Stephen B Carter

US Patent:

6913171, Jul 5, 2005

Filed:

Apr 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/409292

Inventors:

Stephen P. Carter - Galivants Ferry SC, US

Assignee:

M&R Printing Equipment, Inc. - Glen Ellyn IL

International Classification:

A41H033/00

US Classification:

223 37

Abstract:

An apparatus for automatically folding garments while preventing garment retrograde is disclosed and claimed. The present invention is preferably embodied having a first conveyor surface comprised of at least a single continuous belt supported by at least two rollers, and a second conveyor surface comprised of at least a single continuous belt supported by at least two rollers, the second conveyor surface being spaced a distance from and aligned parallel and superior to the first conveyor surface to create a garment pathway therebetween, the spaced distance being sufficient to allow each surface to contact a garment passing through the pathway. A folding plate assembly is preferably positioned within the garment pathway, between a garment inlet positioned at a first end of the garment pathway and a garment outlet positioned at the opposite end of the garment pathway. A garment entering the apparatus at the inlet is contacted and moved by both conveyor surfaces through the garment pathway and is acted on by the folding plate assembly before being then discharged from the garment pathway at the garment outlet as a folded garment.

US Patent:

20010050295, Dec 13, 2001

Filed:

May 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/865723

Inventors:

Stephen Carter - Galivants Ferry SC, US

International Classification:

A41H033/00

US Classification:

223/037000

Abstract:

An improved bottom pulling infeed system for a garment folding machine is described. The garment pulling belt assembly provides two individual garment pulling belts in spaced apart relation to each other. Each belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. The lower belt is synchronized with the upper belt, and the top belt includes first and second rollers. The bottom belt moves in a continuous clockwise rotation, while the upper belt moves in counterclockwise rotation. The lower conveyer belt is longer in its run which passes on its return trip through a tube. The tube extends along the entire length of the folding section of the machine, and is followed by a pair of stabilizing guide rollers. The tube insures that garments will not be caught up in the conveyor belt on their return trip.