A FOLDING DEVICE FOR FOLDING IRONED LINEN SHEETS, AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THE DEVICE

The invention relates to a folding device (1) for forming folded linen sheets (L), comprising a housing (H) having opposite side walls (W), a rear side (5) and a front side (6),the direction from the rear side (5) to the front side (6) defining a first machine direction of said folding device (1) and a direction perpendicularly thereto, towards one of said side walls (W) defining a second machine direction of said folding device (1),a first conveyor (10) defining a conveying surface for introducing linen sheets (L) in said first machine direction, such as with two opposite edges of said linen sheets (L) generally parallel to said first machine direction, wherein in operation of the folding device (1) said linen sheets (L) are cross-wise folded defining fold lines parallel with said first machine direction and length-wise folded defining fold lines perpendicularly thereto,at least one length-wise folding station (S1, S2) for forming length-wise folded linen sheets (L),characterised in a second machine direction conveyor loop (35) arranged in said housing (H) below said length-wise folding station(s) (S1, S2)and advancing said length-wise folded linen sheets (L) in said second machine direction to a housing part (H2), said housing part (H2) comprising a number of cross- wise folding stations (S4, S5) for cross-wise folding said length-wise folded linen sheets (L) and including a number of secondary conveyor loops (40, 45, 50, 55), said secondary conveyor loops (40, 45, 50, 55) carrying and advancing said folded linen sheets (L) in said second machine direction and opposite said second machine direction. L'invention concerne un dispositif de pliage (1) destiné à former un pliage de draps de lin (L), comprenant un boîtier (H) présentant des parois latérales (W) opposées, un côté arrière (5) et un côté avant (6), la direction allant du côté arrière (5) au côté avant (6) définissant une première direction de machine dudit dispositif de pliage (1) et une direction perpendiculaire à celle-ci, vers l'une desdites parois latérales (W) définissant une seconde direction de machine dudit dispositif de pliage (1).Un premier transporteur (10) définit une surface de transport pour introduire des draps de lin (L) dans ladite première direction de machine, par exemple avec deux bords opposés desdits draps de lin (L) généralement parallèles à ladite première direction de machine. Dans le fonctionnement du dispositif de pliage (1), lesdits draps de lin (L) sont pliés transver