US3657832A

US3657832A - Method of and apparatus for feeding laundered textile sheets to a feed band

Info

Publication number: US3657832A
Application number: US854107A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman Stanley Valentine
Original assignee: Polymark International Ltd
Current assignee: POLYMARK INTERNATIONAL PLC A CORP OF UK
Priority date: 1968-09-03
Filing date: 1969-08-29
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25
Also published as: DE1944398A1; FR2019401A1; BE738370A; CA922326A; GB1255499A; NL6913251A

Abstract

Sheets and like flat work are prepared for feeding to ironing or calendering machines by conveying an edge portion of each sheet on to a table surface on which said portion is held by suction, and said portion is then transferred towards feed tapes of the machine by means of a plurality of transverse members at least one of which moves relatively to the sheet to form a fold which is passed towards the machine and the edge is laid on and gripped by the feed tapes, and the sheet is drawn in a sinuous path over the transverse members to smooth out the sheet as it passes towards the machine. A suction box may act initially on the leading edge of the sheet and the remainder of the sheet is later drawn in the form of a loop into the suction box. The equipment may include a clear bar to retain a hanging part of the sheet during the movement of a first transfer bar to form a loop and a second transfer bar to form a further loop and to transfer it on to the feed tapes.

Description

United States Patent Valentine 1 51 Apr.25,1972

[54] METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LAUNDERED TEXTILE SHEETS TO A FEED BAND [72] Inventor: Norman Stanley Valentine, Angmering,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 3, 1968 Great Britain ..4l,930/68 52 11.5.0 ..ss/143,271/s4,271/74 51] 1111.0. ..D06f67/04 158 Field 61 Search ..38/2, 14.3; 198/102; 270/93; 271/69, 68, 54, 74, 84, 45, 49, s1, s5; 214/1 L;

3,231,267 l/l966 Boam et al. ..38/l43 X 3,370,849 2/1968 Martin ..38/l43 X 3,376,036 4/1968 Weir ..27l/54 3,430,952 3/1969 Benjamin.. .....27l/74 3,442,036 5/1969 Taylor ..38/ l 43 3,198,315 8/1965 Long ..l98/102 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,415,903 9/1965 France ..38/143 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT Sheets and like flat work are prepared for feeding to ironing or calendering machines by conveying an edge portion of each sheet on to a table surface on which said portion is held by suction, and said portion is then transferred towards feed tapes of the machine by means of a plurality of transverse members at least one of which moves relatively to the sheet to form a fold which is passed towards the machine and the edge is laid on and gripped by the feed tapes, and the sheet is drawn in a sinuous path over the transverse members to smooth out the sheet as it passes towards the machine. A suction box may act initially on the leading edge of the sheet and the remainder ofthe sheet is later drawn in the form ofa loop into the suction box. The equipment may include a clear bar to retain a hanging part of the sheet during the movement of a first transfer bar to form a loop and a second transfer bar to form a further loop and to transfer it on to the feed tapes.

30 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATEHTEQ APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 2 OF 7 In venlor y w I 2 t frneyg PATENTEB APR 2 5 1912 SHEET 5 OF 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LAUNDERED TEXTILE SHEETS TO A FEED BAND The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for feeding sheets to processing equipment and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with feeding laundered flat work, such as sheets, to ironing or calendering machines.

In commercial laundries articles are received from a dryer or extractor in a highly compressed condition which requires considerable manual labor to open out each successive article into a flat condition ready for presentation to the feed tapes of an ironing machine or calender, and even when several operators are used it is not normally possible to supply articles at a rate which permits full output of the processing equipment to be utilized.

The present invention is particularly concerned with methods and equipment whereby this operation of opening out sheets and the like can be speeded up to a substantial extent and can be carried out with the minimum amount of labor and which moreover permits the articles to be presented to the ironing machine or calender in rapid succession in such a way that the processing equipment is utilized economically and the sheets are fed in in a smooth condition substantially without wrinkles or creases; this ensures that a well finished ironed article of good appearance is produced.

A method for feeding sheets to processing equipment according to the present invention comprises laying a portion of each sheet by mechanical means on to a table surface so that a portion of the sheet bounding one edge is supported on said surface, and displacing said portion by means of at least one transversely disposed transfer member movable towards the processing equipment, causing the processing equipment to receive and feed the said edge of the sheet and causing the remainder of the sheet to pass in a sinuous path over one or more transversely disposed members while being drawn into the processing equipment.

Preferably the transfer member is arranged to cause the portion of the sheet supported on the table to fold around said member in the form of a loop which is then passed in the direction towards the processing equipment, and it may be engaged by a further transfer member which again forms a loop from which the edge is deposited on feed tapes of the equipment.

The apparatus may be arranged so that the sheet is caused to pass over a series of transversely disposed members one or more of which are movable transfer bars or rollers which cooperate to shift the portion of the sheet previously supported on the table to the feed tapes of the processing equipment while the remainder of the sheet is caused to travel in a sinuous path as it is drawn into the processing equipment by the action of the feed tapes.

Preferably a suction box is provided having a mouth opening extending transversely of the apparatus, and the leading edge of the sheet previously supported on the table is placed along said mouth so that it is subjected to the action of a down-flowing air stream entering the suction box and at a later stage the remainder of the sheet is drawn downwardly in the form of a loop into the suction box from which the said remainder of the sheet is fed as the sheet is drawn into the processing equipment.

