US1864808A - Tandem controlling mechanism for pressing machines - Google Patents

Description

TANDEM CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES E. DAVIS `lune 28, 1932.

Original Filed Nov. ,22l 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

W f/7M A TTORN E YS E. DAVIS 1,864,808

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 28, 1932.

TANDEM CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES O'inal Filed Nov. 22, 1926 I N VEN TOR. BY /QMZ-/f A "MMM Pf6/M A TTORN E YS,

June 2s, 1932. E. DAVIS 1,864,808

TANDEM coNTRoLLNg MEcHANIsM Fon PREssING MACHINES Original Filed NOV. 22, 1926 5 Sheets-sheet 5 A TTORNEYS Patented June Z8, 1932 UNITED IS'IA'I'Es -PATENT ori-ICE ERNEST DAVIS, 0F SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 PROSPERITY IN C., 0F SYRAGUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TANDEM CONTROLLING MEGHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Application led November 22, 1926, Serial No. 149,904. Renewed November 19, 1931.

This invention relates to means for controlling the operations in sequence of machines which are attended by one operator, particularly machines in which the operator may be injured during a part of their operations as machines which have an opening and closing movement.

The invention has for its object a particularly simple and efficient mechanism by which the operator cannot be present at a machine while it is closing or going through the dangerous part of the operation (unless he uses a two hand controlling mechanism) and the next or adjacent machine in the series or the machine he has just left, after arranging work thereon is automatically closed by the presence of the operator at another machine in the series. v

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is l had to the. accompanyingodrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections between the mechanisms for controlling the opening and closing of a series or set of machines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the power means and the controlling means of each machine.

Fivure 3 is an elevation of a garment or laundry pressing machine to which this controlling means is particularly applicable.

Figure 4 is a -diagrammatic plan view illustrating the layout of the machines on the lloor and the fencing aroun'd the machines. This invention isparticularly applicable for controlling a set of two or more p ower Operated -pressing machines having a cycle of operations or a cycle of opening and closing movements wherein the closing movement ordinarily involves some danger to the operator, as for instance, the type of uconventional garment and laundry platen presses, including a head 1 movable toward and from a buck 2. In this type of machine the buck is usually stationary and mounted upon a suitable frame 3, and the head is carried at the front end of a yoke or lever 4 pivoted at 5 between itsfends to a vstandard 6 rising from the frame, the lever being connected at 1 s rear end to motor .or power means or any other prime mover.

The invention comprises means for controlling the operation of the power means includmg a, controlling member associated with each machine and arranged to be automatically moved in one direction by the operator approaching the machine, the controlling member of each machine being connected to the controlling means of another machine or the next machine in series to effect the closing of the next machine, all whereby the closing of one machine can not be effected while the operator is attending that machine except as will be hereinafter explained.

As here illustrated, the power means includes a cylinder 7, and a piston 8 movable therein and having its rod 9 connected to the front end of a power arm 10 pivoted at 11 to the frame and the motion of the power arm 10 is transmitted to the rear arm of the yoke or lever 4 through toggle links 12 and 13, the toggle link 12 bein rigid with the power arm 10. The cylin er is single acting, and a counterwcight 14 and countersprings 15, 16 open the press when the motive fluid as air is exhausted Afrom the cylinder 7. Hence, the power means tending to open the press includes the prime mover or fluid motor including the cylinder 7 and piston 8, and the counterweight 14 and springs 15, 16. The

'cylinder 7 is pivoted at 17 to the frame to have an oscillating movement during the movement of the piston.

The means for controlling the operation of the power means may be of any suitable form, size and construction and that here shown in so far as any one machine is concerned or in so far as it is applicable to one machine, forms no part of this invention but constitutes the subject matter of my pending application, Ser. No. 671,568 filed October 29, 1923.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invcntion, a set or series of three machines are shown operated in triple tandem but any other plural number of machines may be employed, the number being determined by the number of machines a single operator can tend most eiciently or with minimum loss of time. Each of these three machines may be substantially like that shown in Figure 3, and 7, 7a and 7b designate respectively the cylinders of the power means of such machines.

The power means for each machine when the machine is used individually comprises a valve casing 18, Figure 2, a normally closed spring pressed intake valve 19 in the casing and a normally open exhaust valve 20 connected to the valve 18 by a stem 21 so that the valves 19 and 20 act as a unit. The valve 19 is pressed to its seat by a spring 22. These valves are operated by a manually operated member as a push button 23, the motion of which is transmitted through a lever 24 through another lever 25 acting on the stem 26 of the exhaust valve 20. When this button 23 is depressed as shown in Figure 2, obviously, the exhaust valve 20 will be closed and the intake valve 19 open permitting air to pass from a feed line 27 through the valve casing 18 through a. pipe 28 to a coupling 29 connected to the head 30 of the cylinder 7, which coupling 29 opens into a passage 31 in said head and the passage communicates through a port 32 with the interior of the cylinder 7. e

In order that two hands must be used to close the press, another pipe 33 communicates also with the coupling 29 and this pipe communicates with a valve casing 34 having a normally open exhaust valve 35 therein which is -operated by ya manually operated member as a push button 36 similar to the push button 23, the motion being transmitted by 0 the push button 36 through levers 37 and 38 to the exhaust valve 35, these levers being similar to the levers 24, 25 operated by thehandle or push button 23. Obviously, the manual or push button 36 must be held depressed in order to close the exhaust valve 35 when the manual or push button 23 is depressed for if it is not, the air instead of passing into the cylinder through lthe port 32, will pass out the exhaust valve 35 through the pipe 33. When the exhaust valves 20 or 35 are open the air is free to exhaust from the valve casings 18 and 34 through the passa-ges 39, 40. The operator, if he uses the push buttons 23, 36 must hold them depressed until the press is closed or until the piston 8 is near the limit of its out stroke, and means is provided for then automatically holding the combined intake valve 19 and the exhaust valve 20 in 0 its operated position and also the exhaust valve 35 in its operated or closed position.

