, as regards their appearance suffers appreciably also.

By my present invention I provide; novel appar ratus which. is capable of materially increasing the quantity of, shirts or the like which can be folded by an Operator in a given period of time with comparative ease and comfort, and without sacrificing the quality or appearance of the foldedgarment. Furthermore, the present invention results, in a. substantial; increase. in the produc tivity of operators while at the same, time actually. enabling the quality or appearance, of the folded,

garments to be ofa high order. Also, the period required to train a shirt, folding operator ismaeterially reduced by my invention.

The foregoing as. well as other advantages, of my invention will become apparent, from thefolrlowing detailed description, taken inconnection.

with the accompanying drawings. which. form a parthereof and in which like charactersdesignate,

corresponding parts thoughout.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a, shirt, folding apparatus embodying my invention;

Figs. 2*to 9, inclusivaare perspectiveoperatione a1 views, showing the sequence of operations;

Fig; 2; showing part of the folding table at-the beginning of the folding operation, with a shirtv laid front downon the table;

Fig; 3 being the same as Fig. 2 after the shirt plate unit has been allowed to fall down on the shirt;

Fig. 4" showing the position of. the shirt and sleeve-folding mechanism after the, latter has folded' the sleeves Fig: 5 showing the situation obtaining after the operator has grasped or pinched the sleeves, released the sleeve-folding mechanism, and given the clamp handle a light tap rearwardly of the table in order to permit the clamp to be disposed onv top of the; folded sleeves as, shown, holding them in place Fig. 6; showing the position, of the garments atthe, end of the first folding operation involving the body; of the shirt;

Fig; 7 showing the view obtaining after the second body-folding operation, but before the second body-folding flap has returned. to rest.

position;

Fig.- -8- showing the shirt in folded position, the. dotted line indicating the transverse folding action; and

Fig. 9 showing the folded shirt after the fold,- ing board; and clamp have been hingeably raised; and

Figs. rot- 13; inclusive, are enlarged detailed sectional views taken along the line i 0'l't| of'Fig, 1, and show the operation ofthe power-actuated body-folding-mechanism;

Fig. 10- showing the parts before the body-folding operation;

Fig. 1- 1 showing the position of the parts after thefirst body-folding operation has begun;

Fig; 12 indicating the position of the mechanism after the first body-folding operation has been completed; and

Fig; 13, showing-the arrangement at the end of'the second body-folding operation but before the; spring has pulled the flap with which it; operatively engagesto normal or restpositi'on.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that.

in the embodiment shown the shirt-folding apparatus comprise a table 20 having top or bed 21' supported on. legs 22. Near one end. of; the.

hinges near the head end of the table top and movable from the open position of Fig. 1 down upon a shirt lying on the table top to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The plate 24 constitutes a form about which the shirt is to be folded. It carries a clamp 26 which is kept normally in closed position by spring 21 passing through hole 24a as shown, for example, in Fig. 1. Clamp 26 can be moved independently of plate 24 by means of the clamp handle 21a, which is rigidly attached to clamp 26 at 26a.

Journaled in hinge openings or bearings 23 is a pintle 29 to the ends of which are rigidly attached, as by welding, collars 30 in which auxiliary folder arms 3| and 32 are rotatably carried.

The main folder arms are 33. In the embodiments herein shown the source of power is compressed air but it will be understood that other suitable fluid or other means may be employed. The arms 33 in normal or rest position are as shown in Fig. 1. They are fixedly attached to connecting arms 34 at 35. The connecting levers 34 are connected with movably-engaging links 36, 3'! by fixed pivots 38 and journaled in bearings 39 which bearings are supported by cross bar 49 secured to two of the legs 22. Links 31 are movably joined at 4| to the open or U end of piston rod 42 engaging with piston (not shown) operating in cylinder 43 which is secured as at 44 to table. Compressed air is introduced into the cylinder 43 from an air supply sourc (not shown) through air valve 45 actuated by foot pedal 46 operatively connected with air valve 45 through suitable piping 4'|.

