Can anyone design a plastic sheet folding machine for me?

**aussie11** · 11th September 2012, 03:15 PM

Hi to all
I am trying to get some ideas on how to go about designing a folding machine.
I work from home and my available space is approx 3 metres wide x 8 metres long
I use 1.8 metre wide rolls of plastic film. When a customer orders a length, I currently pull it out from the roll,
onto the floor to the required length, cut it, then wrestle the hell out of it to fold it down to around 60 cm wide (lengthwise -fold 2 times)
I then basically roll it up into an oval shape for postage.

The problems with this are many. Firstly no matter how much sweeping, vacuuming etc, I do, the colored film always has dust etc on it.
Secondly, my back and knees are giving way after doing this for a few years.
Thirdly, as I fold, the film spreads out and has a mind of it own, so I generally end up with a 80cm wide object to wrap and post.
The post office is not happy when I turn up with these sized parcels.
I am hoping someone with a lot more knowledge than I, can come up with some way to firstly, get the 1.8 metre roll folded down to a 60cm roll,
then devise something that will count the meterage and roll the film into an oval shape ready for wrapping and posting.

The 1.8 metre wide rolls are 90kg each- they have a 75mm cardboard core. I have ideas of using an electric winch or motor, some rollers to feed the
film into etc, but just cant really get my head around how to go about it.

I am happy to hear suggestions, and will pay someone if they come up with a workable design using relatively inexpensive parts, as I can buy a machine
from China for a couple of thousand dollars, but do not want that hassle or that much expense.

Image attached.

Thank you to all for reading this.
aussie11

**Master Splinter** · 11th September 2012, 07:34 PM

Ummmm - off the top of my head...

A spindle/holder thingy to support the full roll and let it rotate, and a similar rotatable armature consisting of two wooden/metal dowels spaced 600mm apart (and with nice, visible bands or something at 'fold' points). Each full turn of the receiver loads (a little more than) 1200mm of plastic, and then when you have the required length, secure, cut and slide the plastic off the receiver, pausing at the fold points to fold the stuff over.

OR

Mount the material roll horizontally at a convenient height, and use fabric measuring wheel to count it out onto a suitable size table (have a look in your local Lincrafts or other sewing shop to see how they measure and hold material)

Fabric measuring wheel:

**Chief Tiff** · 11th September 2012, 08:05 PM

Agree with the Master about mounting the material to let it rotate. Then, in front of the roller and central to it I'd build a table about 1m wide. Right at the end closest to the roller I'd construct a sort of funnel shaped "thingy" that would curl the two edges of the material and overlap them. Directly after that would be a heavy-ish roller to flatten it, then straight after the roller put a guillotine to cut the material. The table would have graduations; you'd have to decide what length to make the table. Make the table surface out of something slippery like melamine coated chipboard, polish it and keep it clean with an airline and silicone spray.

If your customers are after really long lengths then instead of a long table have a short one with a roller on the end that the material can be wrapped around with a measuring roller between it and the guilotine.

**SAISAY** · 11th September 2012, 09:18 PM

Go to a Spotlight or something store.
Have a look at the bias tape folding gadgets.
They come as a small attachment or can be bought electric.
Multiply it by n times and you will know how to design the machine.
Just wonder why you don't get the plastic pre-folded?
All Mitre10's black/white plastic is already folded and when the painter was here, his window covers were also pre-folded. He just cut whatever he needed off the roll.
Cheers
Wolffie

**Kiwibrucee** · 17th September 2012, 12:51 AM

hi, What type of plastic is it? LDPE can easily be supplied folded in 1/2 as its made as a tube. 900mm wide would be small enough to post as they have a 1m limit I think.

Regards
Bruce T.

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