The sheet is deposited on the table surface by means of a trolley member displaceable side to side over the surface thereof and associated with gripper means adapted to support the sheet near one corner, the gripper means being released by centralizing means so that the deposited sheet is disposed centrally of the table.

Apparatus according to the invention may comprise a table adapted to retain a portion of the sheet bounding one edge and over which a corner part of the sheet is conveyed and on which said portion is deposited so as to be temporarily supported by the table in the flat condition, a displaceable transfer bar or roller adapted to engage said portion of the sheet and to transfer it in the form of a loop towards the processing equipment, the bars or rollers moving progressively within the loop until the edge is released, and further transfer means for presenting said edge to the processing equipment.

Further features of the apparatus will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a sheet feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in partial section showing the arrangement of the trolley member movable over the table surface,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 showing the means for supporting and operating the trolley member,

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the centralizing unit,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the actuating block of the centralizing unit,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is a side view of the feeder showing the operating cylinders and linkages for operating the transfer bar, the clamp bar and associated parts,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views showing the front transfer assembly in various operating positions, and

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating the transfer of the sheet to the processing equipment.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT The equipment shown on the drawings comprises a separate feeder unit 11 mounted on rails 12 extending towards a calender or ironing machine which is not shown except for the front roller and the feed tapes shown at 13 in FIGS. 8 to 12. The unit 11 comprises at the end nearest the calender or ironing machine a front transfer assembly indicated generally at 15 which in the operating position in part overlies the feed tapes 13. At the rear the machine comprises a flat topped table 16 having suction openings 17 therein receiving suction from beneath by a suction fan, not shown.

A trolley member 18 is adapted to be traversed from side to side along the table 16 and grips a portion of a sheet bounding one longer edge to carry that portion of the sheet over the surface of the table 16 where it is deposited centrally of the length of the table by means of a centralizing unit and retained for a short period by suction, the remainder of the sheet hanging downwardly in a trough 19. The said longer edge of the sheet is hereinafter referred to as the leading edge and this edge is transferred first to the feed tapes 13 by the means to be described.

The construction and operation of the various parts of the equipment will now be described in greater detail.

SUCTION TABLE AND TROLLEY The table 16 incorporates a slot 21 beneath which is disposed a driving chain 22 driven by a reversible motor, not shown, which also drives the centralizing unit chain 41 through reduction gearing. Rails 24 on each side below the table 16 support a movable carriage 2S operatively connected to the upper run of the chain 22. The carriage incorporates an upwardly directed U-member 26 to the upper end of which the trolley member 18 is attached.

The trolley 18 embodies an inverted U-shaped upper part having divergent wing surfaces 27 on each side which are engageable by

sheet gripper members

28, 29. The

gripper members

28, 29 are pivotally mounted on

spindles

30, 31 carrying levers 23 which are operatively linked to levers 32 with rollers 33 adapted to engage displaceable ramps 34 positioned at the two ends of the table 16 on opposite respective sides of the chain 22. Each ramp 34 is associated with an air cylinder controlled by the centralizing unit, to raise it from an inoperative lower position to the operative upper position shown on FIG. 2 for engagement with the respective roller 33. At the end of the run of the trolley member 18 the roller 33 concerned runs on to a fixed ramp section 35 which ensures that the trolley gripper member concerned (28 in FIG. 2) is always released at the end of the run of the trolley.

At each end of the table 16 there is provided a guide bar 37 which is divergent towards the rear and over which the said portion of a sheet engaged by the trolley 18 is drawn when the trolley moves from one end of the table 16 to the other; this assists the operator in spreading out the said portion of the sheet as it is conveyed over the table 16.

The operation of the equipment so far described can be briefly explained as follows: With the trolley 18 at one end of the table 16 the operator inserts one corner section of the sheet beneath the gripper 29 (in the position of FIG. 2) with the sheet hanging down mainly over the guide 37. The trolley 18 is now started manually or automatically and moves over the table 16 by the action of the chain 22. The said portion of the sheet, bounding one of the longer edges, is thus spread out on to the table 16 and when the sheet is positioned substantially centrally of the length of the table 16 the gripper 29 is released by the centralizing unit leaving the said portion of the sheet placed centrally on the table ready for transfer to the feed tapes 13. This portion is retained in position momentarily by the suction opening 17 while the remainder of the sheet passes into the trough 19.

The suction openings 17 are preferably of louvre form and the sections of the table 16 on the two sides of the central slot are fed by separate ducts indicated on the drawings which are connected to a suction fan (not shown). In some cases it may be desired to reduce the suction operative through the openings 17 before release of the portion of the article supported on the upper surface of the table, and for this purpose the pressure side of the fan may be associated with a moving damper plate which partially closes the pressure side and thus reduces the suction exerted. Preferably the rear edge of the table 16 is provided with an upwardly projecting stop face which assists in positioning the edge of the sheet in correct position on the table 16 with the edge of the sheet parallel to and closely adjacent the stop face.

With this portion of the sheet supported on the table in a flat condition and located squarely on the table the subsequent transfer of the sheet can be effected smoothly and without wrinkles.