Situated also on table top 2| are body fol-ding flaps 49 and 5|! hingeably mounted to the panel 49a, in the embodiments shown, at 5| and 52, respectively. The body folding flaps 49 and 50 are power-actuated in timed relation to each other and carry along with them folder arms 3| and 32, respectively, in the folding part of their operation, as can be seen best in Fig. 6, showing arm 3| and folder flap 49 after the latter has completed its folding operation on a shirt. The flaps 49 and 59 as shown have holes 53 which serve to reduce the resistance of the air during the movement of the flaps.

The construction of the power-actuating means operatively associated with flaps 49 and 50 is indicated in part in Fig. l but can be best understood by reference to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13.

In normal or rest position the flaps rest on suitable means such as rubber stops 54, as shown, for example, in Fig. 10. Flap 49 has pivotally attached thereto as at 55 on its underside L-shaped member 56 and the latter is pivoted at 51 to bar 58 which is also pivoted at 59 and has a pin or cam follower 69 near its free end. The cam follower is engaged by cam 6| attached at 62 to one end of the link 63 during downward movement of said link. The cam is held in operable position by a suitable guide or stop 66 but during the upward movement of link 63, the cam is free to swing on pivot 62, enabling the cam end of link 63 to engage cam follower 60. The link 63 is pivotally mounted on housing 61 at 68 and on arm 69 at point 10. Through link 59a bar 69 is fixedly attached with plunger rod II at 12 and 10a, said plunger working in connection with piston (not shown in air cylinder 13 connected to air valve 14 (see Fig. 1), actuated through suitable piping 15, air valve I4 being actuated by plunger 14a.

Link 63 is in pivoted relation near the end opposite the cam-carrying end to flap arm I6 at pivot 11. This flap arm itself is pivctally mount- 4 ed to the under side of flap 50 at point 78. Also near the same end of link 63 as pivot 11, spring 19 is attached as at 83, the spring being anchored at its other end to one of the legs 22 of the table, as shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive.

Flap arm 16 carries near its open end a pin 33 so placed as to engage with flap lowering arm 8| after fiap 49 has completed its folding operation and while fiap 50 is in the course of carrying out its part in the folding operation. Flap lowering arm 8| is pivotally mounted to housing 61 at point 82. Near its end proximate to arm 53, arm 8| carries a pin 83 so disposed as to engage with the top side of arm 55, thereby causing this arm and flap 49 to which member 56 is attached both to return to normal or rest position.

In addition to the foregoing details of construction of my novel apparatus, note may be made of other details illustrated in the drawings. Thus, folder arms 33 are shown in normal position as restin against the sides of the table at 84 which latter may have suitable sound-damping material and in the embodiment described herein is made of rubber. Also, cut-outs in flaps 49 and 50 are provided as at 85 (see Figs. 12 and 13) to enable arm 56 and flap arm 16 to complet their respective folding operations. The broken lines 86 (see Fig. 4) indicate the trajectory of the movement of the ends of folder arms 33. To illustrate the last stages of the transverse shirtfolding operations, broken lines 87 are shown in Fig. 8.

Also, if desired, an elongated recess (not shown) may be provided, in conventional manner, to accommodate the front shirt buttons.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

With the table in normal or rest position, as shown in Fig. 1, a shirt I99 is placed, front down, on the table top so that the neckband or collar is properly inserted in recess 23, and the shirt is neatly arranged as indicated in Fig. 2, this operation merely involving a few sweeps of the operators hands. By exerting a small force, as by a slight push with the hand against clamp handle 21a, the clamp 26, plate 24 and auxiliary folder arms 3| and 32 all drop fiatwise on top of the shirt and assume the position indicated in Fig. 3. Foot pedal 46 is then depressed, causing folder arms 33 to sweep over arms 3| and 32 and to come to rest at the positions shown in Fig. 4, as will more fully be described hereinafter. As before noted, the dotted lines 86 (Fig. 4) indicate the path followed by the ends of the folder arms 33 during their travel. It will be obvious that the path, though arcuate. is nevertheless substantially parallel to the plane of the tabletop.

