US3319845A

US3319845A - Pleating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3319845A
Application number: US385697A
Authority: US
Inventors: Liebeskind Mack
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-07-28
Filing date: 1964-07-28
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

May R6, w57 M. UEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 28, 1964 www ATTORNEYS' may E6, E967 M. LIEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1964 INVENTUR MACK L/EES/K/N Fav` ATTORNEYS may my w57 M, LIEBESKIND 3,319,45

PLEATING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet C5 INVENTOR MACK LIEESK//VD ATTORNEYS.

may W, H967 M. MEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 28, 1964 MACK L /EBESK/N www ATTO R N EY$ United States Patent O 3,319,845 PLEATENG APPARATUS Mack Liebeslrind, 65 Sutton Place, Lawrence, NX. H559 Filed July 2S, 1964, Ser. No. 335,697 4 Claims. (Ci. 223-30) The present invention relates generally to the application of decorative pleating to fabric and more particularly to an improved pleating apparatus for applying pleating to fabric which has contrasting shapes or patterns.

As is generally understood, a typical pleat producing apparatus employsa pleating knife having a prescribed thrust stroke which is effective to produce body folds or pleats in the body of the fabric. It is further understood that responsive to the shape or contour of the leading edge of the pleating knife that a generally corresponding shape or pattern can be produced in the cusp or visible fold line of the pleat. Thus, it is possible not only to enhance the appearance of the fabric by applying pleating thereto, but also the applied pleating itself can be produced with an interesting variation or pattern to further enhance the appearance of the fabric. Although it is possible to produce coutrasing pleat patterns with conventional pleating apparatus, in applying or producing the same, it is necessary to use a pleating knife provided with a shaped or contoured leading edge tailored specically to achieve the end result that is desired. Subject as the art of pleating is to changing fashion, the use of special pleating knives has obvious limitations and disadvantages.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improved pleating apparatus which is capable of applying decorative pleating to fabric having contrasting patterns and employing to this end a convential contoured pleating knife.

Specically, it is an object to provide a versatile pleat producing apparatus -capable of contrasting pleat production in many differing overall patterns, all of which is produced with the same pleating knife.

A still further object is to provide a versatile pleat producing apparatus operating generally as does conventional pleating apparatus, but easily and economically modified in mode of operation to produce a wide variation of contrasting pleated products.

A preferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus embodying features of the present invention, includes opposing feed rollers for intermittently advancing the fabric to be pleated, and an undulating contoured pleating knife which, during intervals of fabric advance, is effective to produce pleats in the body of the fabric. As is generally understood, the undulating contour of the pleating knife employed herein is effective to produce a corresponding undulating or fancy pleat pattern in the fabric. However, in accordance with the present invention, a sheet material, preferably an ordinary paper, is advantageously arranged in an interposed position between the leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric and, in this interposed position, is effective to modifyv the shape or pattern of the pleat produced along this segment of the pleating knife leading edge. By providing cut-away areas in the body of the interposed sheet material, the areas of the fabric coextensive with these cutaway areas have normal or expected fancy pleats produced therein, whereas the other fabric areas are produced with a noticeably different and contrasting pleat pattern.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the 3,319,845 Patented May 16,` 1967 present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the apparatus of FIG. l showing further details of the drive and actuating mechanisms thereof and also the manner in which fabric to be pleated and associated top paper is threaded between the pleating knives and feed rollers of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an elevational View, in section, taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further that the fabric is sandwiched between top and bott-om papers in its run through the apparatus, and also showing the actuating means for opening and closing the pleating knife about the paper sandwiched fabric;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view on an enlarged scale of the pleating knife and a paper sandwiched pleated fabric, the portion of the pleated fabric adjacent the leading edge of the pleating knife being shown in section, taken along section line 4-4 of subsequent FIG. 5, to expose the contour of the fold line of the pleat produced along the leading edge of the pleating knife;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged elevational sectional views taken along section lines of FIG. 4 at spaced points along the pleating knife illustrating the nature of the body fold of the pleat overlying the leading edge of the pleating knife after a pleating thrust stroke thereof, to wit;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along section line 5 5 of FIG. 4 in an area where interposed top paper modifies the fold line of the body fold produced along the leading edge of the pleating knife;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along section line 6 6 of FIG. 4 in an area coextensive with a cut-away area of the top paper andis illustrative of the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern by the pleating knife;

FIG. 7 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 6, but taken along section line '7 7 of FIG. 4 at a valley of the undulating contoured leading edge of the pleating knife; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an illustrative sample of pleated fabric as produced by the apparatus of the present invention with a portion of the top paper removed from the fabric to illustrate the pattern of the pleat as produced in areas of the fabric coextensive `with said paper and as produced in fabric areas coextensive with cut-away areas of the paper.