CENTRALIZING UNIT The centralizing unit comprises the slave chain 41 which is much shorter than the chain 22 and is supported on sprocket wheels 42 at the rear of the feeder. The upper run of the chain 41 is fixed to an actuator block 44 which thus moves from side to side alternately in step with the movement of the trolley member 18. The lower run of the chain 41 is associated with a pair of measuring blocks 45 mounted on suitable linear guides for selective movement in step with the chain 41 as explained hereinafter. Each measuring block supports a shaft 46 carrying a sprocket wheel 47 in engagement with the chain 41 and a ratchet wheel 48 engageable with a spring pressed pawl 49 pivoted to the measuring block. A downwardly extending part of each measuring block includes a lever 51 carrying a pin 52 engaging the pawl 49 and, except when the measuring block is to be coupled to the chain 41, the pawl 49 is lifted by the pin 52 out of engagement with the wheel 48 and the measuring block 45 accordingly remains stationary in its end position.

At each end of the centralizing unit there is provided an air cylinder 53 housing a piston rod 54 the end of which is engageable with the pin 52 whereby on admission of air to the cylinder 53 the pin 52 is displaced to release the pawl 49 and thereby to initiate the displacement of the respective measuring block 45.

The actuator block 44 is provided with a pair of depending levers 56, 57 pivotally supported in brackets 58 and carrying actuator pins 59 on projecting levers 61 which pins are engageable with displaceably supported

rail members

63, 64 operating switches S1 and S2 which in turn control air valves for the cylinders which operate the ramps 34 and thereby release the

gripper members

28, 29. Pins 66 on the measuring blocks 45 are engageable with the lower ends of the

levers

56, 57 for displacement of the latter.

The operation of the centralizing unit is as follows: After a corner part of a sheet has been inserted beneath the

gripper member

28 or 29 of the trolley member 18 the latter is set into operation manually or automatically and the actuator block 44 commences to move in the same direction.

As the trailing side of the sheet passes a photo-electric control unit 67, these units being provided at each side of the feeder, the photo-electric control device operates an air valve, not shown, which admits air to the oppositely located control cylinder 53 which actuates the pin 52 to release the pawl 49 so that the measuring block concerned commences to move in the opposite direction to the actuator block 44 so that the two blocks approach one another.

When the measuring block engages the actuator block the pin 66 displaces the lever 56 to the position shown and thus lifts the

rail

63 or 64 and at the same time the pin 52 is engaged by an end abutment face 68 of a metal strip 69 secured to the actuator block 44. This releases the measuring block 45 from the chain 41 and the actuator block pushes the measuring block 45 to its starting position corresponding to the position of the block 45 on the left-hand side of FIG. 4. Suitable limit switch means are of course provided to stop the motor driving the trolley 18 when it reaches its end position. Also for automatic operation such means prepare the motor control circuit for operation in the reverse direction to move the trolley 18 and the actuator block 44 in the opposite direction on the next operation of the machine by inserting a sheet in the

gripper

29 or 28 and thereby operating the control unit 67.

It will be understood that because the actuator block 44 moves in step with the trolley member 18 and because the respective measuring block 45 commences its travel at the same speed as the actuator block 44 when the trailing side of the sheet passes on to the table, engagement of the measuring block 45 with the actuator block occurs when the sheet is disposed centrally of the length of the table 16 and causing release of the sheet at a point centrally of the table.

Sheets may thus be fed successively from the two sides of the machine; obviously sheets could be supplied from one side only, any suitable means being provided for returning the trolley member 18 idly to its original position.

TRANSFER OF THE SHEET TO THE FEED TAPES By the means described one portion of the sheet is momentarily supported on the table 16 and the remainder of the sheet hangs downwardly within the trough 19. Transfer of the sheet to the feed tapes is effected as follows: A clamp bar 81 mounted on levers 82 fixed at each end to a shaft 83 in the main frame is swung over to position 811 to clamp the hanging part of the sheet against a fixed support block 84, this movement being obtained by means of a pneumatic cylinder unit 85 pivoted to the frame and the piston rod 86 of which is coupled to an arm 90 on the shaft 83 by means of a pair of

toggle links

87, 88 which are held in the in-line position by a link 105 referred to below. The forward edge of the table 16 has a recess which houses a first transfer bar or roller 89 carried by side arms 91 fixed to a shaft 92 pivoted to the frame, said shaft further carrying an arm 93 coupled to a pneumatic cylinder 94.

The link 105 forms part of mechanism for actuating the clamp bar 81 from its normal or loading position 812 to a clearance position 813 which it must adopt to allow the transfer of the remainder of the sheet to the suction box 97 referred to hereinafter. The link member 105 is connected to a bell crank lever 104 pivoted to the frame of the feeder, the lower arm being connected to the piston rod 102 of an air cylinder 103. It will be seen that when air is admitted to the cylinder 103 the link 105 is pulled downwardly, bringing the toggle links 87 and 88 out of line and swinging down the arm 90 and the clamp bar 81 during which operation the cylinder swings downwardly about its pivot in the clockwise direction. This brings the clamp bar 81 to the lowermost position shown at 813 to allow the remainder or trailing part of the sheet to become draped over a guide roller 99 and the mouth opening 98 of a suction box 97 so that the whole of the trailing section of the sheet is drawn in the form of a U-loop into the suction box 97, as indicated on FIG. 12.

