US3570053A

US3570053A - Cuff folder mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3570053A
Application number: US761458A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony F Rodrigues; Richard A Wilkinson
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
Current assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
Priority date: 1968-09-23
Filing date: 1968-09-23
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16

Abstract

A FOLDING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED AND TRAVELLING IN TIMED RELATION WITH A STRIPPING UNIT CAPABLE BOTH OF STRIPPING A GLOVE FROM A CASTING MOLD AND RETAINING THE SAME BY GRIPPING MEANS MOUNTED BY THE STRIPPING UNIT TO GRIP THE OPEN WRIST END OF THE GLOVE. THE FOLDING MECHANISM INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PARALLEL MANDRELS RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO VARYING THEIR SPACED RELATION AND MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE GRIPPING MEANS TO RECEIVE THE GLOVE FROM THE LATTER AND AT THE SAME TIME WITH CONTINUED MOVEMENT TO FOLD THE OPEN END ABOUT THE MANDREL AS THE GLOVE IS BEING RELEASED.

Description

March 16, 1971 RGDRlGUEs EI'AL 3,570,053

CUFF FOLDER MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 25; 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 INvENTORs ANT/MN) F Rook/c055 Haw/Mo A. w/z k/Alsaxv March 16, 1971 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1968 a ww m March 16,1971 A. F. RODRIGUES ETM 3,570,953

CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet S March 16, 1911 A F, M ES ETAL 3,510,053

.CUF'F FOLDER MECHANISM M 5 t 0! v 8 T e m v S N t l w an h f s WK 1 AP I.

A. F. RODRIGUES ET AL 3,570,053

March 16, 1971 CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 23, 1968 BY 9M, 10 W gl d March 16', 1971 A. F. RODRIGUES ETAL CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23. 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS. Ammo/w E POOP/6M5 2/67/4190 A. w/z mvso/v March 16,- 1971 A. F. RODRIGUES f CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Mann 1971 Q A. F. RODRIGUES EFAL CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2:. 1968 March 16, 1971 noDRlGUES ETAL 3,570,053

CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 25, 1968 Mgl'dl 16, 1971 A RQDRIGUES ETAL 3,570,053

I CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Se t! 23. 1968 United States Patent Ofice US. Cl. 18-2 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A folding mechanism operatively associated and travelling in timed relation with a stripping unit capable both of stripping a glove from a casting mold and retaining the same by gripping means mounted by the stripping unit to grip the open wrist end of the glove. The folding mechanism including a pair of upstanding parallel mandrels relatively movable to varying their spaced relation and movable in a direction toward the gripping means to receive the glove from the latter and at the same time with continued movement to fold the open end about the mandrel as the glove is being released.

The present invention relates to a folding mechanism and particularly to a mechanism which is included as a terminal part of an apparatus capable of initially molding a product, such as a glove, by for example, dipping techniques and thereafter by a stripping unit stripping the molded, cured product from the form upon which it is cast. In this connection, the folding mechanism operations in conjunction with the stripping unit and at the wrist portion of the glove to fold the wrist to create a cuff in the same so that the glove is in condition for in spection and packaging.

While the prior art contains structures capable of stripping a molded product from a form upon which it is cast, the prior art is silent as to a mechanism capable of folding the wrist portion of a glove thereby to form a cufl". Heretofore, cuff formation has been accomplished manually.

Thus, from bulk storage, the glove was picked up and gripped by the bead, generally previously formed at the open hand receiving end, and a partial inversion of the wrist portion was accomplished thereby forming a cuff with the bead thereafter positioned substantially at the middle of the thumb extension.

As can be clearly appreciated, manually handling does not lend itself to a high production output which may be accomplished in an automated operation. Further, with manual handling there cannot be the true consistency in the manner of the fold and length of cuff as is obtained by a mechanical operation. This necessarily causes problems in packaging.

Obviously, there are many additional advantages of a mechanized operation rather than a manual operation and these may be readily apparent.

Thus, it is a principal object of the present invention, in a system including a dipping, spraying or equivalentoperation and a stripping unit to strip the molded and cured product from a form, to provide a molding mechanism which functions in a manner cooperate, during travel, with the stripping unit to fold the Wrist portion of the glove thereby creating a cuff.

Other objects and advantages achieved by the mechanism of the present invention which act in concert with a stripping unit will readily come to mind as the following description representative of a preferred embodiment of the invention is developed.

