US1523445A - Ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

l Jan. 20,1925.r y

' J'. F. PATTON ET Al.

IRONING MACHINE File'd Sept. 7,1920 5' Sheets-Sheet l f jm zu, 2925.'

- J. F'. PATTON ET AL.

IRONING MACHINE 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed sept. v, 1920 l ,SER-45 J F. PATTON ET Al.l

Jan, 20. 1925.

IRONI NG MACHI NE Filed sein. 7

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 [EPS ..WM HUE EM EM igatented dan. ZG, W25,

JAMES F. PATTON AND JOHN E. MCALLISTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE PATTON COIVIPJY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Inonrns Application filed September and JOHN E. MoALLis'rnn, both citizens of (hio, have invented certain new and useful the United States, residing at Cleveland Improvements in Ironing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates particularly to that class of ironing machines which include a heated curved metallic shoe which cooperates with a rotating cylinder. In such a machine the roll is generally covered with a soft layer of felt or other similar material over which may he placed a sheet of cloth. It is customary in such machines to provide mechanism for forcing together the shoe and roll and for separating them. A motor or other suitable mechanism is provided for rotating the roll and in some cases mechanism is provided for freeing the roll Yfrom the motor so that the roll may loe stopped from rotation without stopping the motor. In order to work satisfactorily it has heen found necessary or desirable to insert a spring in the mechanism which holds the shoe and roll together in such a way that it will be capable of allowing some relief when materials of varying thickness are passed loetween the roll and shoe in the process of ifroniiig. Associated with the roll and shoe is generally a feeding talole from which the clothes to he irone'd may he fed to the roll. In -the preferred .form of the present invention this talole is normally horizontal and admits of a very slight tilting' motion under pressure. The arrangement may he such that the tilting movement may effect a separation of the roll and shoe.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sect-ion of the ironing machine. Fig. 2 Ais a similar transverse section showing the roll and shoe in contact with each other. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a clutch for controlling the rotation of the roll. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vert-ical section on the line 4-'4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the ironing` machine. is a transverse vertical section through a latch for holding the roll and vshoe in contact with each other. Fig. 7 is a front elevation f one @mi of the machine. Fg- 8 Fig. 6'

MAoHrNn,

7, reco. serial no. 408,665.

is a fragmentary end elevation showing the support for the motor. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of another form the invention may take.

The machine shown includes a supporting frame having end pieces 1 to one leg of which is pivoted a pedal 2 which is normally lsupported by a spring 8 connecting Ythe pedal to the supporting frame. The Vpedal 2 extends from side to side of the machine and. may be easily and readilyv reached bythe operator without the need for movement to any particular place along the roll. Pivoted to the pedal is an upwardly extending bar or link 4 which passes through an aperture 6 in a hoard or table which receives the material after being ironed. Pivoted on a hearing i' in the end piece 1 vis an angle lever having an arm 8 to which is connected the 'oar hy a pin 55. The upper arm 9 of the angle lever carries a loar 16 on which is threaded a plug associated with a lock nut 10. rhe har 16 extends into a socket 17 projecting from a hearing block 18 for the ironing roll 19. The plug 15 and the hearing block 1S are each provided with screw threads to engage a spring 2O which surrounds the socket 17 and holds the rod 16 in the socket. In the end piece 1 'are guide ways 21 on which theloearing 18 for the roll may slide. Back of the roll 19 is a curved metal shoe 22 mounted in the end pieces 1 and provided with a 'gas burner 23 extending from end to end of the shoe as is well known in the art.

The end pieces 1 have forwardly projecting arms 24 carrying hearings 25 for the lugs 26 which carry a feeding hoard or table 27. In the arms 24 are sockets 28 in which are seated coil springs 29 on the upper ends of which ride lugs 30 to support the hoard 27 and hold it approximately horizontal. Depending from the hoard 2? on the other side of the pivot from the lug is a lug 81 carrying a removable wearing memloer 11. At its upper end the arm '9 is forked at 12 and the fork carries 'a transverse rod 18 on which is pivoted a latch 14. A coil spring 38 in a socket helow the fork 12 tends normally to press upward the latch 14. On the other side of the pivot 13, a yset screw 32 extends through,

