IMPROVED PATCH POCKET FOLDING APPARATUS WITH FOLDING UNIT COMPRISING LATERAL EDGES USED TO SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE SHAPED PLATE.

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an improved patch pocket folding apparatus.

The application of patch pockets or pockets of another type on pants, aprons, shirts or similar garments is currently obtained by using a machine that comprises a folding apparatus that folds and applies the pocket on a piece of fabric.

For a better understanding of the invention, the prior art is described with reference to Figs. 1 , 2 and 3, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an exploded axonometric view of a traditional folding apparatus;

- Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view of the folding apparatus of Fig. 1 , wherein the template is in operating position and the fabric used for the pocket penetrates inside the shaped cavity of the folding body;

- Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, except for the fact that the folding blades are in contracted position, close to each other, and the template is partially disposed between said folding blades and the folding body;

- Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are three diagrammatic front views that show the steps of the pocket folding process with the folding apparatus according to the prior art.

The attached figures diagrammatically show a folding apparatus that is traditionally used to fold and form patch pockets.

With reference to Fig. 1 , the folding apparatus (10) comprises a template (20) provided with an external border that has the same profile as the pocket to be formed, and a rigid folding body (40) that is suitable for cooperating with the template (20) and provided with a shaped cavity (41 ) having the same profile as the pocket to be formed. The template (20) comprises a first surface, which is directed towards the folding body (40), and a second surface, which is directed towards the opposite side.

It must be noted that the folding and forming process of a patch pocket provides for preparing a fabric (T) used to make the pocket to be formed, having larger dimensions than the template (20) and consequently comprising exceeding edges (T10) that protrude towards the exterior of the template (20), as shown in Fig. 2.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the template (20) may be disposed in two positions, of which:

- an idle position, wherein the template (20) is raised relative to the folding body (40), as shown in Fig. 1 ;

- an operating position, wherein the template (20) penetrates inside the shaped cavity of the folding body (40), as shown in Fig. 2.

More precisely, when the template (20) is in idle position, the fabric (T) can be disposed between the template (20) and the folding body (40) in such way that, when the template (20) is in operating position, said fabric (T) penetrates inside the shaped cavity (41 ) of the folding body (40).

The folding apparatus (10) also comprises moving means (30) of said template (20) that move the template (20) between the two positions.

Advantageously, said moving means (30) of the template (20) comprise an actuator that pushes the template (20) towards said folding body (40) in such a way to press the fabric (T) against it.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the folding apparatus (10) comprises three folding blades (50), of which a front folding blade and two lateral folding blades.

Specifically, said three folding blades (50) are moved between two positions, of which: - a divergent position, wherein the folding blades (5) are spaced in order to let the template (2) pass from its idle position to its operating position;

- a contracted position, which is only possible when the template (20) is in operating position; in said contracted position, the folding blades (5) are close to each other so that the template (2) is partially disposed between said folding blades (5) and said folding body (4).

The description of the prior art continues with reference to the operating mode of the folding apparatus (10) during the folding and the forming process of a patch pocket.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, when the fabric (T) is disposed on the folding body (40) between the folding body (40) and the template (20), and the actuator (30) pushes the template (20) downwards, in operating position, the template (20) and the fabric (T) are inserted inside the shaped cavity (41 ) of the folding body (40).

Because of the penetration of the template (20) inside the shaped cavity (41 ), the exceeding edges (T10) of the fabric (T) that protrude towards the exterior of the template (20) are raised, as shown in Fig. 2.

Once the exceeding edges (T10) of the fabric (T) are raised, the folding blades (50) pass from the divergent position to the contracted position, in such a way that the raised edges (T10) of the fabric (T) are folded and adhere to the second surface of the template (20), as shown in Fig. 3.

Every time the shape and/or the dimensions of the patch pocket are to be changed, such a folding apparatus requires to replace also the folding body (40), in addition to the template (20), because said parts are specifically made according to the shape and the dimensions of the pocket to be formed.

Alternatively, a folding body with an elastic, deformable portion can be used. In order to form the fabric, the template pushes the pocket against said elastic portion, deforming such elastic portion and folding the edges of the pocket. The provision of such a folding body makes it possible to adjust said folding body to any template, regardless of its shape and dimensions. Consequently, even when the shape and the dimensions of the pocket are to be changed, the replacement of the folding body with the elastic portion is not necessary. Moreover, not being subject to plastic deformation, at the end of its use, the elastic portion returns to the initial shape and dimensions and can be used cyclically, regardless of the shape of the pocket to be made.

Such a folding body with the elastic portion is impaired by the poor quality of the pockets because the edges of the pockets folded with such a folding body do not have a well-defined profile. As a matter of fact, when the template presses the pocket against the elastic portion, said elastic portion is deformed and creates rounded edges. In this way, also the folding edges of the pocket are rounded, and not well-defined.