The transfer procedure further involves the use of a secondary transfer bar or roller 95 carried at each end by chains 96 forming part of the front transfer assembly 15 to be described in more detail below.

The suction box 97 comprises a vertical suction duct having a narrow mouth opening indicated at 98 extending across the equipment at a point adjacent to the feed tapes 13. This suction box 97 is preferably mounted independently of the feeder equipment as clearly shown on FIG. 7 of the drawings, and it includes the guide roller 99, also a switch S11 which is operated when a sheet is placed over and is drawn into the suction box 97. Such suction box units are available commercially under the Trade Mark Feedmaster.

The sequence of the transfer operations is explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. to 12 and it proceeds as follows: First the clamp bar 81 is brought into engagement with the support block 84 so that the upper part of the hanging portion of the sheet is firmly clamped and then the transfer bar 89 is swung forwardly by the action of the pneumatic cylinder 94 to the position indicated at 891 on FIGS. 7 and 11. This operation draws a loop from the part of the sheet lying on the table 16 and, with a continuing movement of the transfer bar 89, the loop passes over the bar in a sinuous path with a smoothing action and before the final position is reached the free edge of the sheet passes off the bar 89 and drops on to the secondary transfer bar 95 and the roller 99 and the leading edge enters the upper part of the mouth 98 of the suction box 97. While these operations are in progress the clamp bar 81 is moved back by the action of the pneumatic cylinder 85 and the toggle links 87, 88, to the loading position 812 which in effect releases a short length of the sheet to ensure that the leading edge enters the mouth opening 98 of the suction box 97 (see FIG. 11) sufficiently for the suction operative in the box 97 to exert a drag on the leading edge of the sheet.

Thereafter the chain 96 is set into motion displacing the secondary transfer bar 95 so as to draw a loop consisting of the part of the sheet previously disposed in the mouth opening 98 of the suction box 97 and this loop is carried towards the feed tapes 13, the loop passing over the bar 95 until the edge of the sheet is released and is deposited on the feed tapes.

As will be explained hereinafter the front transfer assembly supports a dolly roller 101 which is momentarily lifted as the edge of the sheet is placed on the feed tapes 13 and is later lowered to ensure smooth passage of the sheet into the calender or ironing machine by the pull of the feed tapes 13. This operation is assisted by the brush 141 referred to below.

The clamp bar 81 then moves to its lowermost clearing position 813 to release the sheet further so that it is laid over the mouth 98, but the movement is delayed momentarily so that the leading edge of the sheet is pulled taut by the action of the feed tapes 13 before the remainder of, the sheet is engaged by the suction box 97 and is drawn into the latter in the form ofa loop. The leading edge of the sheet is now entering the processing machine on the feed tapes 13 and as feed into the machine continues the sheet is drawn from the loop formed in the suction box 97, and it will be appreciated that the smoothing and tensioning actions obtained by the sinuous motion of the sheet over the various transfer bars 89 and 95, the clamp bar 81, the roller 99 and the suction box 97 produce a substantial smoothing out of the sheet before it enters the machine on the feed tapes 13.

FRONT TRANSFER ASSEMBLY This assembly 15 comprises at each side rigid side frames 111 pivotally mounted at 112 on the main frame of the feeder unit 11 thus providing for pivoting adjustment of the transfer assembly around the pivot 112 to suit a range of different machines to which the feeder is to be fitted. Adjustment is effected by means of a screw-threaded coupling member 113 (FIG. 7) one end of which is pivoted at 114 to the forward section of the transfer unit to support the front end of the assembly at various levels according to local requirements and conditions.

The side frames 111 each support four

sprocket wheels

115, 116, 117, 118 over which the chains 96 on each side are trained. Each sprocket wheel 115 is supported by a shaft extending into the casing housing the air cylinder and its associated parts and carries a further sprocket wheel 121 connected in each case by chains 122 to a sprocket wheel 123 on a shaft 124 driven by a driving motor, not shown. The transfer bar extends transversely of the machine and is supported by fixing plates attached to the chains at each end. The dolly roller 101 and the brush 141 also extend transversely between the two side frames 111. The dolly roller 101 is supported at each end by a plate 125 which embodies a slot 126 guided on a roller 127 so that the plate 125 can move in an approximately vertical direction away from the feed tapes 13. The plate 125 is linked to a vertically extending member 129 disposed on the outer side of the frame 111 and which is bent over at its top in U-shape and is linked to a cam lever 130 pivotally supported at 131 on a bracket 152 fixed to the side frame 111.

A projecting cam roller 132 on the chain 96 is adapted to engage a curved cam face portion 133 of the cam lever 130 so that when the chain 96 is set into movement in the anticlockwise direction (FIGS. 8 and 9) the cam roller 132 rides over the cam face 133 thus lifting the lever 130 and the dolly roller 101 (see chain dot line position, FIG. 8).