Reference is first made to FIG. 8 and the illustrative sample of pleated fabric, designated 10, which is shown therein in a sandwiched condition between top paper 12 and bottom paper 14 as actually produced by a preferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus according to the present invention. Arranged transversely across the body of the fabric Iii is a succession of pleats 16, the majority of which are produced in the body of the fabric 10 with a noticeable variation in pattern along the pleat cusp or visible folded edge. Taking for example the singled-out pleat designated 16a, it will be seen that in the medial portion of this pleat the cusp or visible fold line thereof has an undulating or fancy pleat pattern herein designated 1S and, in laterally adjacent areas has a straight or plain pleat pattern herein designated 20. It will further be noted that the fancy pleat pattern 18 is coextensive with a cut-away area 22 provided in the body of the top paper 12, whereas the plain pleat pattern 20 is coextensive with physical body portions of the top paper 12.

As is generally understood in the art of pleating fabric, a pleat such as has herein been designated 16 is produced from a body fold provided in the fabric 10, and is permanently set in the body of the fabric 10 by heat and pressure either supplied at the time of pleat formation or subsequent thereto in an autoclave. Also as is generally understood, such a body fold or pleat is produced `by a pleating knife of pleat producing apparatus, such as is described hereinafter more fully, which knife is adapted to engage the fabric and move the same through a prescribed pleating stroke thrust which is effective to cause a body fold overlying the fabric engaging or leading edge of the pleating knife. For this reason, the leading edge of the pleating knife is typically provided with a shape or contour which it is desired to transfer to the fold line of the body fold. This fold line is the line along which the lbody fold is itself folded back over the leading edge of the pleating knife. Where the transferred contour of the fold line of the body fold is undulating, the pattern of the pleat produced along such a contoured fold line is correspondingly undulating in shape or pattern such as the fancy pleat pattern herein designated 18. In contrast, where the fold line of the body fold is substantially straight or without variation, the produced pleat along such a straight fold line is correspondingly straight or plain such as the plain pleat pattern herein designated 20.

As is best shown in FIG. 4, in a typical single transversely oriented body fold produced in the fabric 10 in accordance with the present invention, there are some portions of length thereof having an undulating contoured fold line, whereas other length portions thereof have a substantially straight fold line. Both these contrasting fold lines are produced by a pleating knife 24 presenting a typically contoured leading edge 26 having surface contact entirely across the width of a fabric 10. To insure that this contact occurs entirely along the leading edge 26, plur-al machined cuts 28 are made into the body of the knife 24 and terminate in machined slots 30, thus creating separate body segments collectively designated 32 throughout the pleating knife body which renders the leading edge 26 more bendable or pliable than otherwise might be the case if the body of the knife 24 was solid throughout. The typically undulating contour of the pleating knife leading edge 26 is formed by a series of alternately spaced crests 34 and valleys 36.

As depicted in FIG. 4, pleating knife 24 is in a position of movement following a pleating thrust stroke in the direction of the arrow T and, as a consequence of such movement has produced a body fold in the fabric 10. The produced body fold is itself normally folded back along the leading edge 26 against the marginal leading edge area of the knife 24. This overlying body fold however, has been omitted in FIG. 4, to expose, by cross section f the paper sandwiched fabric 10, the shape or contour of the fold line of this bodily fold along the pleating knife leading edge 26. As previously noted, the shape or pattern of a pleat is dictated by the shape or pattern of the fold line of the Pleat.