Thus, the invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus wherein a glove which is cast upon and stripped 3,570,053 Patented Mar. 16, 1971 from a mold may be folded by an interaction of the strip ping unit and folding mechanism to provide a cuff in the glove and release the cuffed glove for inspection and packaging. In this connection, the apparatus is broadly directed to the production of relatively thin molded articles on a mold from a dispersion, such as a plastisol. The mold is disposed upon and travels with an endless conveyor chain. A stripping unit, mounted upon and travelling with a sec ond endless conveyor, is provided for each mold and receives the same to strip the article from the mold. A folding mechanism, mounted upon and travelling with a third endless conveyor, is provided and travels in timed relation with each stripping unit whereby means on the mechanism cooperates with the stripping unit to receive and fold the article carried thereby.

The accompanying drawings form a part of the present invention. By these drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the discharge end of a glove stripper mechanism and a cuff-folding mechanism associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section as seen along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a stripping unit with certain portions shown in section to illustrate the details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a stripping unit showing a mold and a molded article engaged by the stripping elements;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section of a stripping element as seen along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, similar to FIG. 5, is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section of a stripping element showing the parts at a stage prior to the stripping operation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stripping unit with a mold and the molded article engaged therewith and showing the stripping elements in a stage of stripping following that stage as seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section of a stripping element as seen along the line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mold in a position with respect to the stripping unit further along in the stripping sequence to show the molded article having been partially stripped from the mold;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of one of a cuff-folder head;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view in cross-section of a cuff-folder head partially broken away for clarity, as seen along the line 1111 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a plurality of cuff-folder heads showing, sequentially, different positions of the folding mandrels during the time they are associated with the stripper mechanism;

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, each showing two views, are schematic illustrations of the different positions undergone by the folding mandrels at different locations of travel along the endless track and their engagement with the glove in the stripping head;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the mechanism with the upper half opened upwardly and the lower half opened downwardly, certain structure not shown for the sake of of clarity, whereby the relationship of the cuff-folding mandrels and the stripping head at approximately the time of release of the glove from the stripper head onto the cuff-folding mandrels is apparent;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of one cufffolder head in motion around the sprockets at the righthand end of the cuff-folder mechanism as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the left side of the cuff-folding head as seen in FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 19 and 20 are, respectively, a top plan view 3 and an elevational view of the take-up mechanism for the conveyor chains of the cuff-folding heads.

The several drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, illustrate an apparatus adapted for use in a process directed to the manufacture of a molded product. In this connection, the product may be molded on a form, for example, by dipping, spraying or by the application of any well-known technique of applying a rubber latex or a plastisol, for example, to a form, to be thereafter stripped from the form after a curing operation and, finally, folded by the apparatus embodying the present invention. Thus, the molded article is subject to final processing and packaging for distribution.

The preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in the several figures, indicates the product to be a glove but it should be apparent that other products may be processed by this apparatus. Thus, the present showing is for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention except as limited by the appended claims.

Since the manner by which an ambidextrous glove mold is coated to form, after curing and stripping, an ambidextrous glove is well known in the art and, in and of itself, forms no part of the present invention, FIG. 1 is directed to the operation of the apparatus following the formation of the glove and considers the operation of the apparatus once there is a coincidence of one of a plurality of stripping units and one of a plurality of travelling coated glove forms. Thus, the drawings consider both the stripping of a glove from a form and the folding of the same once stripped.

The apparatus is supported by a frame including a plurality of vertical support members and a plurality of horizontal support members 12 carried by the former to provide a structurally stable frame unit for the apparatus to be described. The members may be rigidly connected together in any manner as by welding or the equivalent. As shown in FIG. 2, the members are bolted together.

An endless track 14 in the form of an I-beam is carried by and beneath one horizontal member 12 (FIG. 2). The track, in turn, supports an endless linked conveyor chain 16 in a manner (not shown) and a plurality of ambidextrous glove forms 18 downwardly depend therefrom. Each of the forms is rigidly or otherwise connected for turning motion to an element 20 that is mounted between its ends to a chain link and is supported at the top by a double roller mounting 22. The roller mounted element is movable along the track channels sequentially to and through a dipping station, a station whereat the layer of uncured material carried by the form is cured and finally to a station where the finished glove article 24 is stripped from the form. The stripping operation is accomplished by the stripping unit as both form and unit move in the direction of the arrows 26.

The frame also supports a stripper conveyor including an endless series of stripper members or elements 28, which are carried by an endless conveyor chain 30, trained about a pair of spaced sprockets 32 rotating in the direction of the arrow. The sprockets are mounted by a shaft 34 which is journalled for rotary motion in a pair of end supporting bearing members 36 carried by one horizontal frame member 12. A pair of spaced collars 38, keyed to the shaft, prevent sliding movement of the sprockets therein and maintain the same in fixed relation with regard to the chain 30. Although not shown, the chain is also trained about a second sprocket, which may be an idler sprocket. The drive means for sprocket 32 is not shown but it is to be pointed out that the chain 30 is driven in synchronism with the mold carrier conveyor chain 16. In this way and at a point of incidence, there will be one stripping unit 28 for each mold or form 18 with each travelling together thereafter along the coinciding portions along their path of travel so that the glove is stripped from the form 18.

