Width-folding system and method for folding an article of clothing

Abstract

An active width folder system configured for article folding within compact article folding machines and includes a holding member with two opposite holding edges which extend in an article motion direction, a conveyor configured for conveying articles in the motion direction and a pair of actuated folding members, each configured for lifting and folding at least a portion of the article. Wherein, each folding member has a retractable lifting surface which has a variable length at least in the width direction which is perpendicular to the motion direction.

1 . A passive width folder ( 100 ) configured for article folding and comprising three members stacked in a vertical direction (VD):
 a first male member ( 38 ) comprising two opposite first folding edges ( 44 ) extending along a motion direction (MD) perpendicular to the vertical direction (VD);   a female member ( 36 ) located beneath the first male member ( 38 ) and comprising two opposite second folding edges ( 46 ) converging in the motion direction (MD); in a bottom view of the with folder parallel to the vertical direction (VD), each second folding edge ( 46 ) intersects a respective first folding edge ( 44 ) at a first intersection location along the motion direction (MD); and   a second male member ( 40 ) located opposite the first male member ( 38 ) beneath the female member ( 36 ) and comprising two opposite third folding edges diverging along the motion direction (MD); in the bottom view, each third folding edge intersects a respective adjacent second folding edge ( 46 ) at a second intersection location along the motion direction (MD),   
       wherein
 in the bottom view, the second intersection locations are located further along the motion direction (MD) than the first intersection locations. 
 
     
     
         2 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the width folder ( 100 ) further comprises a pulling mechanism which is configured to pull an article throughout the width folder ( 100 ) in the motion direction (MD). 
     
     
         3 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second male members ( 38 ,  40 ) comprise respectively adjustable first and second male extensions ( 39 ,  50 ) and the female member ( 36 ) comprises adjustable female extensions ( 42 ), all of which are configured to allow width adjustment of the width folder ( 100 ) in the width direction (WD) to adapt to different article widths. 
     
     
         4 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each pair of right at left portions are static during folding. 
     
     
         5 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein first fold lines are defined by the narrowest portion between the first folding edges ( 44 ) and second fold lines are defined by the narrowest portion between the second folding ( 46 ) edges. 
     
     
         6 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the width folder ( 100 ) is configured to perform two consecutive pairs of width folds in the article as it is conveyed in the motion direction (MD)—a first pair of width folds between the first male member ( 38 ) and the female member ( 36 ), and the second pair of width folds between the female member ( 36 ) and the second male member ( 40 ). 
     
     
         7 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a first pair of width folds is defined at the first intersection location and a second pair of width folds is defined at the second intersection location. 
     
     
         8 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein in the bottom view of the width folder ( 100 ), a tangent to each first folding edge ( 44 ) forms an acute first angle (a 1 ) with the motion direction (MD), and wherein the first angle (a 1 ) is 0 or between 0 and 2 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein in the bottom view of the width folder ( 100 ), a tangent to each second folding edge ( 46 ) forms an acute second angle (a 2 ) with the motion direction (MD), and wherein the second angle (a 2 ) ranges between 20 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein in the bottom view of the width folder ( 100 ), a tangent to each third folding edge ( 48 ) forms an acute third angle (a 3 ) with the motion direction (MD). 
     
     
         11 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the third folding edge ( 48 ) is at least partially curved, and when progressing along the curved third folding edge ( 48 ) from one end to another, at each point thereof, the tangent progressively changes direction, and the third angle (a 2 ) respectively and progressively ranges between 0 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein only the first male member ( 38 ) is width-adjustable and comprises width-adjustable first male extensions ( 39 ) which are configured to allow width-adjustment of the width folder ( 100 ) in the width direction (WD) by changing the distance between the first folding edges ( 44 ) to adapt to different article widths. 
     
     
         13 . A method of width-folding an article includes the following steps:
 a) providing the width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ;   b) adjusting a female member ( 36 ) width to a desired article width according to user input or sensory input;   c) adjusting the second male member ( 40 ) width to a desired article width according to user input or sensory input;   d) Pulling the article on top of the first male member ( 38 ) in the motion direction (MD) while the extremities of the article hang respectively over the first folding edges ( 44 ), until a two double-folds are created, one on each side of the article.   
     
     
         14 . A method of width-folding an article includes the following steps:
 a) providing the width folder ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ;   b) adjusting only the first male member ( 38 ) width to a desired article width according to user input or sensory input;   c) Pulling the article on top of the first male member ( 38 ) in the motion direction (MD) while the extremities of the article hang respectively over the first folding edges ( 44 ), until a two double-folds are created, one on each side of the article.