After the folder arms 33 have come to rest as just indicated, the edges of the partially-folded sleeves of the shirt are grasped or pinched together by the operator, as shown in Fig. 5. The foot pedal 46 is then released, whereby the folder arms 33 swing back to their normal position, their movement terminating at stops 84. A tap on the clamp handle 21a is then given by the operator so that clamp 26 is caused to be raised above the folded shirt sleeves, and then falls into place on the shirt sleeves, thereby keeping them in place as shown in Fig. 5. The operator now can remove her hand from the shirt as it is now no longer needed to keep the sleeves in place.

The assembly is now ready for the shirt-folding operation. Plunger 14a (Figs. 1 and 6) is pushed down causing flap folders 49 and 50 to operate. in timed relation, as. will be. more fully described hereinafter. Folder 49 carries folder arm 3|: during its folding operation; Whereas folder 50' carries folder arm 32 during its folding operation. After both flap folders 49 and 50 have performed their folding functions, the position of the shirt and apparatus is as shown in Fig. 7.. It is noted that the body of the shirt has at this point been folded throughout its length. Flap folder 5!! assumes its normal or at rest position as will later be fully described.

All that now remains to be done in order to complete the shirt-folding operations is for the operator to make transverse folds in accordance with known procedure, and as indicated by the broken lines 8! in Fig. 8. After the shirt I has been folded and is in the position shown in Fig. 8, a band may be fastened around the folded shirt. Whether or not such a band is applied, the folded shirt may be raised to the position as shown in Fig. 9 and is ready for removal from the plate 24. If no band has been applied, a shirt envelope may be placed around the shirt in accordance with known procedure and the folded shirt removed from the plate as before.

The action of the folder arms 33 in the shirtbody-folding operation with my novel apparatus will be explained in detail inasmuch as such means are believed to be novel and contribute substantially to the advantageous operation of my apparatus.

As will be clear from Fig. 1 and from the foregoing description, depressing foot pedal 46 causes compressed air to flow in piping 41 and through air valve 45 into cylinder 43. The piston (not shown) is depressed by the air pressure, causing piston rod 42 to move downward. This downward motion of piston rod 42 depresses links 31, thereby causing links 36 to move the tops of levers 34 towards the center of the table, carrying folder arms 33 in a quasi-horizontal path directly over the table and towards the center thereof. When the foot pedal 46 is released air leaves the cylinder 43 and piston rod 42 moves upward, causing the links 31 to move upward and making links 36 carry levers 34, and hence folder arms 33, to their normal or rest position, the arms 33 coming to rest when they come into contact with stops 84.

The aforementioned shirt-body-folding means as shown in the embodiments represented herein operate as follows: When the folding operations have proceeded to the point indicated in Fig. and the hand shown in said figure has been removed from the shirt sleeves, plunger 14a (Fig. 1) is pressed down causing compressed air to flow into cylinder 13 through piping l5. Plunger H begins a downward movement causing arm 69 to move correspondingly in a downward direction. Since arm 69 is pivotally mounted to housing 61 at 68, the downward motion of arm 69 will cause that part of link 63 to the right (as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13) of the pivot point 68 also to move downward and carry cam 6i in, a downward sweeping direction. In the course of its movement cam 6| engages, that is, presses upon cam pin or follower 60 carried by lever 58 as shown. Lever 58 being pivotally attached to the housing at 59 is caused to move in a counter-clockwise direction (see Figs. and 11). This movement of lever 58 causes arm 56 to move in a general upward direction, upward pressure thereby being exerted against flap 46 at 55. As a result, the flap 49 is raised and moves in a co n e -cl ck e d ec ion n its hinges 5| to the position shown in Fig, l 2.