Each stripping member or element 28 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 9 comprise a cast frame 40 having a top wall 42 with a central opening 44 of circular outline. A bottom casting 46 also carries a circular central opening 48 which is in alignment with the opening 44 in the upper wall 42. The terms top and bottom are used in the sense of the travel of the stripping members along the upper stretch of their travel when they are active in the stripping operation.

Each stripping member is mounted by its cast frame 40 on the chain conveyor 30 by means of a threaded block-type link (not shown) and a pair of cap screw elements 50. One of the parallel chains forming the conveyor chain 30 is shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of rollers 52 journalled for rotation are carried in the area of the corners of the stripping member and adjacent the conveyor chains 28. The rollers aid in supporting the stripping members and are capable of rolling movement within a channel in opposed track elements 54. As shown, each track is supported by the

frame members

10 and 12.

The top wall 42 of each stripping member is provided with four bosses 56 which are disposed in guadrature about the opening 44. Vertical shafts 58, by means of bearings (not shown), are rotatably carried in the upper boss 56. The shafts are also carried by a plurality of bosses 60 in the bottom casting 46. Bearings (not shown) are similarly provided and the bosses are similarly symmetrically disposed about the opening 48. Each of the vertical shafts 58 has pivotally mounted thereon intermediate the upper and lower bosses a hollow hub 62 of a stripping arm 64. As indicated in the figures, the stripping arms 64 are mounted in quadrature about the openings 44 and 48 and are vertically disposed in relation to one another. Additionally, each of the stripping arms is urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 so that all of the arms tend to move inwardly with respect to the axis of Openings 4448 and a form 18 positioned therein. In this connection, a spring member 66 is connected to an ear 68 of the hub 62.

Each of the stripping arms 64 has means at its free end for engagement with the form and with the article thereon to perform both gripping and control operations in connection with the stripping operation. These operations include the forming of an enlarged roll (FIG. 6) at the open end of the article, and the unrolling of this roll (FIG. 5) into engagement with two cooperating elements which thereafter act as a pair of gripping menas to grip the open end of the article during its movement away from (FIG. 8) and subsequent stripping from the mold. In this connection, each of the stripping arms 64 carries, Within a hollow body, a shaft 70 which is journalled for movement around its longitudinal axis. Each shaft, in turn, carries a rotary brush 72. The brush acts primarily, as an article moving means as hereinbefore discussed. The brush 72 is embraced on its inner face by a channel shaped cooperating element in the form of a spade 74- that functions to grip the article or bead of the glove 24 during the stripping operation and unitl its release from the article, during the folding operation. The spade has one flange 74a secured to the end of the arm 64 and a second flange 74b embracing the opposite end of the brush 72. As seen in FIG. 6, the middle lower end of the spade is tapered 740 to provide an entry or portion for the gripping element to enter between the mold and the plastic article formed thereon in a manner later described. Although not shown on the drawings, means are provided on the frame to open the four stripper arms to an inactive position to receive a form with a glove thereon as the forms begin an ascending portion of their travel (not shown). Thus, the inactive positioning of the stripping arms and the end brushes permits the passage of a glove mold down therethrough as the stripping head is being elevated toward the mold (not shown). When the stripping head is properly oriented and the glove form is received by the same, the spades 74 and the brush 72 are moved into active position to engage a mold as seen in FIG. 3. Thereafter the brushes are moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. This rotation occurs while the particular mold and glove are moving up an inclined portion (not shown) of the supporting track 14 so that they are moving upwardly with respect to the stripping head. This action is effective to cause a rolling of a cuff portion of the glove, for example, (or the bead portion of the open mouth of a bag), downwardly over itself as seen in FIG. 6. Reversal of the direction of the rotation of the brush shaft 70 and consequently, the brush 72 so that the end of the cuff of the glove (or the end of the mouth of the bag) is moved upwardly between the spade and its accompanying brush to provide a secure grip of the top open end of the glove or bag as seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5 is accomplished by an interengagement of sprocket 186a and chain 190 to be described in more detail below. This is the gripping operation as performed by the stripping member 28.

Immediately following this operation, the stripping arms 64 and the gripping elements move outwardly with respect to the mold. The upper end of the glove being gripped will be stretched out with respect to the mold in four places as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. At this point, the stripping member 28 begins to move relative to the form, due to various inclines in the conveyor paths, so that the glove will start to be turned inside out as illustrated in FIG. 9. The relative movement continues as is seen in FIG. 1 to a position where the mold has been completely removed from the opening in the stripping member and the glove is completely stripped from the form, to travel with the stripping unit which is conveyed to a point of incidence with the folder mechanism heads, as will be discussed.

