GB2358025A

GB2358025A - Multi-directional press head drive system

Info

Publication number: GB2358025A
Application number: GB9929119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry James Freeman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-10
Filing date: 1999-12-10
Publication date: 2001-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-10
Also published as: GB9929119D0; GB2358025B

Abstract

A press head has a heated sole plate G with a circular aperture containing a drive ball E and a driven ball C attached by a rotatable spindle to a reversible drive motor B. A centring ring D is positioned above ball E to maintain alignment of the balls once pressure is applied to the press head. In use, the drive ball E is pushed upwards through the aperture and, by friction, engages with the driven ball C while at the same time engaging a material to be pressed on a press table F. The friction between the drive ball and the material allows the sole plate to move across the press table and the material to iron the material. The sole plate may be moved in any direction across the press table by a combination of changing the orientation of the press head relative to the press table and reversing the drive motor.

Description

2358025 Patent Application Multidirectional Press Head Drive System There

exists a type of garment press in which the press head, once lowered vertically by mechanical, pneumatic, electromagnetic or other suitable means into contact with the material to be pressed, is moveable in any direction parallel to the press table.

Until now the motive power for moving the press head around the table has been provided manually. This means that manual labour is still required in the pressing of garments or other textile articles by this method. In order further to reduce the manual labour involved, some means of providing appropriate motive power is required.

According to the present invention the means of propelling the press head across the material is achieved by means of a ball made of some suitably heat resistant material, which protrudes through an aperture in the centre of the heated sole plate. This ball is rotated by some suitable means, which in the present embodiment of the invention is a second ball positioned vertically above it, which is rotated upon its horizontal axis. As this second ball is brought into contact with the first ball, frictional force causes the first hall to rotate also. As this ball is not fixed in any particular plane the rotation can be in any direction depending on the rotational direction of the primary drive ball and the orientation of the press head relative to the press table. The first ball is held centrally within the sole plate aperture by means of a centring ring. The friction between 1 the ball and the material provides the motive power to move the sole plate across the surface of the press table.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: - Figure 1 shows the press head in the 'up' or resting position Figure 2 shows the press head in the 'down' or pressing position Figure 3 shows a plan view of the drive-housing flange.

Referring to the drawing the press head comprises a heated sole plate (G), which has a circular aperture into which a ball made of some suitably heat resistant material is loosely placed. The diameter of the aperture is smaller than that of the ball so that the ball cannot pass through it (Figl). The drive ball centring ring (D) is positioned centrally above this aperture and attached by some suitable means. At its upper end the drive housing is attached to a head mounting flange (A). The reversible drive motor (B) drives the primary drive ball (C) by means of a rotating spindle through its centre.

The surface of both balls is textured in order to increase the friction between them and between the drive ball and the surface of the material being pressed.

In order to apply pressure to the garment or material being pressed the whole of the press head assembly is moved vertically downwards by pneumatic, electromechanical, manual or some other suitable means (Fig 2). As downward pressure is exerted the drive ball (E) comes into contact with the press table (F) and is pushed upwards 2 through the aperture and free of the sides of it. Downward pressure is exerted on the drive ball (E) by the primary drive ball (C), which tends to increase the pressure and therefore the friction between the garment being pressed and the surface area of the drive ball (E) now in contact with it.

If the reversible motor (B) is now activated the primary drive ball (C) rotates causing the drive ball (E) also to rotate within the confines of the centring ring (D). As the centring ring (D) is made of a low friction material, the higher friction between the rotating drive ball (E) and the material being pressed causes the sole plate (G) to traverse the surface of the press table (F) thereby pressing the material. By a combination of changing the orientation of the press head relative to the press table (F) and reversing the motor, the sole plate can be moved in any direction across the table (F).

3 CIA "M 1. A drive system for a heated sole plate, where the motive power is provided by a ball made of some suitable material, protruding through an aperture in the sole plate. The ball is rotated by some mechanical, electrical, or some other suitable means. When the press head is In the pressing position the friction generated between the ball and the surface of the item being pressed causes the sole plate to progress across the press table.

2. As in claim 1 where the ball Is rotated by virtue of it being brought into contact with a second ball which itself is rotated along its horizontal axis by some suitable electrieM, mechanical or some other suitable means.

3. As in els 1 & 2 where the first ball is held centrally within the aperture by means of a centring ring made of some suitable material.