The front transfer unit further includes brush 141 which assists in laying down the leading edge of the sheet on the feed tapes 13. The brush 141 is carried by a lever 142 pivoted at 128 to the upper end of the plate 125 so that the brush 141 participates in the movement of the dolly roller 101. A projecting arm 143 fixed to the lever 142 carries an engagement face 144 which lies in the path of a further cam 150 secured to the chain 96 slightly behind the transfer bar 95 in the direction of movement of the latter. This cam 150 strikes the engagement face 144 and swings the brush 141 upwardly in the anticlockwise direction after the dolly roller 101 has been lowered on to the edge of the sheet to grip it against the feed tapes 13 as shown in FIG. 9. This sweep of the brush 141 assists in smoothing out the leading edge of the sheet supported on the feed tapes 13. A projecting lug 145 on the lever 142 catches behind the end face 146 of a catch lever 147 pivoted at 148 to the side frame 111 thereby retaining the brush 141 in its forwardly swung position momentarily until a cam face portion 149 of the lever 147 is engaged by the cam 150 towards the end of the cycle of movement of the chain 96, to allow the brush to return.

A second cam roller 132 co-axial with the cam roller 132 is engageable with two

switch operating rails

153, 154 which lie in line with one another. The rail 154 incorporates a lug which overlies the adjacent end of the rail 153 so that operation of the rail 153 by the second cam roller lifts both

rails

153 and 154 and when the movement of the chain is initiated the same cam roller runs on to the rail 154 and holds that rail in the up position after the rail 153 has been released by the cam roller and has moved to the lower position. The cam rail 154 moves downwardly only after a predetermined movement of the chain 96. The rail 153 is arranged to operate a switch S3 and the rail 154 is arranged to operate a switch S4.

LOCATION OF SWITCHES AND OPERATING SEQUENCE The feeder is arranged so that the different operating steps occur in correct sequence, the completion of each stage initiating the movement of the next following stage. This makes it relatively easy to arrange the parts so that there is some permissible overlap in the operating steps while ensuring that the next following sheet cannot be dealt with until the preceding sheet has been transferred, and after a sheet has been applied to the table the transfer operations are only initiated when at least the leading edge of the previous sheet has been taken over by the feed tapes of the processing equipment. The location of the switches S1, S2, S3, S4 and S11 has already been indicated, S1 and S2 pertaining to the centralizing unit and S3 and S4 to the front transfer unit, and S11 to the suction box.

The location of further switches and the means for operating them are shown on FIG. 7 of the drawings. The pivot pin connecting the toggle links 87, 88 is adapted to engage freely pivoted

pendant levers

161, 162. The pendant lever 161 is adapted to operate two switches S5, S6 and the pendant lever 162 is adapted to operate a switch S7. On the outward excursion of the piston rod 86 on admission of compressed air the toggle link pin displaces the pendant lever 161 without affecting the switches S5 and S6 and after a short movement the pendant lever drops to the opposite side of the pin. At the end of the outward excursion the pin engages the pendant lever 162 and operates the switch S7. On the return movement the pin strikes the opposite side of the pendant lever 161 and the latter is displaced to operate the switches S5 and S6, which are released only after the cylinder 103 has shifted the toggle links 87 and 88 to move the clamp bar 81 to the clearance position 813. A switch S8 is operated by the bell crank 104 when the cylinder 103 has moved the clamp bar to the clearance position 813. A switch S9 is operated when the first transfer bar 95 has completed its forward movement and a switch S10 is operated as soon as the transfer bar moves from the normal position.

An automatic/manual control switch is provided; in the manual position the trolley member 18 may be started by a manual start switch on each side. When automatic operation is in use the insertion of a sheet beneath the closed gripper, with the trolley member in either end position, results in part of the sheet coming into the path of the photo-electric control 67 which then initiates the movement of the trolley member 18 away from the end being loaded. The passage of the trailing side of the sheet past the same photo-electric unit 67 towards the end of the trolley movement results in the release of the gripper by the centralizing unit.

Initiation of the next stage in the transfer cycle to transfer the sheet disposed on the table towards the processing equipment may be initiated by a manual transfer" control or by automatic circuit features which are initiated when the gripper is released by the centralizing unit or when limit switch means are operated at the end of each travel of the trolley member. On commencement of the transfer operation air is admitted to the cylinder 85 by the manual control or the automatic circuit features. The cylinder 85 moves the clamp bar 81 to position 811 so that the hanging part of the sheet is gripped by the clamp bar 84 as shown in FIG. 10 in chain clot lines and the switch S7 is operated. This switch operates a solenoid valve to admit air to the transfer bar cylinder 94 which then swings the bar or roller 89 forwards to initiate the transfer cycle and the movement continues until the leading edge of the sheet is in the position shown in FIG. 11 in chain dot lines, that is over the second transfer bar 95 and engaged in the mouth opening 98 of the suction box 97. At the end of this movement the switch S9 is operated. This switch reverses the solenoid valve and releases the pressure from the cylinder 94 so that the transfer bar 89 returns to its normal position beneath the table.

The initial movement of the piston rod of the cylinder 94 operates the switch S10 which has a number of contacts which disconnect or isolate the circuits controlling the trolley drive motor and prevent the feeding of a further sheet on to the table until the transfer bar has returned to its normal position beneath the table; other contacts isolate the start circuit for the transfer bar to ensure that it completes its full movement.