For a further and more detailed description of the gripping and stripping operation as performed by the stripping head, the manner by which the stripping head is mounted on the conveyor chain 30 and both the manner and structure allowing the stripping members to be moved in the endless path and into timed relation to the glove form carrying the molded article, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,576.

A folder conveyor 76 is similarly carried by the frame in a position immediately below the stripper conveyor which carries the individual stripper members 28. The folder conveyor, best seen in FIG. 1, includes a plurality of folder members or head 78 which are mounted for movement around an endless track 80. The folder heads and the manner by which they are both supported and driven by the conveyor along the track 80 is best seen in FIGS. 10, 16 and 17.

The folder members or heads 78 are mounted by a pair of parallel spaced endless chains 82 each of which are trained around a pair of axially spaced

sprocket wheels

84 and 86. The former pair acts as an idler sprocket and the latter pair acts as a driving sprocket. All sprockets are supported by the frame and are journalled for rotation. As indicated in FIG. 2 the axially spaced wheels 86 are keyed to a shaft 88 by the collars 90 mounted on opposed sides thereof. The shaft 88 carries at one end a sprocket 92 which is similarly keyed to the shaft and is driven by means (not shown) in synchronism with the stripper conveyor 30 so that the glove article may be both folded and removed from the stripper member 28 as the member and head 78 following the coinciding portions of their paths of travel, as seen in FIG. 1.

Referring specifically to FIG. 10, the folder head 78 is illustrated as being of rectangular outline, having a top wall 94 and four depending side walls 96. The walls adjacent the forward and trailing walls of the folder head as determined by the directional arrows 100 each contain a boss 102. The bosses in addition to a grooved plate 104 that is bolted, as at 106 (FIG. 11) to the head below the top wall support a shaft 108 which passes through the folder head and which, as hereinafter discussed, provides a mount for the head on the parallel spaced conveyor chains 82. Bolts 106 may be received by threaded bosses (not shown) cast as an integral part of the top wall 94 or otherwise carried by the same.

Link elements 110 are provided at predetermined spaced locations along the conveyor length and join adjacent sections of the chain 82 at positions, respectively, where the folder heads are mounted. The links are formed with a central cylindrical opening to receive the shaft 108 therethrough and mount the folder head 78. A plurality of collars 112 are mounted on and keyed to the shaft 108 on opposed sides of the chain 82. The collars prevent substantially all sidewise movement of the folder head once mounted.

The shaft 108 is of extended length and passes beyond the respective collars toward the opposed track 80 and the walls 114 upon which the tracks are immovably mounted. Each wall is carried by the vertical frame members 10. An arm 116 is carried at each end of the shaft 108. Each arm has a lapped end upon which a roller 118 is journalled for rotation. As is apparent from FIG. 16 the roller co-acts with the track 80 defined by the upper and

lower track elements

120 and 122 as the head moves or is conveyed by the conveyor and chain 82. The other end of arm 116 is rounded and bifurcated as at 124. A pair of cylindrical collars 126 and a pair of Washers 128 are mounted on opposed sides of the arm to receive a bolt 13 through a central opening, all of the members being rigidly secured by a nut 132 thereby preventing any relative rotational movement of the arm 116 and the folding head 78. As seen in FIG. 1 the arm and head, irrespective of the position of the head during its movement within the endless path, are relatively immovable.

Each folder head of the total plurality of heads is caused to move around the endless path due to its mounting on the conveyor chain 82 which is being driven by the sprocket wheel 86 in a timed relationship to the movement of the stripper members 28 on conveyor chain 30. This timed driving relationship functions to present a folding head and a stripper member at a predetermined location and at a predetermined time during the functioning of the apparatus thereby to allow the folding means on the folder head to introduce itself within the opening 4448 in the stripper to interact, as to be discussed, With the spade 74 and brush 72, holding the ribbed end of the glove 24, to remove and fold the same. In this operation and as seen in FIG. 1,- the head and the member undergo a relative change in physical orientation so that the folding operation may take place. In this connection, the folder heads are moved, once in coincidence with the stripper member, toward and then away from the latter once the glove has been folded and released by the spade 74 and the brush 72.

The conveyor chain 82 which is trained around the

sprockets

84 and 86, depending upon the take-up which will be discussed hereinafter, generally follows a path which is tangent to the outer peripheral surface of each sprocket. Accordingly, the folder heads which are mechanically mounted to the conveyor chain will normally follow the same path undergoing no relative movement toward and away from the stripper member 28 as discussed and as is shown in FIG. 1.