While the just-described action was occurring, the flap 50 was also in motion. While the partof link 63 to the right of pivot 68 was moving in a downward direction that part of the link to the left of the pivot 63 moved in an upward direction. However, since the pivot 68 is eccentrically located on link 63,, the upward motion of; that. part of the link 63 to the left of the pivot, in particular at the, point 11, will in the first stages be relatively less than in the case with that of the. right part of link 63, in particular, at cam 6!. Consequently, during the first stages of theaforesaid motion of link 63, flap arm it will move relatively more slowly than. arm 56, thereby ac,- counting for flap 49 being substantially moved through its path before flap 5!! is appreciably moved. (See Fig. 12 in particular.) During the course of its upward movement, but after flap 49 has completed its folding operation, flap arm 16 engages arm 6! by means of the pin carried by arm 16. Arm 8!, which is pivoted at 82, car ries a pin 83 at its end near arm 56. As pin Bil raises that part of arm 8| to the left of pivot 82, the part of the arm 8! to the right of this pivot moves in a downward direction. During this downward motion pin 83 causes the upper face of arm 56 to move downward and the latter as a. result causes the flap. 49 to return to its normal or rest position, as shown in Fig. 13..

All of the. action of the power-actuated shirtfolding means thus far recited in detail occurs during one downward motion of the plunger H and indeed occurs during the first part of this downward motion. See Figs. 11 and 12. As the piston rod 7! traverses the last part of its down ward motion in response to the aforesaid pressing down of plunger 74a, flap arm 16 rapidly lifts flap 5!] through pressure exerted at I8, as shown in Fig. 13. When the plunger 14a is released, it being necessary to hold it only momentarily as the folding Operations actuated by it occur with great rapidity, the air leaves cylinder 13, and spring T9 attached to link 63 at 88 returns this link and flap arm 16 pivotally connected thereto to normal or rest position. At the same time the spring pulls flap folder 50 to its normal position by means of the force exerted at 78, the flap moving on hinges 52, plunger H also being caused to move upward, as now will be apparent, during the return of fiap 50 to its normal or rest position.

By the term power herein, I include means such as hand-operated levers, among others.

It will be understood that minor modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention. All such modifications are intended to be secured by me if they are embodied in devices coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shirt folding device including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form mounted on said bed, folding means on said bed operable to fold the sleeves of said shirt around said form into such close proximity to each other that their folded edges can be held by one hand of the operator, power means actuating said folding means, other folding means on said bed operable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length after the sleeves of said shirt have been folded by said first folding means, and power means actuating said other folding means.

2. A shirt folding device including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form mounted on said bed,

folding means on said bed operable to fold the sleeves of said shirt around said form into such close proximity to each other that their folded edges can be held by one hand of the operator, said folding means operative within the confines of the sides of said bed, power means actuating said folding means, other folding means on said bed operable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length after the sleeves of said shirt have been folded by said first folding means, said other folding means including two folding members adapted to operate in timed relation to each other, and power means actuating said other folding means.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein compressed air is the power-imparting medium.

4. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form mounted on said bed, a pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bed and adapted to fold the sleeves of the shirt, and a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed, said folding members operable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length and including means to operatively engage said pair of swingable members during the folding operation of said folding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

5. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form mounted on said bed, a pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bed near the top thereof and on opposite sides of said form for holding the sleeves of the shirt, and a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed along the middle and lower portions thereof, said folding members being operable individually to fold opposite sides of said shirt longitudinally along its length and so located as operatively to engage said pair of swingable members during the folding operation of said folding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

6. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form swingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingable members on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can be placed, another pair of swingable members on said bed operable over said sleeves in unfolded condition, said pairs of swingable members being so arranged that the first of said pairs are adapted operatively to swing towards each other, a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed, said folding members operable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length and so located as operatively to engage the second of said pairs of swingable members during the folding operation of said folding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

7. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form swingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingable members on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can be placed, another pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bed near the head thereof and operable over said sleeves in unfolded condition, said pairs of swingable members being so arranged that the first of said pairs are adapted operatively to swing towards each other, a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed along the middle and lower portions thereof, said folding members operable to fold said shift lonitudinally along its length and so located as operatively to engage the second of said pairs of swingable members during the folding operation of said folding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

8. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a form swingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingable members on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can be placed, another pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bed near the head thereof and operable over said sleeves in unfolded condition, said pairs of swingable members being so arranged that the first of said pairs are adapted operatively to swing towards each other, a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed along the middle and lower portions thereof, said folding members operable in timed relation to each other to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length and so located as operatively to engage the second of said pairs of swingable members during the folding operation of said folding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

9. A shirt folding device comprising a bed on which a shirt may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the body of the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end of the shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded, means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardly extending sleeves and operable to fold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of the body of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, and means on said bed to fold longtiudinal side portions of the body of the shirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overlie said form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hinged about their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sides of said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form and extending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially about their hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed.

10. A shirt folding device comprising a bed on which a shirt may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the body of the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end of the shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded, means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardly extending sleeves and operable to fold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of the body of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, and means on said bed to fold longitudinal side portions of the body of the shirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overlie said form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hinged about their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sides of said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form and extending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially 180 about their hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed, said sleeve folding means comprising members having longitudinal portions normally disposed beneath the sleeves, arms fixed to said longitudinally extending members and projecting downwardly below the level of said bed, and said arms being pivoted on axes located below the level of said bed.

11. A shirt folding device comprising a bed 9 on which a shirt may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the body of the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end of the shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded, means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardlyextending sleeves and operable tofold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of the body of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, and means on said bed to fold longitudinal side portions of the body of the shirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overlie said form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hinged about their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sides of said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form and extending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially 180 about their hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed, and a pair of members having longitudinal portions overlying the shirt adjacent the inner ends of the sleeves to hold the inner ends of the sleeves down against-the bed when the sleeve folding means operate to fold the sleeves inwardly, and said pair of members being pivoted about parallel pivotal axes disposed adjacent the sides of said form, and said longitudinally extending members overlapping said pivoted members which underlie the shirt, so that when said underlying pivoted members are swung inwardly, they will swing said pivoted members therewith.

12. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, with the front of the shirt down, means on the table to grip the collar of the shirt on the table, a leaf pivoted to the table and adapted to move from upright position down to the top of the table to overlie the central portion of the back of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top of the table in spaced parallel relationship to the side edges of the leaf, and the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and over said bars and hanging down from the sides of the table, a second pair of parallel bars mounted on the table overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of parallel bars, a clamping member pivoted to the table and movable from upright position down to a position overlying the leaf when the latter is lying on the table, means to move the first pair of parallel bars inwardly toward each other to a position beneath the clamping member for folding the sleeves around the r second mentioned parallel bars and to bring portions of the sleeves between the clamping member and said leaf, with the outer ends of the sleeves projecting outwardly, means to press said clamping member down toward the leaf to pinch the portions of the sleeves folded about said first mentioned pair of parallel bars in their inwardly moved positions, and means to move the first pair of parallel bars outwardly away from each other back to normal position, leaving the portions of the sleeves between the clamping member and the leaf pinched against the leaf by the said clamping member.

13. A shirt folding machine comprising a table, a leaf hinged to the table, a pair of parallel bars normally at the sides of the table and substantially at the plane of the top of the table, means to move said parallel bars inwardly toward each other and then outwardly back to normal position, said means for moving said parallel bars being an air motor, a pair of side flaps spaced from one. another and normally in the plane of the top of the table, and swingable on the table inwardly about their inner sides to a position overlying a portion of the table between said side flaps and back to normal position, and an air motor for actuating the swinging movement for each side flap.