The operation of the switch S9 is further arranged to release the pressure from clamp bar cylinder 85 so that the clamp bar 81 returns to the loading position indicated at 812; towards the end of this return movement the pendant lever 161 operates the switches S5 and S6. The switch S5 is connected in series with the suction box switch $11 which is arranged so that the switch operates as soon as the previously fed sheet has left the suction box, and these switches S11 and S5 together start the driving motor for the chains 96 of the second transfer bar (the motor is held in operation for one cycle by the switch S3), so that the second transfer bar now moves to transfer the leading edge of the sheet to the feed tapes. The initial part of this stage with the sheet becoming folded around the transfer bar 95 is shown in full lines in FIG. 12. Then the dolly roller 101 is lifted as already explained and later the switch S4 is operated. The switches S4 and S6 are co-ordinated; the switch S6 operates on return of the clamp bar 81 to the loading position 812 but operation of the switch S4 is delayed until the second transfer bar 95 has moved past the dolly roller 101 and the feed tapes are drawing the sheet into the ironing machine or calender. Operation of both switches operates the cylinder 83 by means of a solenoid valve whereby the link is pulled down, releasing the switches S5 and S6, and the clamp bar 81 is moved down to the clearance position 813 already referred to, causing the remainder of the sheet to overlie the suction box and to be drawn into the latter as shown in FIG. 12 in chain dot lines. The sheet now operates the switch S11 to prevent further operation of the transfer bar 95 being initiated by the switch S5 until the previous sheet has cleared the suction box. The switch S8 operated at the end of the stroke of the cylinder 103 reverses the operation of the cylinder and allows the clamp bar 81 to return to the loading position 812.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for feeding sheets to processing equipment comprising laying a portion bounding one edge of each sheet by mechanical means onto a table surface so that said portion is supported on said surface, displacing said portion toward the processing equipment, causing the processing equipment to receive and feed the said edge of the sheet and causing the remainder of the sheet to pass in a sinuous path over transversely disposed members while being drawn into the processing equipment, said portion of the sheet being moved by a transfer member arranged to move forwardly from beneath the table surface and initially causing said portion to form a loop around the transfer member and thereafter to become disengaged from the said member and then engaging the sheet near the said edge by a further transfer member to form a second loop from which the edge of the sheet is presented to the processing equipment and is picked up by the latter, and in which the remainder of the sheet is caused to travel sinuously over guide means to the processing equipment.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein after formation of the first loop the edge is presented to the mouth of a suction chamber so as to be acted on by a downwardly moving air stream entering the suction chamber, and thereafter the second loop, formed of the edge section initially presented to said suction chamber, is transferred to and is then fed by the processing equipment while a following part of the sheet is presented to the upper surface of the suction chamber so that said part and the remainder of the sheet is drawn down into the suction chamber in the form of a loop and from which the sheet is drawn by the processing equipment.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is conveyed over the table surface by means of a trolley member movable from side to side over said surface and said sheet is released from the trolley member by control means responsive to the trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed on to the table surface, so that the said portion of the sheet is deposited centrally of the length of the table.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the table surface is arranged to retain the said portion of the article by suction and the part of the sheet adjacent to the portion deposited on said table surface is engaged by a clamp bar, a transfer bar arranged over the clamp bar sweeps the said portion of the article in the form of a loop in the direction towards the processing equipment, a further loop is formed from the same portion of the sheet previously engaged by the transfer bar and is fed in the form of a second loop towards the processing equipment where the edge is engaged between a dolly roller and feed tapes of the processing equipment and the clamp bar is moved to a lowered clearing position so that the remainder of the sheet is released and thereafter moves into the processing equipment on the feed tapes.

5. A method for feeding sheets to processing equipment comprising engaging a sheet near one comer and conveying it along a table surface on which a portion of the sheet bounding one edge is deposited and temporarily supported thereby in a flat condition, and thereafter causing a member extending parallel to the table to move relatively to the sheet to cause the sheet to fold around said member and to transfer said portion from the table toward a position where said edge is presented to feed means of the processing equipment, the remainder of the sheet being initially supported handing freely from one edge of the table surface and said remainder being engaged by a clamp bar while the section supported on the table surface is transferred toward the processing equipment after which the clamp bar is released to allow the remainder of the sheet to pass toward the processing equipment.

6. A method according to claim 5, in which the clamp bar is movable to a lower clearance position to permit the remainder of the sheet to be drawn as a loop into the suction box.

7. A sheet feeder for feeding flat sheet products to processing equipment comprising a table adapted to retain a portion of a sheet bounding one edge, and over which a corner part of the sheet is conveyed and on which said portion is deposited so as to be temporarily supported by the table in the flat condition, a displaceable transfer member adapted to engage said portion of the sheet and to transfer it in the form of a loop towards the processing equipment, the member moving progressively within the loop until the edge is released, and transfer means for presenting said edge to the processing equipment.

8. A sheet feeder according to claim 7, wherein the table embodies openings by which suction is made effective on the upper surface to retain the said portion of the sheet on said surface with the remainder of the sheet hanging downwardly from one edge of the table, a clamp bar movable into engagement with said hanging part of the sheet while the transfer member is forming the loop from said portion of the sheet and transferring it towards the processing equipment, a further transfer member located between the first transfer member and the processing equipment to draw a further loop adjacent the edge of the sheet and to present it to the processing equipment, and means to move said clamp bar to a clearance position to release the remainder of the sheet to pass towards the processing equipment.

9. A sheet feeder according to claim 8, wherein the second transfer member forms part of a pivotally mounted front transfer unit which is adjustable relatively to the feeder to suit the processing equipment.

