GB639001A - Improvements in or relating to garment presses - Google Patents

Abstract

639,001. Ironing-presses. CHERRY TREE MACHINE CO., Ltd., and DOWELL,. G. May 24, 1947, Nos. 13992 and 20911. [Class 138 (ii)] In a manually-operable garment press, upper and lower pressing elements 11, 21 are brought together by a foot actuated toggle mechanism 14; 15 comprising a bell-crank lever 14 having a foot plate 12 associated with one limb, the limb being connected to a fixed point on the machine frame by a rule-jointed linkage 19, 20 which when fully extended holds the foot-plate 12 depressed and so maintains pressure between the pressing elements 11, 21. The toggle mechanism 14, 15, Fig. 1, is prevented from reaching its deadcentre position by the rule-jointed linkage 19, 20 comprising a toggle which is pivoted to the bell-crank 14 and to the machine frame ; an extension 19a on the link 19 engaging a pin 23 on the link 20 so that the linkage can move in one way only, so locking the foot plate 12 in an operated position. The head is released when the toggle 19, 20 is broken by means of a pin 25 on a lever 24 which is pivoted at 18 and operated either by a foot pedal 26 or a hand lever 27. As shown in Fig. 5, the foot plate 50 and the lower link 51 of the locking toggle may be a single member pivoted to the lower member of the head operating toggle at 52. The foot pedal 26, Fig. 1, and the lever 27 are connected by linkage through a bellcrank 29 which is mounted coaxially with the hand arm pivot 16 and which has a pin 35 engaging a slot 34 in one of the connecting links 31b to the pedal 26. With the hand closed the pin engages the upper end of the slot and so either control may release the head. When the head opens the pin slides down the slot so that only the foot pedal 26 can then control the head. The same type of interconnection may be used between the hand and foot controls of a steam valve mounted on the head. Because of the pin and slot connection, when the head is raised, only the hand control which is mounted on the head, can operate the steam valve, but in a modification, Fig. 4, the bell-crank 42 has a positive engagement with the foot pedal link 39b and is pivoted on the head arm 10 so that the connection between the hand and foot controls is substantially unaffected by movement of the head and either can control the steam valve at all times. The head release controls may be similarly connected.