As is generally understood to be the consequence of providing an undulating contour to the pleating knife leading edge 26, a corresponding undulating contoured fold line is produced in the fold line of a body fold or pleat 16. However, where in accordance with the present invention, a body of top paper 12 is interposed between the pleating knife 24 and the fabric 10, the leading edge 26 is rendered ineffective in transferring or imposing its undulated shape or contour to the fold line of the Pleat 16. Stated somewhat differently, the top paper 12, unlike the more resilient and pliable fabric 10, yields to thrust movement of the pleating knife 24 in a substantially straight fold line extending transversely across adjacent crests 34 of the leading edge 26, as seen along the left hand portion of the pleating knife 24 illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, areas of the fabric coextensive with the top paper 12 are produced with pleats 16 having a plain pleat pattern 20 in the visible fold lines or cusps of the pleats. However, in cut-away areas 22 of the paper 12, the undulating contoured leading edge 26 of the pleating knife 24 is obviously not prevented by the top paper 12 from having its normal effect of producing an undulating contoured fold line in the pleat 16. Thus, the areas of the fabric 10 coextensive with the paper cut-away areas 22 are produced with pleats 16 having a normally expected fancy pleat pattern 18.

Having reference now to the sectional view of FIG. 5, the fabric 10 sandwiched between the top and

bottom papers

12 and 14 is shown threaded between a stationary pleating knife 38 and the movable pleating knife 24 depicted in a closed position about the fabric and papers. A slight bend in a body segment 32 of the pleating knife 24 may be noted, indicative of the firm manner in which the knife leading edge 26 and areas adjacent thereto are pressed into surface contact with the paper sandwiched fabric 10 to insure pleat formation in the same responsive to a pleating thrust stroke of the pleating knife 24. Inasmuch as FIG. 5 is taken in an area of the fabric 10 coextensive with the body of the top paper 12, the shape or contour of the pleat fold line, designated 40 in FIG. 5, is throughout the entire superposed arrangement of fabric 10 and

papers

12, 14 in a substantially straight line extending across adjacent crests 34 provided along the pleating knife leading edge 26.

In sharp contrast to the pleat formation of FIG. 5, it is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 6 which is taken in an area of the fabric 10 coextensive with a cut-away area 22 of the paper 12, that the fold line 40a of the pleat 16 extends from a crest 34 inwardly into a valley 36, thus generally following the undulating contour of the pleating knife leading edge 26. Accordingly, a portion of the pleat 16 is visible :beyond the plane of cross section, this pleat portion constituting the undulating or fancy pleat pattern herein designated 18.

As in FIG. 6, the pleat formation of FIG. 7 is similarly that of an undulating or fancy pleat pattern 18. The valley 36 of the leading edge 26 depicted therein originates just forward of the pleating knife surface 28a produced by the machine cut 28, and extends from this surface rearwardly or behind the pleat 16 as depicted in FIG. 7 to the crest 34. Fold line 40a similarly has the curvature or contour of the leading edge 26 between the adjacent valley 36 and crest 34. The bottom paper 14 on the other hand, folds in a straight line between adjacent crests 34 but has no effect on pleat formation since it is not interposed between the pleating knife 24 and the fabric 10. Bottom paper 14 however, provides body to the fabric 10 which retains the pleat formation in the body of the fabric 10 until the same is permanently set by autoclaving, and also aids in carrying the fabric 10 through the pleated apparatus.

As herein described, an interposed oridinary paper, such as for example kraft paper of twenty pound basis weight or parchment paper, may be employed to produce a straight fold line 40` along the undulating contoured leading edge 26 of the pleating knife 24. Alternatively, use may also be made of non-woven adhesive bonded fibrous material, not usually classified as paper, but also lacking an inherent capacity to adapt itself to the curvature of the leading edge 26 and, consequently yielding to a pleating thrust movement in a straight fold line. As used in the appended claims, it is accordingly intended that the term paper include a wide variety of materials having the characteristics for producing this end result.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 and the preferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus according' to the present invention therein generally designated 50. Pleating apparatus 50 includes identical spaced upstanding side support vframes 52, only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The pleating means of the apparatus 50 which produce pleating 16 in the fabric 10 are supported between the side frames 52, while substantially identical sets or arrangements of mechanisms which impart movement to this pleating means are supported on the outside of each of the side support frames 52. As best shown in FIG. 3, a pair of transversely disposed and generally