As has been previously discussed, each folder head carries at the endof the arm 116 a roller 118 which travels within the track 80 which is designed to cause the necessary movement of the folder head in relation to the stripper member. To accomplish the folding operation it is necessary that the folding means carried by the head enter the stripper member through the opening 44- 48. It is further necessary that this entry be in a substantially vertical direction if a symmetrical cuff is to be formed. Withdrawal of the folding structure from within the confines of the stripper member need not be in this vertical direction since upon completion of the folding operation the glove will have been released by the brush 72 and the spade 74 which heretofore gripped the glove when being stripped from the form 18.

As has been indicated, the profile of track is such that the head will undergo a relative repositioning during travel with the member 28. However, upon repositioning the head will not be level. Therefore, a pair of members 134 are supported by the frame and oriented thereby to be parallel to the

sprockets

84 and 86. Each member is positioned between the collar 112 and the bifurcated end of arm 116. The members are elongated plates extending between substantially the sprocket axes and provides an upper contoured profile which is substanitally similar to the profile of track 80. This is most apparent from FIG. 1.

A pair of rollers 136 are journalled for rotational movement about the shaft 108 as well as being positioned on the same thereby to be in rolling contact with the upper surface of the member 134 throughout its total length. Thus, the head front end and consequently the mounting chain 82 will be raised from the normal path to that path determined by the track 80 and member 134 so that as the folder head moves both forwardly and upwardly toward the stripper member 28 the head is maintained in the necessary over-all horizontal position relative to the floor.

To prevent the conveyor chain 82 from releasing from t the sprocket wheel 86 the upwardly directed incline 138 formed in the member 134 begins its descent prior to reaching the plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprocket wheel shaft 88 so that the conveyor chain returns to the normally tangent position and remains entrained upon the sprocket teeth.

The operation of the folding mechanism best seen in FIGS. 10, 12 and 16, is now to be described.

The folding mechanism generally includes a pair of upstanding, parallel spaced and relatively

movable mandrels

140 and 142. The

upstanding mandrels

140 and 142 are rigidly connected at their lower ends to

arms

144 and 146. The arms are supported by a pair of

bosses

148 and 150 and, respectively, pivot about a pair of

shafts

152 and 154. The shafts are supported by the upper wall in head 78. As indicated, the ends of the arms opposite the mandrel are bifurcated and receive, through a transverse opening, a nut and bolt 156158 to rigidly connect the arm to the respective shaft. An annular cut-out in the shaft receives a clip 160.

The

shafts

152 and 154 are positioned thereby to be parallel to the

upstanding mandrels

140 and 142.

Second arms

162 and 164 are, in a similar manner, connected to the other end of the

shafts

152 and 154. The latter arms are biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 10)

against a pair of stops 166 and 168 by the

springs

170 and 172 connected between the respective arms and the side walls 96 of the folder head 78.

Further depending

shafts

174 and 176 are integrally or otherwise rigidly connected to the

arms

162 and 164 and at their opposite ends carry a pair of rollers 178 and l 180 received for rotation and mounted by a nut 182 received on a threaded end of the

shafts

174 and 176.

The

rollers

178 and 180, referring specifically to FIGS. 1216, act as cam followers and determine, due to their physical positioning along the cam member 184, the positioning with respect to one another of the

mandrels

140 and 142. Thus, the mandrels which are normally widely spaced from one another move relatively to one another as the head 78 moves in the direction of arrow 100 and the

rollers

178 and 180 follow the surface of cam 184 as travel occurs from left to right in FIG. 12. As is apparent, the normally widely spaced mandrels are caused to move closer to one another as the head arrives at a point of incidence with the stripper member. As will be discussed, it is necessary that the mandrels be in a closer orientation upon initial coaction with the glove more widely spread by the brush 72 and spade 74 as in FIG. 9. In this manner, a folding operation may occur and upon subsequent spreading of the mandrels the latter will carry the glove from the member 28.

Operation of the folding mechanism and its intercooperation with the stripping member 28 may be seen in FIGS. 13-16.

After the glove 24 has been stripped from the form 18 and while being gripped at four space locations by a brush 72 and spade 74 mounted by arms 64 thereby to present a Widely opened wrist at the bead, it is conveyed to a position of initial coincidence with the folding mechanism 78 and

mandrels

140 and 142. As previously, indicated, the

conveyors

30 and 82 carrying, respectively, the stripper member 28 and the folding mechanism 78 are driven in timed relation thereby, following this initial point of incidence, to travel at the same rate along the common path of FIG. 13.

As has been generally discussed, the

mandrels

140 and 142 are parallel spaced and relatively movable toward one another, from their normal orientation, and thereafter away from one another, returning to this orientation. Motion is imparted to the mandrels as the

roller followers

178 and 180 ride along the sides of cam 184.