the bottom of the fork 12 so as to limit the movements of the latch 14. The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is at the left end of the ironing machine and the lever 8, 9 together with the rod 4 are inside of the end piece 1. All of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is preferably duplicated at the right hand end of the machine but this is not necessary. VThe apparatus is normally in the position indicated in Fig. 1. Pressure upon the pedal 2 extends the spring 3 and causes the rod 4 to pull down upon the pin 55 thereby causing the angle lever to turn upon the pivot 7 and force the plug 15 against the spring 20 which as it compresses forces the bearing 18 of the roll to slide to the right in Fig. 1 thereby bringing the roll into engagement with the shoe 22. The apparatus is thus brought into the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the spring 20 is compressed and there would be a tendency to force the apparatus to return to the position shown in Fig. 1 unless some means 'were provided to lock the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 2. In passing from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position in Fig. 2 the latch 14 carried by the arm 9 is caused to engage the wearing point 11. The latch 14 is then pressed down against the force of the spring` 33 or the wearing point 11 is forced upward against the spring 29 or both effects may occur. 1When the arm 9 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2 the latch 14 rises and engages the wearing point 11 as indicated in Fig. 2. Pressure may now be removed from the pedal 2 and it will remain depressed. A slight pressure upon the forward edge of the feed board 27 will compress the spring 29 and cause the wearing point 11 to rise from engagement with the latch 14 and so allow the springs 2O and 3 to withdraw the roll 19 from the shoe 22 with a snap.

There is no rigid connect-ion between the plug 15`and the bearing boxes 18 but both the forward and backward movement of the roll 19 is accomplished through the connecting springs 20. The springs are kept from creeping one way or the other by stops 53 cast at the ends of the screw threads of the plug 15 and bearing boxes 18. As assembled the plugs and bearing boxes are screwed in the spring as far as the stops 53 will allow and they remain in such relative positions.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement provided at the right hand end of the machine for rotating the roll. This apparatus may be duplicated at the left hand of the roll or might be there alone. Passing through the bearing block 18 is the shaft 34 on which the roll 19 is rigidly mounted. A clutch member having a key way sliding on a key 54 on the shaft 34 has a collar 36 by which it may be shifted longitudinally on the shaft 34. Carrying a co-operating clutch is a gear 37 loose on the shaft 34. The gear 37 engages a pinion 38 carried by a. worm wheel 39 which engages a worm 40 rotated by a pulley 41 through a belt 42 running to a motor 43 suitably supported on the end piece 1. Depending from bearing block 18 adjacent the shaft 34 is a lug 44 carrying a pin 45 to which is fastened one end ofl a coil spring 46. The other end of the coil spring 46 engages a lever 49 pivoted on the pin 45. One end 47 of the lever 49 engages the collar 36 of the clutch member 35 and the other end 48 of the lever 49 normally engages a cam projection 51 carried by the end piece 1.

A forked bracket 61 on one leg of the frame 1 carries on a pivot pin 62, a support 63 for the motor 43. The inner end 64 of the support 63 may be forced up by the weight of the motor 43 as the belt 42 eX- pands in use. This will lower the motor support 63 and take up the slack and keep the belt 42 always tight enough to work properly and not slip. A set screw 65 held by a lock nut 66 in the bracket 61 limits the downward movement of the motor and avoid accidents if the belt breaks or comes olf. Normally the set screw 65 is adjusted so that it is not engaged by the end 64 thus allowing for stretching of the belt 42. Then the belt stretches so that the end 64 does engage the screw 65 it may be re-set so as to allow of further stretching of the belt which may be thus always kep-t tight without frequent attention or adjustments.

A switch 52 is indicated by which current may be fed to the motor. The motor will operate andV cause the gear 37 to rotate continuously and when the clutch member 35 is forced into 4engagement with the clutch carried by the gear 37 the roll will be ro tated. When the clutch member 35 is out of engagement the gear 37 may continue to rotate without affecting the roll.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 causes the bearing block 18 to slide on the guide ways 2.1. Then in the position shown in Fig. l tbe cam 51 will engage the end 48 of theY lever 49 as indicated in Fig. 3. The spring 46 will be distorted and the end 47 of the lever 49 pressed into the collar 36 will hold the clutch member 35 out of engagement with the clutch member carried by the gear 37. Vheii, however7 the roll is moved into the position indicated in F ig. 2 the end 48 of the lever 49 will be forced back until it slides off the lug 51. In this position the spring 46 will force outward the endV 47 of the lever 49 and by its engagement in the collar 36 force the clutch member 35 into engagement with the clutchmember carried by the gear 36 thus causing the roll to be rotated by the motor 43.