Moreover, because of the lack of sharp corners, the edges (T10) of the pocket (T) tend to open as soon as the folding blades (50) pass from the contracted position to the divergent position, at the end of the folding process of the edges (T10) of the pocket (T) under the template (20).

Otherwise said, because of the lack of sharp corners, the folding lines of the pockets folded by means of the folding apparatus with the elastic portion are not well-defined, and the edges tend to open again, thus frustrating the folding operation.

US4445631 describes a patch pocket folding apparatus comprising a folding body and a holding blade suitable for supporting a fabric with larger dimensions than the template. The folding apparatus comprises moving means of the holding blade, which are connected to the holding blade to move the holding blade between an idle position, wherein the holding blade is in distal position relative to the folding body, and an operating position, wherein the holding blade pushes the fabric against the folding body. When the holding blade is in operating position, the fabric is disposed between the holding blade and the folding body. The folding body comprises a smooth plate and a folding assembly is disposed under the smooth plate of the folding body.

Said folding assembly comprises a shaped plate fixed under the smooth plate of the folding body. Such a shaped plate is specifically made according to the shape and the dimensions of the pocket to be formed, in such a way to define an internal corresponding edge of the folding assembly. Such a shaped plate of the folding assembly is fixed to the smooth plate of the folding body by means of screws.

Evidently, the fixing of the shaped plate of the folding assembly to the folding body by means of screws inevitably implies a long assembly and disassembly operation of the shaped plate under the folding body, with a considerable waste of time every time it is necessary to replace the shaped plate because of a change in the shape and/or the dimensions of the patch pocket. Moreover, because of the provision of fixing screws for fixing the shaped plate of the folding assembly to the folding body, the repositioning of the plate under the folding body is long and difficult if said plate is not installed correctly.

DE41 13131 describes a patch pocket folding apparatus comprising a folding body and a holding blade suitable for supporting a piece of fabric. The folding body comprises a smooth plate and a folding assembly is disposed under the folding body. Said folding assembly is made of Velcro and is therefore elastic and deformable. In view of the above, the holding blade pushes the fabric against the folding body, deforming the folding assembly and folding the edges of the fabric. Said folding assembly is impaired by the fact that the quality of the pockets is not satisfactory because the edges of the pockets folded with such a folding assembly do not have a well-defined profile. As a matter of fact, when the holding blade presses the fabric against the folding assembly, said folding assembly is deformed and creates rounded edges. In this way, also the folding edges of the pocket are rounded, and not well- defined. Moreover, because of the lack of sharp corners, the edges of the pockets folded with said folding assembly of elastic, deformable material tend to open again, thus frustrating the folding operation.

The purpose of the present invention is to devise a folding apparatus for folding and forming patch pockets that is inexpensive and easy to make and permits to install and replace the folding assembly rapidly and correctly.

Another purpose is to devise a folding apparatus for folding and forming patch pockets that is capable of making high-quality pockets.

The folding apparatus for forming and ironing patch pockets comprises a template provided with an external border that has the same profile as the pocket to be formed. The template can be in an idle position and in an operating position.

The folding apparatus comprises moving means to move the template between the idle position and the operating position.

The folding apparatus comprises a folding body against which the template in operating condition pushes a piece of fabric suitable for being disposed between the template and the folding body.

The folding apparatus comprises folding blades that move between two positions, namely a divergent position, wherein the folding blades are spaced in order to let the template pass from its idle position to its operating position, and a contracted position, wherein the folding blades are close to each other and the template is partially disposed between the folding blades and the folding body.

The folding apparatus of the invention also comprises a folding unit disposed under the folding body.

The folding unit comprises at least one shaped plate made of a rigid material, which defines an internal corresponding border having the same profile as the external border of the template.

The peculiarity of the folding apparatus according to the present invention consists in the fact that the folding unit also comprises two "L"- shaped lateral edges that support said at least one shaped plate. Each lateral edge comprises a vertical wall fixed outside the folding body, and a horizontal wall.

The advantages of the folding apparatus of the invention are evident, wherein the provision of lateral edges fixed to the folding body and supporting the shaped plate of the folding unit makes the folding unit easy to be replaced and installed under the folding body.

For the sake of clarity, the description of the folding apparatus according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which have a merely illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an exploded axonometric view of a traditional folding apparatus;

- Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view of the folding apparatus of Fig. 1 , wherein the template is in operating position and the fabric used for the pocket penetrates inside the shaped cavity of the folding body;

- Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, except for the fact that the folding blades are in contracted position, close to each other, and the template is disposed between said folding blades and the folding body;

- Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are three diagrammatic front views that show the steps of the pocket folding process with the folding apparatus according to the prior art;

- Fig. 4 is an exploded axonometric view of the folding apparatus according to the invention;

- Fig. 4A is a partially exploded view of the folding apparatus of Fig. 4, wherein the template is in operating position and the fabric penetrates inside the shaped cavity of the folding body;

- Fig. 4B is the same as Fig. 4A, except for the fact that the folding blades are in contracted position and the template is partially disposed between the folding blades and the folding body;

- Figs. 4C, 4D and 4E are three diagrammatic front views that show the steps of the pocket folding process with the folding apparatus of Fig. 4; - Fig. 5 is an exploded axonometric view of the machine comprising the folding apparatus of the invention.