14. In combination, a bed on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a form movable onto the top of the shirt on the table and about which the shirt is to be folded, means on the bed to fold sleeve portions of the shirt over the form about intermediate portions thereof inwardly toward each other, and with the outer ends of the sleeves being folded outwardly about folds on the sleeves located in proximity to each other, means on the bed about which said sleeves are folded at said intermediate portions thereof, means to clamp said proximate folded portions against said form, and means on the bed to fold longitudinal side portions of said shirt and folded sleeves about the central portion of the shirt, said last means comprising plates resting on said bed and hinged about inner spaced edges and being adapted to underlie said body of said shirt and being swingable substantialy 180 inwardly into overlying position relative to said bed.

15. In combination, a bed on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a-form movable onto the top of the shirt on the table and about which the shirt is to be folded, means on the bed to fold sleeve portions of the shirt over the form, about intermediate portions thereof inwardly toward each other, and with the outer ends of the sleeves being folded outwardly about folds on the sleeves located in proximity to each other, means on the bed about which said sleeves are folded at said intermediate portions thereof, means to clamp said proximate folded portions against said form, and means on the bed to fold longitudinal side portions of said shirt and folded sleeves about the central portion of the shirt, said last means comprising plates resting on said bed and hinged about inner spaced edges and being adapted to underlie said body of said shirt and being swingable substantially 180" inwardly into overlying position relative to said bed, said means about which intermediate portions of the sleeves are folded comprising members having longitudinally extending portions and being swingable about pivots aligned with the hinges for said plates, and said members being swingable about their said pivots substantially 180 so as to swing with said plates.

16. In combination with a bed on which a shirt to be folded may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and with the body of the shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable over the top of the upper central portion of the shirt body, a pair of members having portions overlying the shirt and engaging the shirt sleeves adjacent the shoulders of the shirt, means underlying the shirt sleeves and swingable inwardly for folding the shirt sleeves about said shirt sleeve engaging portions, a pair of members underlying the shirt body forwardly of the sleeves, said shirt sleeve engaging members being swingable about axes disposed inwardly of said shirt sleeve engaging portions, the said pair of members which underlie the body of the shirt being swingable about axes aligned with the axes about which said shirt sleeve engaging members are pivoted, and said shirt sleeve engaging portions overlapping the members which underlie the body of the shirt, and means to swing said members which underlie the body of the shirt inwardly for swinging said shirt sleeve engaging members therewith, whereby to fold longitudinal side portions of the shirt together with shoulder portions of the shirt inwardly over the central portion of the shirt.

17. A shirt folding machin comprising a table, a leaf hinged to the table, a pair of parallel bars normally at the sides of the table and substantially at the plane of the top of the table, means to move said parallel bars inwardly toward each other and then outwardly back to normal position, a pair of side flaps spaced from one another and normally in the plane of the top of the table, and swingable on the table inwardly about their inner sides to a position overlying a portion of the table between said side flaps and back to normal position, and means for actuating the swinging movement for each side flap.

18. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a leaf on the table adapted to move to a position overlying the central portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top of the table spaced outwardly from the sides of said leaf and disposed beneath the sleeves of the shirt, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars and adjacent thereto, said first and second pairs of bars being substantially in the plane of the top of the table, means to move the first pair of bars inwardly toward each other and above th leaf for folding the sleeves inwardly around the second mentioned bars, and means to clamp inwardly folded portions of the sleeves against the top of said leaf, and means to thereafter move said first mentioned bars outwardly to their first position, while leaving the inwardly folded and clamped portions of the sleeves in clamped condition against the top of said leaf.

19. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a leaf on the table adapted to move to a position overlying the central portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top of the table spaced outwardly from the sides of said leaf and disposed beneath the sleeves of the shirt, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars and adjacent thereto, said first and second pairs of bars being substantially in the plane of the top of the table, means to move the first pair of bars inwardly toward each other and above the leaf for folding the sleeves inwardly around the second mentioned bars, and means to clamp inwardly folded portions of the sleeves a ainst the top of said leaf, and means to thereafter move said first mentioned bars outwardly to their first position. while leaving the inwardly folded and clamped portions of the sleeves in clamped condition against the top of said leaf. a pair of side flaps beneath the body of the shirt and in the plane of th table, said second. mentioned pair of parallel bars overlapping said side flaps, said side flaps being swingable about their inner sides and said second mentioned pair of bars bein mounted in swinging movement substantially about the axis of said flaps, and means to swing said flaps about their inner sides for folding the sides of p the shirt inwardly over the top central portion of the shirt, and for simultaneously swinging said second mentioned pair of bars about their pivots simultaneously, so as to fold the upper ends f 12 the shirt over the upper central portion of the shirt.

20. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a form on the table and adapted to move on to the top of the table to overlie the central upper portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top of the table in spaced relationship to the sides of said form, and the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and over said pair of bars, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars, means to move the first pair of bars inwardly toward each other to a position overlying the form for folding the sleeves around the second mentioned bars, and to bring parts of the sleeves into position overlying said form, with the outer ends of said sleeves projecting outwardly, means to move the first pair of bars outwardly away from each other back to initial position, leaving the inwardly folded parts of the sleeves above the form, and side flaps on the table disposed beneath the body of the shirt and swingable about their inner sides to bring side portions of the shirt over the central portion of the shirt.

21. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, a form on the table and adapted to move on to the top of the table to overlie the central upper portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top of the table in spaced relationship to the sides of said form, and the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and over said bars, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars, means to move the first pair of bars inwardly toward each other to a position overlying the form for folding the sleeves around the second mentioned bars, and to bring portions of the sleeves into position overlying said form, with the outer ends of said sleeves projecting outwardly, means to move the first pair of bars outwardly away from each other back to initial position, leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves above the form, and side flaps on the table disposed beneath the body of the shirt and swingable about their inner sides to bring side portions of the shirt over the central portion of the shirt, said second pair of bars overlapping said side fiaps and said second pair of bars being swingable about the axis of said side flaps, whereby swinging movement of the side flaps to fold the sides of the shirt inwardly will cause swinging movement of said second pair of bars inwardly simultaneously to fold the shoulder portions of the shirt inwardly over said inwardly folded sleeves.

22. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body of the shirt fiattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of the central upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top of the table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top of the table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first bars and adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallel axes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion of the top of the table, and said second bars being hinged about axes disposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through angles of degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of the table, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retaining the second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardly about the second bars into position overlying said form, and means for clamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of the form, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initial position, leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped to the top of the form.

23. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body of the shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of the central upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top of the table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top of the table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first bars and adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallel axes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion of the top of the table, and said second bars being hinged about axes disposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through angles of 180 degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of the table, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retaining the second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardly about the second bars into position overlying said form, and means for clamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of the form, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initial position, leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped to the top of the form, means for folding portions of the body of the shirt below the sleeves inwardly into overlying position with respect to the central portion of the body of the shirt.

24. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placed with the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body of the shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of the central upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top of the table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top of the table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first bars and adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallel axes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion of the top of the table, and said second bars bein hinged about axes disposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through angles of degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of the table, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retaining the second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardly about the second'bars into position overlying said form, and means for clamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of the form, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initial position. leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped to the top of the form, means for folding portions of the body of the shirt below the sleeves inwardly into overlying position with respect to the central portion of the body or the shirt, and said second mentioned pair of bars overlapping said last mentioned folding means whereby when said last mentioned folding means is folded inwardly said second mentioned pair of bars will be simultaneously swung inwardly to fold the shoulder portions of the shirt inwardly together with the sides of the body of the shirt.

AUGUSTINE ARRUDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,130,733 Combarette Sept. 20, 1938 2,362,976 Cooper Nov. 21, 1944

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