'The teeth on the gears 37 and 38 are so ll l) cut that they are not in tight Contact but there is sul'llcientplay between the teeth to allow the gear 37 to move slightly Without coming out of engao'ement with 'the gear 88. Thus the gear 3i( may be moved from the position it will occupy When the roll is in the position indi-cated in Fig. 1 to the position 'it Will occupy When the roll is in the position indicated in Fig. 2 Without causing the teeth of the gear `38 to become disengaged from fthe teeth in the gear 37.

lt will thus be seen that for operation the switch 52 `may be turned to start the motor. The roll 'may be forced into engagement With the shoe and cause it to ret-atc by pressing down upon the pedal 2. lushing down upon the front edge 'of the 'feeding table 27 'Will allow the roll to recede from the shoe and to cease rota-ting while the motor continues to operate.

ln Fig. isz shown 'an ironing machine in which the 'feeding board 27a may be rigidly mounted on the forwardly extending arm 24 of the `side piece 1. Since Vit is substantially horizontal and does `not move it forms 'a reliable place (either with or without the co-operation of 'the roll) for "folding clothes' oir arranging articles to be ironed. As' in th'e machine illustrated in the preceding figures, Vpivoted at 7 is a lever the arm 9 of which compresses the spring 20 and forces the roll 19 in cont-act with the shoe. The arm 9 also carries the pivot-ally mounted spring supported latch ln the forwardly extending arm 24 of thc frame 1 is a soclret 28a in Which is a coil spring 292L the other end of which rests in a socketI a in an arm 56 pivoted at 25 to the frame, rihe arm 56 carries at its rear end a projecting lug 31 provided with a removable bearing point 11? which Will ong' the latch 1i 'and hold the roll 19 in resilient contact Withthe shoe. The outer end of the pivo'te'd arm 56 is shown as curving slightly upward in front of the front edge of the feeding board 27a.V This upwardly extending end of the 'arm 56 carries a rod or bar 57 the other end of Which is su'l'morted by a. pivoted arm similarly mounted at the vother side 'of the machine. The rod 57 extends preferably throughout the entire length of the roll 19 and 'the feeding board 27a. It is thus possible to release the latch 14 and cause the roll 19 to be Withdrawn from contact with the shoe 22 by pressure upon the bar. Since the bar extends' from side to side of the machine it may be easily and readily reached by the operator Without the need for movement to any particular place along the roll.

lt Will be seen in Figs. 1 and 9 that the arm 9 does not come into contact with tl e upwardly extending arm of the arms 24 of the end piece 1 which arrangement allows the spring 20 to `be entirely expanded in the released position. This may have a tendency to increase the etiiciency of the spring and at the saine time increase its life.

ln the position shown in Figs. 1 and 9 'the feed-ing table 27 alone, or together with the roll 13 Which is adjacent the feeding table, forms a convenient surface on Which the clothes may be arranged previous to the actual ironing operation. For instance, pieces which may be desirable to fold before ironing may be conveniently folded here. lt Will be remembered that in the position shown in Fig. 1 the roll 19 is inert being freedV from the rotating apparatus driven by the motor 13. Consequently the folding and the positioning of the goods to be ironed may be conveniently effected Without the `inconvenience and possible interruption Which might be caused by the drum 19 if it were rotating. Moreover in this condition the drum 19 is free to turn and may be turned in either direction and to any extent and at any suitable speed by the hand of the operator. This is convenient in many instances Where it is desirable to place the material to be ironed upon the roller vand advance it initially part Way into the space between the roll and the shoe 22 so that when the apparatus is brought i-nto the ironing position shown in Fig. 2 the material may be promptly gripped between the roll and shoe and consequently fed through the ironing machine vvithout disarranging the folds or other preliminary arrangement of the clothes.

