Filter pleating machine

Abstract

A machine for producing folds in different media. The machine includes a pair of table top plates moveable relative to one another and define an escapement plate and the other a pleater plate. The plates grip the media at space apart locations approximately twice the distance of the required pleat heigth and as they cone together a pleat or fold is produced between the two plates. The escapement plate then rises allowing the pleat to move out beyond the return path of the escapement plate as it falls and clamps the media against the table top surface. When it reaches the bottom the pleater plate rises slightly to clear the media on the table surface and then moves away from the escapement plate to a position again approximately twice the pleat heigth in preparation of then gripping the web and moving forwardly toward the escapement plate to form the next fold or pleat. The pair of plates are moved along predetermined paths in timed relation by a pair of linkage systems. A power unit is connected to the respective linkage systems by a respective one of a pair of pneumatic piston-cylinder units the valving of which is capable of being controlled by a central processing unit to control the acceleration and deceleration of the moving plates and also when required have the piston-cylinder units act as a lost-motion connection between the driver and the driven plates.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A pleating apparatus, comprising: 
 a rigid frame structure having an elongate flat surface;    a first and second pair of plates having first and second respective surfaces disposed in face-to-face relation;    means mounting and guiding said first plate on said frame for reciprocal movement in a direction toward and away from said second plate along a predetermined path generally parallel to said flat surface;    means mounting and guiding said second plate along a predetermined path in a direction toward and away from said flat surface;    first and second drive linkage means connected respectively to said first and second plates for moving the same along their respective predetermined paths;    first and second push-pull members connected respectively to said first and second linkage means and each comprising a piston-cylinder unit drivingly connected at one end thereof to the linkage means associated therewith to move the same and at the other end being drivingly connectable to suitable power means for reciprocating the same.    
     
     
         2 . The pleating apparatus of  claim 1 , including means on said first plate at a position closely adjacent said flat surface to releasably grip said ribbon transversely of length thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The pleating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a lower edge of said second plate is moveable in a direction toward and away from said flat surface to selectively grip said ribbon therebetween.  
     
     
         4 . The pleating apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said power means is connected to said first and second linkage means by respective ones of a first and second pair of push-pull members each of which comprises a piston-cylinder unit drivingly connected at one end thereof to the linkage means associated therewith to move the same and at the other end being drivingly connected to said power means.  
     
     
         5 . The pleating apparatus of  claim 4 , including valve control means associated with said pneumatic cylinders and controllable by a central processing unit to selective control acceleration and deceleration of the extension and retraction of said pneumatic cylinders units.  
     
     
         6 . The pleating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said power means comprises a motor driven crank having a pair of arms and wherein said other end of said pneumatic cylinder units are connect to a respective one of said pair of crank arms.  
     
     
         7 . The pleating apparatus of  claim 6  including means to adjustably vary the length of said crank arms.  
     
     
         8 . A pleating machine for continuously forming pleats, comprising: 
 a rigid frame structure having an elongate flat surface;    a first and second pair of plates having first and second respective surfaces disposed in face-to-face relation;    means mounting and guiding said first plate on said frame for reciprocal movement in a direction toward and away from said second plate along a predetermined path generally parallel to said flat surface;    means mounting and guiding said second plate along a predetermined path in a direction toward and away from said flat surface;    means associated with said first and second plates for grippingly engaging a ribbon of material on said flat surface during movement of said first plate in a direction toward said second plate;    first and second drive linkage means connected respectively to said first and second plates for moving the same along their respective predetermined paths;    power means drivingly connected to said linkages for moving said first and second plates in timed interrelated relation to form pleats one after another in said ribbon of material.    
     
     
         9 . The pleating machine of  claim 8 , wherein said plate respective first and second surfaces are flat and disposed in respective ones of a pair of parallel planes substantially perpendicular to said elongate flat surface.  
     
     
         10 . A method of forming pleats in a strip of material comprising the steps of: 
 drawing said strip of material along a predetermined generally horizontal path;    forming pleats therein by a pair of pleat forming plates that are moveable relative to one another and a fixed structure defining said horizontal path;    gripping said material by said plates at a pair of positions spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the strip;    moving said plates relative to one another and said fixed structure to bring said plates together while maintaining the grip on said material and thereby forming a pleat between said plates and pleats disposed at a higher elevation higher than said that of said predetermined path; and    repeating the sequence to form a plurality of pleats.