As has been generally discussed and as is apparent from the FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 representations, the arms 64 which are biased in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3), are pivotable about their supporting shafts 58 in a counter direction. Additionally, the brushes 72, carried by shafts 70, are capable of movement in both other directions thereby to roll a wrist bead and unroll the same so that the head is gripped between the brush and spade 74 as the arms move to the FIG. 7 position and stripping is accomplished. Thus, it is necessary that the arms 64 be capable of pivotal movement about their supporting shafts 58 and the brushes 72 be movable about their supporting shafts 70.

Structure to accomplish the latter motion is only generally shown. In this connection, each of the shafts 58 carry at their bottom ends a sprocket 186 (FIGS. 2 and 16), all of which are connected by a chain 188 thereby to provide a common drive for each shaft 58 in an oscillatable fashion, as is necessary to roll a wrist bead. By a plurality of bevel pinions (not shown) the shaft 58 is coupled to the shaft 70. Preferably, two of the sprockets 186a, one on each side, are driving sprockets and are oriented in a manner thereby to engage with short lengths of a fixed chain 190, carried at predetermined locations, on opposed sides of the member 28 and supported by the frame. Thus, for most travel the brushes undergo no motion but undergo motion in one direction or the other depending upon which drive sprocket engages the chain length.

Reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,304,576 for a more complete discussion of the aforementioned operation as well as the operation hereinafter discussed regarding the pivotal movement of the arms 64 from the FIG. 3 to the FIG. 7 position. Although not shown in great detail each shaft 58 carries a plate 192 of generally triangular configuration. The plate, in turn, carries an extending arm and an end depending roller (both not shown) mouted for engagement with a cam (not shown) supported on the frame. Each plate, by links 194, is connected together so that all arms 64 pivot toward and away from the form 18 in unison. Thus, as the roller travels along the cam profile the plate 192 directly connected to the roller and consequently all plates and arms will undergo a degree of pivotal movement. As is apparent, the cams are predeterminedly oriented to provide the required movement.

With this background and referring now to FIGS. 13- 15 the member 28 and head 78 are seen, in timed relation, to approach a point of coincidence of the same which is generally at the at the left extremity of cam 184. The mandrels, at this point, begin movement toward one another from a fully spaced position. The glove bead at the wrist portion is positively gripped by and between the brush 72 and spade 74 so that the glove will be turned about the upwardly directed spade edge 74c with the fingers falling toward the conveyor 76 and track 80.

Normally, the mandrels are spaced a distance approaching maximum. The spacing is substantially the same as is the spacing (FIG. 8) of one pair of diametrically opposite brushes 72 and spaced 74. At the beginning of movement toward one another, due to the action obtained by

followers

178 and 180 interacting with cam 184, the glove fingers (FIG. 13) will reside between the mandrels. As both the member 28 and the head 78 move from the position of FIG. 13 to the FIG. 14 position thereby to approach the incline 138, the mandrels are moved together by the

cam followers

178 and 180, as discussed. Movement of the mandrels, toward one another, continues until the raised

pads

181 and 183 in the form of plastic rings are in abutting relation. In this position approximately the wrist portion of the glove will be gripped by the mandrel rings, and the glove bead will continue to be gripped by the spade '74 and its interaction with the brush 72. This is the interpositioning of the various gripping structures as the folding head travels along the horizontal upper surface of member 134 before the mandrels, due to the incline 138, enter the opening 44-48 in the stripper member 28.

The abutting mandrel orientation is maintained as the head 78 follows the incline 138 and track 80 thereby caus ing relative movement between the head and member 28. With such movement and with the bead end of the glove spread and positively gripped, a cuff is formed as is apparent from FIG. 16. The length of incline, with the conveyor 30 following a substantially horizontal path, determines the length of the. culf formed in each glove.

When the mandrels have been raised to the maximum extent as determined by the length of the incline 138 and the cuff is fully formed, the bead of glove 18 is released from the spade and brush upon a rotation of the latter as discussed. Release of the glove bead from the spade and brush combination is accompanied by movement of the mandrels thereupon return to the normal spacing so as to hold the cuffed glove in a somewhat taut condition therebetween. Again, mandrel movement is obtained due to the

followers

178 and 180 interacting with cam 184 and being spring loaded move toward maximum separation (FIG. 17) as the followers leave the cam track in FIG. 16. As desired, the glove may automatically release from the mandrels by moving the same together during passage along the bottom conveyor run or may be manually withdrawn from the mandrels at 196 as the same begin their movement caused by cam 184 (see FIG. 51).