10. A sheet feeder according to claim 9, wherein the front transfer unit incorporates drive chains at each side between which the second transfer member is supported, said front transfer unit further incorporates a dolly roller engageable with feed tapes of the processing equipment and the chains incorporate means for lifting the dolly roller as the edge of the sheet is presented to the feed tapes, the dolly roller being thereafter lowered into engagement with the said edge of the sheet to press the latter into engagement with the feed tapes to convey the sheet into the processing equipment.

11. A sheet feeder according to claim 10, wherein the front transfer unit includes a pivotally movable brush operatively connected with the dolly roller and adapted to be swung forwardly by cam means carried by the chains to brush the lead ing part of the sheet on to the feed tapes as the edge of the sheet is placed on the feed tapes and engaged by the dolly roller.

12. A sheet feeder according to claim 7, wherein a suction chamber having an open mouth extending across the width of the processing equipment is arranged between the table and the processing equipment, the first transfer member is operated so as to present the edge of the sheet to the said mouth so that said edge is subjected to the action of a downwardly flowing air stream entering the suction chamber, the further transfer member is arranged to form a loop of the part of the sheet so presented to the suction chamber to transfer said edge towards the processing equipment, and the clamp bar is displaceable from a clamping position to a loading position and then to a clearing position to allow the remainder of the sheet to be presented to the mouth of the suction chamber so that said remainder is drawn downwardly by air flow in the form of a loop into the suction chamber from which the sheet is drawn progressively by the action of the processing equipment.

13. A sheet feeder according to claim 7, in which the various moving parts of the feeder are arranged to be operated sequentially, the performance of one step initiating the performance of the next step and so that the feed of the next following sheet cannot occur until the preceding sheet has at least partially entered the processing equipment.

14. A sheet feeder according to claim 7, wherein the sheet is conveyed over the table surface by means of a reciprocating trolley movable over the said surface, said trolley being operable to receive a comer of the sheet from either side of the surface and to carry said corner and the adjoining parts of the sheet over the table surface, and means to release said sheet from the trolley when the whole length of the said portion of the sheet has been conveyed over the table surface.

15. A sheet feeder according to claim 14, wherein a centralizing device is provided for controlling the release of the sheet from the trolley at a point of the travel of the latter such that the sheet is positioned centrally of the length of the table.

16. A sheet feeder according to claim 14, wherein the trolley is provided with oppositely disposed grippers so that sheets can be conveyed from either side of the table and the release of both grippers is selectively controlled by a common centralizing device.

17. A sheet feeder according to claim 15, wherein the centralizing device comprises a chain operated in synchronism with the trolley, an actuator member movable with said chain in step with the trolley, a measuring member disposed towards each end of the chain and adapted to be coupled with the chain when the trailing edge of a sheet being conveyed by the trolley passes a sensing point at each end of the table thereby to initiate oppositely directed movement of one measuring member in a path coincident with the path of the actuator member and in the approach direction, and wherein on engagement of the actuator member with the measuring member means are operated to release the sheet supported by the trolley member, after which the measuring member is released from the chain and pushed back to its starting position by the actuator member ready for the next operation of the feeder.

18. A sheet feeder according to claim 8, wherein a divergently curved guide is provided at each end of the table over which the said portion of the sheet is guided while the corner part of the sheet is being conveyed across the table, to assist in smoothing out and flattening that portion of the sheet before it is deposited on the table.

19. A method of feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising spreading a portion of each sheet adjacent one edge on to a table surface in flat and smooth form with the remainder overhanging one side of said table surface within a channel on the side of the table nearest the processing equipment, and thereafter removing the whole of said portion from said surface and transferring it to a location where it is engaged by the processing equipment with said one edge forming the leading edge entering the equipment followed immediately by the remainder of the sheet drawn directly from said channel.

20. A method of feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising conveying a corner portion of each sheet over a table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet adjacent one edge over said surface, depositing said portion of said sheet in flat condition on said table surface with a remainder overhanging one side of said table surface, and thereafter transferring the said portion of the sheet in the direction toward said processing equipment whereby said one edge is engaged by the processing equipment which then causes the said portion followed by the remainder to pass smoothly and in opened-out condition into and through the processing equipment.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the said given portion is supported on and gripped temporarily by the effect of suction operative through the table surface to hold said width portion in flat and smooth formation prior to displacement of said width portion toward the feeding equipment with the said edge forming the leading edge entering the equipment.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the remainder overhanging one edge of the table surface is held by grip means during the initial stage of transferring the said portion toward the processing equipment, and is thereafter released whereby the said width portion followed by the remainder passes into the processing equipment.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the edge of the table surface at the opposite edge of said surface to the location of the overhanging remainder is provided with a raised guide strip to locate the said one edge of the sheet to ensure that the said portion is of the required width so that when the said one edge is transferred to the processing equipment it is located in a position ready for engagement by said processing equipment and to be fed into the latter.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein the said portion of the sheet is engaged and transferred toward the processing equipment by successive transfer members movable relatively to the sheet to cause the latter to fold around the transfer members in turn, and to travel across said members with a smoothing action to effect transfer of said width portion into the processing equipment with the said edge as the leading edge and followed by the remainder, and whereby after a first sheet has entered the processing equipment, a further sheet can be conveyed over the table surface while the said width portion and the remainder of the first said sheet are being fed into the processing equipment and whereby successive sheets are fed in immediate succession to the processing equipment.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the comer portions of successive sheets are laid in opposite directions alternately from the two sides of the table surface.