The clutch and driving mechanism. illustrated in Figs. 3 Vand 4 are so arranged that the drum 19 is free from 'the rotating mechanism driven by the motor 43 when the apparatus is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 9 and also during most of the movement of the apparatus from that position to the position shown in Fig. 2. The clutch incinber engages the clutch carried by the gear 37 toward the end of the movement and as the apparatus reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. rlhe drum is thus available for positioning the material at substantially all times excepting When the operation of ironing is actually taking place. An additional advantage of having the drawn back roll 19 freed of the motor driven rotating mechanism when the ironing operation is not taking place is that such an arrangement makes it possible conveniently to cover the roll with the necessary fabric or to make adjustments or repairs therein. After the ironing has started a slight pressure on the edge of the board 27 or the rod 57 Will cause the roll and shoe to separate. At the beginning of the movement the roll is freed of the motor driven mechanism and rendered inert. The clothes may now be Withdrawn entirely or may be Withdrawn partly Without actually removing them from the roll by rotating the roll backward as much as may be desired.

Numerous other advantages of the invention Will be apparent to those versed in the art Who Will be able to make various changes in detail Without departing from the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In an ironing machine, a frame, a heated shoe therein, a roll, a bearing for the roll sliding in the frame, a bell crank lever engaging the bearing, aA latch on the lever and a feeding board engaged by the latch.

2. In an ironing machine, a shoe, a roll, means to cause the roll to approach the shoe, a feeding board, and mea-ns engaged by the board to lock the roll against the shoe.

3. In an ironing machine, a shoe, a roll, a lever for forcing the roll and shoe together, a pivoted spring supported latch on the lever, and a pivoted spring supported feeding board to engage the latch.

t. In an ironing machine, a frame, a heated shoe, a roll, Ways in the frame, a bearing for the roll in the Ways, a spring engaging the bearing, a plug engaging the spring, an angle lever pivoted to the frame and having one arm enga-ging the plug, a link engaging the other arm of the angle lever, a pedal pivoted to the frame and engaging the link, a fork in the arm of the angle lever enga-ging the plug, a. latch pivoted in the fork, a. spring in the arm and engaging the latch to turn it on its pivot, a set screw in the arm engaging the latch to limit the movement of the latch, a feeding board pivoted on the frame, a spring in the frame engaging the board and tending to hold it horizontal, a removable Wearing block on the board which engages and holds the latch.

5. In an ironing machine, a fra-me, a. shoe therein, a reciprocating bearing in the frame, a shaft in the bearing, a roll on the shaft, a loose rotating clutch member on the shaft, a sliding clutch member keyed to the shaft, a pin on the bearing, a lever on the pin one end of which engages the sliding clutch member, acoil spring surrounding the pin and attached to the bearing andthe lever, and a. lugr on the frame engaging the free end of the lever.

6. In an ironing machine, a frame, a shoe therein, a roll, a bearing for the roll reciprocating in the frame, a clutch memberY carried by the bearing, a rotating gear, a. clutch member on the gear, a lever engaging the bearing clutch member, a. spring engaging the lever and tending to force the clutch members into engagement, and a lug on the frame engaging the lever to restrain the spring except When the roll has been reciprocated toward the shoe..

7. In an ironing machine, a. frame, a shoe therein, a roll, a bearing for the roll sliding in the frame, means to cause the bearing to slide, means to rotate the roll, a clutch controlling the rotating means, a. lever on the bearing, a. spring tending to cause the lever to cause the clutch to engage the rotating means, and ay lug normally restraining the spring. Y Y

8. In an ironing machine, a shoe, a roll, means for forcing the roll resilient-ly against the shoe, a pivoted `spring sup-ported latch on the means, a feeding board, and means on the board to engage the latch When the roll is forced against the shoe.

9. In an ironing machine, a roll, a heated shoe, a pedal, means operated by the pedal to cause the roll and shoe to be resilient-ly forced in contact With eachother, aV feeding board, and means operated by the'feeding board to lock the roll and shoe Vresiliently in contact With each other. Y

10. In an ironing machine, al roll, a heated shoe, means to cause the roll to approach the shoe, means operating with the moving roll to canse the roll to rotate, a feeding board, means engaged by the board to lock the roll against the shoe,and means released by the board to cause the roll and shoe to separate.

1l. In an ironing machine, a roll, a heated shoe, means for `moving the roll and shoe into contact with each other, means for engaging and holding the moving means in position to hold the roll and shoe in'contact with eachother, and ay feeding table for releasing theengaging means.

12. In aniironing machine, ak roll, a heatw ed shoe, means for moving the roll and shoe intoI contact With each other, and means above the axis of the roll for engaging a part of said moving means to lock the roll and shoe in Contact.

Jas. r. rar-Ton. Jonar n MCALnis'rnn.

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