parallel shafts

54, 56 are rotatably mounted at their respective opposite ends in the support frames 52. Journalled for rotation on the

shafts

54, 56 are opposing

feed rollers

58, 60 powered for rotation in unison in opposing directions by intermeshing gears 62, 64 mounted on the extending ends of the

shafts

54, 56. This power is derived from a main motor (not shown) of the apparatus 5t) having a conventional drive connection to the lower shaft S6 for `driving the feed roller 60 thereon in rotation in a direction which feeds the fabric forwardly through the apparatus 5t) in the direction of the arrow designated A. Under the urgency of a spring 66 seated at one end in a vertical slot 68 in the support frame 52 and at its other end against the shaft 54, gear 62 secured on the end of the shaft 54 is biased into engagement with the driven gear 64 and accordingly provides opposing rotation to the upper feed roller 58. As i-s typical of pleating app-aratus, the rotational movement of the opposing

feed rollers

58, 60 is intermittent such that the fabric 10 threadedbetween the nip of the rollers 58, 66 is, during operation of the apparatus 58, intermittently advanced during rotation of these rollers and, during periods when these rollers are not rotated, secured against movement by the pressure nip of these rollers; It is during intervals of feed movement of the fabric 10 that pleats 16 are produced in the fabric 10 by the pleating knife 24. As best shown in FIG. 3, in the run of the fabric 10 through the

feed rollers

58, 60 lengths of top and

bottom papers

12, 14 are guided about

idler shafts

70, 72 for sandwiching the fabric 1) therebetween. The superposed arrangement of fabric 10 and top and

bottom papers

12, 14 is then threaded between the stationary pleating knife 38 and the thrusting pleating knife 2'4 which is shown in FIG. 3 in its open position.

Closing movement' of the movable pleating knife 24 in the direction of the arrow designated B about the paper sandwiched fabric 10 incident to .and during a pleating stroke of the pleating knife 24 is achieved by mounting the base of the pleating knife 24, as by screws 74, to a horizontal leg'of an L-shaped bracket 76 secured to a support rod 78 and pivotal about the long axis of the rod 78. A spring 80 connected to the vertical leg of the L-shaped bracket 76 and to the support frame 52 is suitably angledto normally bias the pleating knife 24 into a closedy position about the paper sandwiched fabric 10. This closing movement of the pleating knife 24 occurs except when a vertically movable platform 86 is in its raised position of movement, as depicted in FIG. 3, and turns the knife 24 open through an angled arm 82 xedly connected at one end to the horizontal leg of the bracket 76 and having at itsother end a roller 84 in surface contact with the platform 86. Carrying platform 86 is an L-shaped arm 88 pivotally mounted, as at 92, to frame 52 and normally under t-he urgency of spring 90 to pivot in a direction loweringy platform 86 and permitting the closing of the pleating knife 24. This movement is under the control of a cam 98 having a peripheral surface cam rise 96 lowering the end of the horizontal leg of the arm 88 which has a cam follower l94 in surface contact against the cam 98.

Cam 98 also controls lateral shifting movement of the pleating knife 24 as well as forward thrusting movement of the same, thus assuring the occurrence of these essential movements in proper timed sequence with each other during pleat production of the apparatus 50. Cam 98 is journalled for rotation on a shaft 101) which extends the full width of the apparatus 50 and is integrated in a suit able manner with the main motor drive of the apparatus 5t) so that cam 98 is continuously powered in rotation. Provided on the face of cam 98 visible in FIG. 3, is a cam groove 102 which imparts forward thrusting and retracting movement to the pleating knife 24. A cam follower 184 suitably mounted on a cam arm 106 is disposed in the cam groove 102 and, by referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that at its other end, the cam arm 1116 is xedly secured to a floating pivot 108 supported in spaced blocks 110 provided on the support frame 52. Similarly iixedly secured to the floating pivot 108 is a T-shaped arm 112 (see also FIG. 2) which has as its horizontal cross piece at one end thereof a sleeve-bearing 114 which receives therethrough an end of the rod 78 of the pleating knife mounting bracket 76. Thus, responsive to rotation of the cam 98 and the movement imparted by the positive motion cam groove 162 thereof, the pleating knife 24 is alternately imparted with forward thrusting movement during the production of a pleat 16 in the fabric Ill and retracting movement to a ready position incident to a succeeding pleating thrust movement.