26. A method of feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising spreading a portion of each sheet adjacent its rearward edge by mechanical means on to a horizontal table surface in flat and smooth form so that said portion is supported on said surface with said rearward edge of said sheet aligned with one edge of said table surface lying farthest from said processing equipment as compared to the remainder of said table, and thereafter causing said portion to be transferred to and engaged by the processing equipment rearward edge forming the leading edge entering the equipment and the remainder of the sheet then following into the processing equipment.

27. A method of feeding sheets, being textile products, to is equipment, comprising conveying a comer portion of each sheet over a horizontal table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet adjacent its rearward edge over said surface, depositing said portion of said sheet in flat condition wholly on said table surface with the remainder of said sheet including the leading edge thereof overhanging one side of said table surface, said remainder of said sheet being located nearer the processing equipment than said rearward edge, and thereafter transferring the said portion of the sheet in the direction toward said processing equipment in a manner whereby said rearward edges is first engaged by the processing equipment which then causes the said portion followed by the remainder to pass smoothly and in opened-out condition into and through the processin e uiprnent. t

28. A sheet feeder or eedmg sheets, being textile products,

to processing equipment, comprising a table having a surface adapted to retain a portion of the sheet adjacent one edge thereof, means for conveying each sheet over said table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet onto said surface in a manner whereby said one edge of said sheet lies at a distance farthest from said processing equipment as compared to the remainder of said sheet, and means for transferring the said portion supported on said surface towards said processing equipment with said one edge forming the leading edge of the sheet entering the equipment which then draws said portion and said remainder of said sheet into the equipment.

29. A sheet feeder for feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising a table surface adapted to receive a given portion of said sheet adjacent one edge, means for conveying a corner portion of each sheet over the table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet adjacent one edge over said surface in a manner whereby said one edge of said sheet lies at a distance farthest from said processing equipment as compared to the remainder of said sheet, said sheet being deposited smoothly and in flat condition on said table surface with said remainder overhanging one side of said table surface, means operative to transfer the said portion of the sheet in the direction toward said processing equipment with said one edge forming the leading edge, so as to cause said leading edge to enter the processing equipment which thereafter draws into said equipment the portion followed by the said remainder, whereby said sheet is caused to pass smoothly and in opened-out condition into and through the processing equipment.

30. A sheet feeder for feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising a table having a surface adapted temporarily to retain a portion of the sheet adjacent one edge in flat and smooth form with a remainder overhanging one side of said table and accommodated in a channel on the side of the table nearest the processing equipment, means for removing the whole of said portion from said table and transferring it to a location adjacent the processing equipment and for causing said one edge to enter the equipment as the leading edge followed immediately by the remainder of the sheet drawn directly from said channel.

Claims

5. A method for feeding sheets to processing equipment comprising engaging a sheet near one corner and conveying it along a table surface on which a portion of the sheet bounding one edge is deposited and temporarily supported thereby in a flat condition, and thereafter causing a member extending parallel to the table to move relatively to the sheet to cause the sheet to fold around said member and to transfer said portion from the table toward a position where said edge is presented to feed means of the processing equipment, the remainder of the sheet being initially supported handing freely from one edge of the table surface and said remainder being engaged by a clamp bar while the section supported on the table surface is transferred toward the processing equipment after which the clamp bar is released to allow the remainder of the sheet to pass toward the processing equipment.

11. A sheet feeder according to claim 10, wherein the front transfer unit includes a pivotally movable brush operatively connected with the dolly roller and adapted to be swung forwardly by cam means carried by the chains to brush the leading part of the sheet on to the feed tapes as the edge of the sheet is placed on the feed tapes and engaged by the dolly roller.

14. A sheet feeder according to claim 7, wherein the sheet is conveyed over the table surface by means of a reciprocating trolley movable over the said surface, said trolley being operable to receive a corner of the sheet from either side of the surface and to carry said corner and the adjoining parts of the sheet over the table surface, and means to release said sheet from the trolley when the whole length of the said portion of the sheet has been conveyed over the table surface.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the corner portions of successive sheets are laid in opposite directions alternately from the two sides of the table surface.

27. A method of feeding sheets, being textile products, to is equipment, comprising conveying a corner portion of each sheet over a horizontal table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet adjacent its rearward edge over said surface, depositing said portion of said sheet in flat condition wholly on said table surface with the remainder of said sheet including the leading edge thereof overhanging one side of said table surface, said remainder of said sheet being located nearer the processing equipment than said rearward edge, and thereafter transferring the said portion of the sheet in the direction toward said processing equipment in a manner whereby said rearward edges is first engaged by the processing equipment which then causes the said portion followed by the remainder to pass smoothly and in opened-out condition into and through the processing equipment.

28. A sheet feeder for feeding sheets, being textile products, to processing equipment, comprising a table having a surface aDapted to retain a portion of the sheet adjacent one edge thereof, means for conveying each sheet over said table surface to spread a given portion of said sheet onto said surface in a manner whereby said one edge of said sheet lies at a distance farthest from said processing equipment as compared to the remainder of said sheet, and means for transferring the said portion supported on said surface towards said processing equipment with said one edge forming the leading edge of the sheet entering the equipment which then draws said portion and said remainder of said sheet into the equipment.