With reference to the attached figures, the folding apparatus according to the present invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral 1 .

The patch pocket folding apparatus (1 ) comprises a folding body (4) that consists in a smooth plate, and a template (2) suitable for supporting a fabric (T) with larger dimensions than the template (2). The template (2) has an external border having the same profile as the pocket to be formed with the fabric (T).

The folding apparatus (1 ) comprises moving means (3) of the template (2) that are connected to the template (2) in order to move the template (2) between an idle position, shown in Fig. 4, wherein the template (2) is in distal position relative to the folding body (4), and an operating position, shown in Fig. 4A and 4B, wherein the template (2) pushes the fabric (T) against the folding body (4). When the template (2) is in operating position, the fabric (T) is disposed between the template (2) and the folding body (4). Optionally, the moving means (3) are configured in such a way to move the template (2) upwards in order to move the template (2) to its operating position, and downwards in order to move the template (2) to its idle position.

The folding apparatus (1 ) comprises folding blades (5) that are moved between a divergent position, shown in Fig. 4A, wherein the folding blades (5) are spaced in order to let the template (2) stop against the folding body (4), and a contracted position, shown in Fig. 4B, wherein the folding blades (5) are close to each other and the template (2) is partially disposed between the folding blades (5) and the folding body (4). When the folding blades (5) are in contracted position, edges (T10) of the fabric (T) that protrude from the template (2) are folded under the template (2).

The folding apparatus (1 ) comprises a folding unit (G) disposed under the folding body (4). The folding unit (G) comprises two shaped plates (9, 91 ) made of an easily workable rigid material, such as for example Plexiglas, plastics, rubber, rigid sponge or wood. Each shaped plate (9, 91 ) is disposed under the folding body (4) and defines an internal corresponding edge having the same profile as the external edge of the template (2). Alternatively, the folding unit (G) may comprise only one shaped plate installed under the folding body (4).

Every shaped plate (9, 91 ) is made of an inexpensive material and is easy to make.

In this way, a plurality of shaped plates (9, 91 ) can be made, each of them defining an internal corresponding edge with a different shape, and the shaped plate (9, 91 ) with the internal edge that corresponds to the shape of the pocket to be made can be applied from time to time to the folding body (4), without having to change the folding body (4).

The folding unit (G) also comprises two "L"-shaped lateral edges

(8) that support said shaped plates (9, 91 ). Each edge (8) comprises a vertical wall (80) fixed outside the folding body (4), and a horizontal wall (81 ) that protrudes orthogonally from the vertical wall (80).

In particular, the folding unit (G) comprises a first plate (9) disposed between the vertical walls (80) of the lateral edges (8), and a second plate (91 ) disposed between the horizontal walls (81 ) of the lateral edges (8). The first plate (9) has a shaped internal opening and the second plate (91 ) has a shaped internal opening, which is identical and aligned with the shaped internal opening of the first plate (9). The shaped openings define the internal corresponding edge of the folding unit.

The lower surface of the first plate (9) is stopped above the upper surface of the horizontal walls (81 ) of the edges (8).

Instead, the upper surface of the second plate (91 ) is coplanar with the upper surfaces of the horizontal walls (81 ) of the edges (8).

Because of the provision of the lateral edges (8), said folding unit (G) can be easily installed under the folding body (4). With reference to Fig. 4, the folding body (4) advantageously comprises magnets (L) in lower position and each shaped plate (9, 91 ) is made at least partially of metal, comprising for example small metal plates glued to the shaped plate (9, 91 ), in such a way to be attracted by the magnets (L) and firmly connected with the folding body (4).

Fig. 5 shows a machine (A) that, in addition to the folding apparatus (1 ), also comprises an upper frame (A1 ), whereto the folding apparatus (1 ) is connected.

The folding body (4) and the folding unit (G) advantageously comprise mutual centering means (M). The mutual centering means (M) comprise pegs that protrude in lower position from the folding body (4) and holes obtained on the plates (9, 91 ) to house the pegs that protrude from the folding body (4).

Moreover, it must be noted that the folding body (4) of the folding apparatus (1 ) according to the present invention may comprise a hole with vertical axis (not shown in the attached figures) that is aligned with the internal opening of each shaped plate (9, 91 ) of the folding unit (G).

The internal opening of each shaped plate (9, 91 ) of the folding unit (G) and the hole of the folding body (4) are suitable for being crossed by a magnet (not shown in the figures) to generate an attraction force that attracts the template (2) and pushes the template (2) against the folding body (4).

It must be noted that, instead of using the magnets (L), the folding unit (G) can be glued under the folding body (4), or the folding unit (G) can be removably fixed with fast coupling/uncoupling means under the folding body (4).