Additionally, cam 98 imparts lateral shifting movement to the pleating knife 24 so that the contoured leading edge 26 thereof in successive pleating strokes is alternately laterally displaced to enhance the appearance of the undulating or fancy pleat pattern 18 which is produced in the fabric 10. This lateral shifting movement of the pleating knife 24 however, has no effect either adverse or favorable on the production of the straight or plain pleat pattern 2@ in the fabric 10. Secured for rotation on the face of cam 98visible in FIG. l, as by a securing piece 116, is a gear 118 intermeshing with a gear 120 rotatably mounted as at 122 on the frame 52. A crank arm 124 is connected at one end, as at 126, to -gear 120 and at its other end to bifurcated extensions 128 of a paWl carrying arm 132 pivotally mounted, as at 131i, to support frame 52. A pawl 134 mounted on the arm 132 engages with a ratchet 136 journalled for rotation on a shaft 138. Responsive to each throw of the crank arm 124 and corresponding pivotal movement of the arm 132, the shaft 138 is driven in rotation through the pawl and ratchet

arrangement

134, 136.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that mounted on the extending end of the shaft 138 is a cam 140 having a suitably congurated cam groove 142v therein for imparting alternating sidewise or lateral shifting movement to the pleating knife 2-4. A cam arm 144 having a vertically disposed cam follower 146 riding'in the cam groove 142 is mounted at its medial portion for pivoting movement, as at 148, to a lateral extension 15) dependent from the support frame 52. At its other end, the cam arm 144 has a generally rectangular slide block housing 152. Positioned within the housing 152 is a sliding block 154 receiving through a machined slot 156 therein the remote end of the pleating knife mounting bracket rod extension 78. Spaced stops 158 disposed on the rod 78 on either side of the housing 152 are alternately contacted during pivoting movement of the cam arm 144 for imparting lateral shifting movement to the rod extension 78 and thus to the pleating knife 24 mounted on the bracket 76 of the rod 78. Lateral shifting movement of the pleating knife 24, as just described an-d also thrusting movement of the pleating knife 24, is achieved by permitting sliding movement of the block 154 mounting the rod 78 within the housing 152.

Completing the construction of the pleating apparatus 5t), at least as far as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention, are means for accommodating a supply of top paper 12 and permitting the feed thereof in an interposed position modifying the normal pleat production of apparatus 50 and producing the novel pleated product according to the present invention. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a supply roll 12a of top paper 12 is mounted on a support rod 160 supported at its opposite ends in lateral extensions of an upstanding yoke 162 integral with the side frame support 52. Since it is desirable that the supply of top paper 12 which is unwound from the supply roll 12a be threaded in a taut or slightly tensioned condition in its run between the

pleating knives

24, 38 and the

feed rollers

58, 60, a conventional cylindrical cardboard core of the roll 12a is frictionally engaged at its opposite end openings by a conically surfaced member 164 fixed in position on the paper support rod 160 to exert some resistance against the feed movement of the

rollers

58, 60 which unwinds the supply roll 12a.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plain pleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive means therefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forward direction, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having a prescribed pleating stroke for causing during intervals of intermittent fabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generally transverse to the direction of fabric advance, said pleating means including a pleating knife disposed transversely to the direction of fabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line forming leading edge thereon for normally producing a corresponding contoured fold line in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in the formation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contoured fold line, and a body of paper having cut-out areas therein interposed lbetween said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric for permitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in those portions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area and otherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold line during each pleating stroke for producing a corresponding straight fold line in the fabric resulting in the formation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a fold line.

2. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plain pleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive means therefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forward direction, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having a prescribed pleating stroke for causing, during intervals of intermittent fabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generally transverse lto the direction of fabric advance, said pleating means including a pleating knife disposed transversely to the direction of fabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line forming leading edge thereon formed of a series of alternating crests and valleys for normally producing a corresponding undulating contoured fold line in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in the formation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contoured fold line, and a body of paper having cut-out areas therein interposed between said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric for permitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in those portions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area and otherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold line extending transversely across adjacent crests of said leading edge of the pleating knife during each pleating stroke for producing a corresponding straight fold line in the fabric resulting in the formation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a fold line.

3. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plain pleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive means therefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forward direction, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having a prescribed pleating stroke for causing, during intervals of intermittent fabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generally transverse to the direction of fabric advance, said pleating means including a pleating knife disposed transversely to the ydirection of fabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line forming leading edge thereon formed of a series of alternating crests and valleys for normally producing a corresponding undulating contoured fold line in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in the formation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contoured fold line, and a supply of paper and means mounting the same for feed of a length thereof in interposed position between said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric, said paper having cut-out areas therein for permitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in those portions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area and otherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold line extending transversely across adjacent crests of said leading edge of the pleating knife during each pleating stroke for producing a corresponding straight fold line in the fabric resulting in the formation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a fold line.

4. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plain pleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive means therefor for intermittently advancing a fabric threaded therebetween in a forward direction, pleating means including a pleating knife disposed .transversely to the direction of fabric advance and positioned in engagement with said fabric at the entrance thereof between said opposing rollers, means operatively connected to said pleating means for thrusting said pleating knife in a pleating stroke in the direction of said opposing rollers, during intervals of intermittent fabric advancement, for causing a body fold in said fabric overlying the leading edge of said pleating knife, an undulating contour formed of a series of alternating crests and valleys along said pleating knife leading edge for normally producing a corresponding contoured fold line along said fabric body fold during each pleating stroke resulting in the formation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contoured fold line, and a supply of paper and means mounting the same for disposition of a length thereof in an interposed position between said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric and between said opposing rollers for intermittent feed of the paper simultaneously with said fabric, said paper having cut-out areas therein for permitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in those portions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area and otherwise having a body fold produced therein during each pleating stroke overlying the leading edge of said pleating knife and having a substantially straight fold line extending transversely .across adjacent crests of said leading edge for producing a corresponding straight fold line along the fabric body fold resulting in the formation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a fold line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,728 12/1897 Pause 223-30 1,518,670 12/1924 Noel 223-30 1,699,340 l/l929 Angelus 223-30 1,770,590 7/l930 Ezbelent 223-30 1,923,158 8/1933 McDonough 223-30 2,318,497 4/1943 Kassell 223-30 X 2,962,991 l2/l960 Burgert 112-132 3,086,685 4/1963 Cahill 223-30 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. A PLEATING APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FORMING A FANCY AND PLAIN PLEAT PATTERN IN A FABRIC COMPRISING OPPOSING ROLLERS AND DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING SAID FABRIC IN A FORWARD DIRECTION, PLEATING MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FABRIC HAVING A PRESCRIBED PLEATING STROKE FOR CAUSING DURING INTERVALS OF INTERMITTENT FABRIC ADVANCEMENT, A BODY FOLD IN SAID FABRIC LYING GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF FABRIC ADVANCE, SAID PLEATING MEANS INCLUDING A PLEATING KNIFE DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION OF FABRIC ADVANCE AND HAVING AN UNDULATING CONTOURED FOLD LINE FORMING LEADING EDGE THEREON FOR NORMALLY PRODUCING A CORRESPONDING CONTOURED FOLD LINE IN SAID FABRIC DURING EACH PLEATING STROKE RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF A FANCY PLEAT PATTERN IN SAID FABRIC ALONG SUCH A CONTOURED FOLD LINE, AND A BODY OFF PAPER HAVING CUT-OUT AREAS THEREIN INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID LEADING EDGE OF THE PLEATING KNIFE AND THE FABRIC FOR PERMITTING THE NORMAL FORMATION OF A FANCY PLEAT PATTERN ONLY IN THOSE PORTIONS OF THE FABRIC COEXTENSIVE WITH A PAPER CUT-OUT AREA AND OTHERWISE BEING ITSELF FOLDED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT FOLD LINE DURING EACH PLEATING STROKE FOR PRODUCING A CORRESPONDING STRAIGHT FOLD LINE IN THE FABRIC RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF A PLAIN PLEAT PATTERN IN SAID FABRIC ALONG SUCH A FOLD LINE.