FIGS. 19 and 20 are descriptive of a method by which the degree of tension felt by the conveyor chains 82 trained on

sprockets

84 and 86 may be adjusted to prevent the rollers 118 from becoming jammed in the track 80 and to maintain the head 78 in a horizontal orientation, as discussed. Generally, the degree of tension is adjusted by moving the idler sprocket 84 carried by axle 198 relative and longitudinal to the drive sprocket 86.

As is shown the folder conveyor 7'6 is supported on the floor 200 by a pair of spaced upstanding frame members 202 and 204 in a manner capable of raising and lowering the conveyor in relation to the stripper conveyor and to the floor. =Fixed mounted by the upstanding frame members is a pair of chanel members 206 which are additionally supported by the members 208 and 210. As in FIG. 20, each channel is provided with an opening within the closed end to allow free longitudinal movement of a threaded rod 212.

A cariage 214 is provided with a plurality of rollers 216 thereby to be received in the track 80 to allow movement of the carriage therealong.

A length of both rods freely pass through one end of the carriage as determined by a pair of lock nuts 218. A collar 220 is keyed to the threaded rod between its ends thereby to retain a double spring member 222-224 between the collar and channel closed end. Thus, the tension or compression experienced by the springs will determine the positioning of the carriage 214 in relation 10 to the axle 198. As may be apparent, movement of the rods to the right in the figures, thereby to put the springs in a state of compression Will consequently cause the carriage to move to the left so that the member 226 move the axle 198 from the FIG. 20 to FIG. 19 position.

Thus, the chain 82 will be under greater tension if this condition is required. Whatever the condition, however, adjustment may be employed and the sprockets will be fioatingly mounted rather than rigidly mounted causing unnecessary virbration and structural stresses in the conveyor.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the objects and advantages as heretofore set out and which are now apparent are carried. While the disclosure is directed to what may be considered as a preferred form of the invention, this discussion is for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention other than as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for producing molded elastomeric articles, an endless series of article-stripping heads adapted to successively receive one of a plurality of molded articles an article-carrying molds for stripping the former from the latter, a corresponding separate endless series of folding heads mounted for movement with re spect to said endless series of article-stripping heads to place each folding head in cooperative relation with a stripping head for an article receiving and folding operation, and means for operating said respective series of heads in timed relation to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping heads are provided with a central opening for receiving said one of a plurality of article-carrying molds therethrough, means surrounding said opening and movable in relation thereto for gripping the open end of the article after receipt within the opening and for expanding it away from the mold whereby relative movement between the article-carrying mold and the stripping head allows that the expanded article be turned upon itself as the article is stripped from the mold thereby to extend from the central opening in the stripping head.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the folding head includes a body supporting a plurality of folding mem bers, said members being movable into and out of a central opening in said stripping head and adjacent the stripped article as said folding head moves in said timed relation with the stripping head for interacting with said stripped article between the extended portion and the opened end of the article to first accomplish a reverse folding of the open end of the article over the remainder of the same and thereafter to grip the article, and means for causing said relative movement between the stripping head and the associated folding head.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means for effecting release of the article from the stripping head after the article is folded and gripper by the folding members, and means for effecting release of the grip of the folding members on the article engaged therewith.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a frame, a first and second endless sprocket trained conveyor means mounted by said frame, said series of stripping heads mounted, respectively, by said conveyor means for said timed driven movement in cooperative relation.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a third conveyor means for said article-carrying molds, said third conveyor means carried by said frame and movable long a predetermined path that, subsequent to intercooperation between the mold and said stripping head, is divergent in relation to the path of movement of said first conveyor means providing relative movement between said article carrying mold and said stripping head thereby to strip the article from its mold.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stripping head gripping means surrounding said central opening is defined by a plurality of striping arms pivotally carried by said stripping head for movement into said central opening and into operative relation with respect to said article carrying molds disposed therein, each of said stripping arms including an article-engaging spade and a rotary brush adjacent thereto, each of said brushes having a brush mounting shaft, and means connecting said brush mounting shafts for simultaneous and reversible rotation, said arms being interconnected for simultaneous pivoting movement,

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a frame, a first endless sprocket trained conveyor means carried by said frame, said stripping head being mounted by said first conveyor means and movable therewith, said interconnected pivotal arms each mounted by an arm shaft immovably carrying gear means at one end, and a least one fixed chain supported by said frame in position for cooperation with one of said gear means as said stripping head moves past the latter thereby to pivot the stripping arms in one direction or another and in relation to said stripping head central opening for gripping the article open end and expanding it away from the mold.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 including a first channelled track means immovably mounted by said frame, and said stripping head supporting a plurality of rollers adapted for movement within said first track means thereby to determine the path of movement of said first conveyor means and said stripping head.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a second channelled track means immovably mounted by said frame, and said folding head including arm means at opposite sides carrying an end roller, said end roller cooperating with said second track means to guide the folding head for movement along an endless path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a plurality of members having a surface profile over which the folding head is adapted to move and extending substantially the length of said second conveyor means, said members being mounted by said frame, and said arm means carrying a second roller mounted for rolling cooperation with said profiled surface, said surface profile following a predetermined path in relation to the path of said first conveyor means whereby said folding head moves relative to the stripping head as the heads are conveyed along the endless path to both fold and remove the folded ar ticle from said stripping head.

12. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including a stripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a molded article from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travels separately in timed re lation to the separate movement of said stripping head thereby to engage, fold and grip the stripped article carried by the stripping head, said folding head comprising a body means supporting a plurality of folding members on said body in substantialy normal relation, said members adapted for movement with the body into cooperative relation with said stripping mechanism and said stripped article, and means for first moving the members into contact with one another to grip the article as said head moves into said cooperative relationship to engage and fold the article and thereafter to move the members away from one another to grip the folded article.

13. The structure of claim 12 including a frame, an endless conveyor means carried by said frame, said folding head being mounted by the conveyor to travel therewith, track means carried by said frame, and means carried by said folding head cooperable with said track thereby to determine partly the positional orientation of the head and move the same into said cooperative relation as the following head moves along the endless path.

14. The structure of claim 13 including a pair of elements carried by said frame, said elements having extended length substantially equal to the upper contoured profile conveyor track and an upper contoured profile of said elements substantially equal to the upper concal 12 toured profile of the conveyor track, said folding head means engageable with said contoured profile of said elements to additionally determine said positional orientation and maintain a substantially vertical disposition of said folding members.

15. In an apparatus for producing molded elastomeric articles, an endless series of article-stripping heads adapted to successively receive one of a plurality of molded articles and article-carrying molds for stripping the former from the latter, a corresponding endless series of folding heads mounted for movement to place each folding head in cooperative relation with a stripping head for an article receiving and folding operation, means for operating said respective series of heads in timed relation to each other, the folding head including a body supporting a plurality of folding members, said members being movable into and out of a central opening in said stripping head and adjacent the stripped article as said folding head moves in said timed relation with the stripping head for interacting with said stripped article between the extended portion and the opened end of the article to first accomplish a reverse folding of the open end of the article over the remainder of the same and thereafter to grip the article, means for causing said relative movement between the stripping head and the associate folding head, means for effecting release of the article from the stripping head after the article is folded and gripped by the folding members, means for effecting release of the grip of the folding members on the article engaged therewith, a pinrality of follower means adapted for movement toward and away from maximum separation, resilient means to bias the follower means in the former direction, said follower means depending from said folding members so that said member moves with said followers yet oppositely directed, an element supported by said frame having a length substantially that of the second conveyor means, said element having a cam profile, said follower means cooperative with said profile thereby to cause the folding members sequentially to move toward one another as the folding members enter said central opening, thereafter to maintain a relatively wider spacing as the article is folded and, finally, to separate to a maximum under the influence of said resilient means to grip the folded article after release from the stripping head.

16. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including a stripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a molded article from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travels in timed relation to said stripping head thereby to engage, fold and grip the stripped article carried by the stripping head, said folding head comprising a body means supporting a plurality of folding members on said body in substantially normal relation, said members adapted for movement with the body into cooperative relation with said stripping mechanism and said stripped article, means for first moving the members into contact with one another to grip the article as said head moves into said cooperative relation to engage and fold the article and thereafter to move the members away from one another to grip the folded article, a plurality of follower members, said means carried by said body, additionally supporting said follower members in depending relation, resilient means biasing said follower member in a first direction whereby said folding members are spaced at a maximum, and means for moving said follower members in a second direction whereby said follower members are spaced at a minimum to initially engage the article.

17. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including a stripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a molded article from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travels in timed relation to said stripping head thereby to engage, fold and grip the stripped article carried by the stripping head, said folding head comprising a body means supporting a plurality of folding members on said body in substantially normal relation, said members adapted for movement with the body into cooperative relation with said stripping mechanism and said stripped article, means for first moving the members into contact with one another to grip the article as said head moves into said cooperative relation to engage and fold the article and thereafter to move the members away from one another to grip the folded article, a plurality of follower members, said means carried by said body, additionally supporting said follower members in depending relation, resilient means biasing said follower member in a first direction whereby said folding members are spaced at a maximum, and means for moving said follower members in a second direction whereby said follower members are spaced at a minimum to initially engage the article, said means for moving the follower members against said bias means being an elongated element having a pair of opposed profile surfaces, and said follower members formed by a roller being biased toward the profile to track the same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner 15 R. L. SPICER, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.