This means is here shown as fluid operated motors, eac-h consisting of pressure chambers 41 or 42, a diaphragm 43 or 44 in said chamber and acting on push rods 45 or 46 actlng on the lever 25 or 38, each pressure chamber 41 or 42 being connected by a pipe 47 or 48 to a coupling 49 which is connected by a pipe 50 to a. casing 51 on the side of the cylinder 7, whichcasing communicates with a port 52 so located in the cylinder wall as to be uncovered as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke. Thus, when the piston uncovers the port 52, the diaphragms 43 and 44 in the pressure chambers will be operated to hold the valves 19, 20 and 35 in the position to which they have been manually operated.

In order to release the. air in the cylinder of each machine independently of the other machines and thus open the machines individually, means is provided for exhausting the air from the diaphragm chambers which means is manually operable. This means as here shown includes a valve casing 54 having a normally closed spring pressed exhaust valve 55 therein which is operated against its spring by a handle 56 grouped with the manual or push button 36, the casing 54 being connected by a pipe 57 to the pipe 48. Thus, when the handle 56 is operated to open the exhaust valve 55, the pressure will exhaust from the diaphragm chamber 42 and also from the diaphragm chamber 41 thus permitting the intake valve 19 to close and the exhaust valves 2O and 35 to open and hence the air to exhaust from the cylinder 7 so that the press will open by the counterweight 14 and springs 15, 16. These manually operated members 23, 35 and 56 and the parts operated thereby are all mounted within a suitable box or casing 58 mounted on each machine on the Ifront side thereof. The piston 8 is provided witha valve head 59 carried by a stem 60 projecting in advance of the piston, the stem being slidable in the piston rod 9 against the action of a spring 61. This valve 59 delays the full opening of the port 32 until the piston has travelled part of its power stroke and retards the exhaust through the port 32 as the piston approaches its initial position or in other words, this valve prevents a sudden starting and stopping of the piston under the iniuence of the counterweight and springs. It forms no part of this invention. The valve 59 need not tightly close the port 32 to the inlet of air but in order that the machine may operate in the event the valve 59 does tightly close the port 32, a by-pass is provided around this port from the passage 31 including smaller Vpassages 32a, 335.

The controlling valve mechanism operated by the push buttons 23. 36 and the valve 59 specifically described, forms no part of this invention. l

The controlling member associated with -each machine and arranged to be automatically moved-and operated by the operator or other person approaching the machine, and connected to the controlling means of the next machine in the series to effect the closing of the next machine, as before stated, in th1s embodiment of my invention, includes a sensitive element as a section of the ioor or Wide treadle which must necessarily be stepped on and lwhich the operator can not avoid stepping on when approaching the machine.

62, 62a or 626 designate the controlling member or floor section of each machine, each section being depressible against the action of a spring 63 tending to return it to its normal position. As here shown, each section is hinged at 64. Each controlling member is connected to the controlling mechanism of the next machine to effect the closing of'such machine. These connections as here shown comprise a link 65 connected to a lever 66 acting on a stem of a normally closed spring pressed intake valve 67 which is held in its closed position in a casing 68 by a spring 69, thev valve casing 68 bein connected by a pipe 70 to the feed pipe 2 and by an outlet pipe 71 tothe coupling 49 of another machine which is operated by cylinder 76 so that the air pressure can operate the diaphragm in the chamber 416 and 426 corresponding to the chambers 41 and 42 of the machine operated by cylinder 7, and thus automatically close the combined intake' and exhaust valves in the casing 186 and close the exhaust valve in the casing 346 so that the air will enter the cylinder 76 from the feed pipe 276 and actuate the piston in the cylinder 76 the same as heretofore Adescribed in connection With the cylinder 7. Thus, the depression of the treadle or floor section 62 causes a remote machine to be closed.

Likewise, when the operator steps on the treadle or floor section 626, the lever 666 will be operated through link 656 to open the intake valve corresponding to the intake valve 69 in the casing 686 permitting air to pass from line 276 through pipe 706, casing 686 and pipe 716 to coupling 49a of the machine operated by cylinder 7a so that the parts associated with said cylinder 7a and designated respectively 41a, 42a, 34a and 18a are operlted to effect the How of air to the cylinder Likewise, when the operator steps on the Hoor section 62a, the lever 66a is operated through link 65a toe'ect the control of air from the feed line 27a through pipe 70a, valve casing 68a and pipe 71a to the coupling 49 ofthe rst machine or that is, the machine operated by the cylinder 7. As thus f ar described. when the operator steps on the treadle 62 he effects the closing of the machine operated by cylinder 76 he has just left. Means is provided by which the movement of the treadle or floor section 62, 62dor 626 effects the opening of that machine if it has not been previously openedas will be presently described. This means consists of a link 72 connecting the treadle 62 to a lever 73 acting to open a normally closed spring pressed valve 74'in a valve casing 75 which is connected by a pipe 76 to the pipe 47 .through which both of the diaphragm chambers 41, 4 2 are exhausted. Obviously, when the valve 74 is thus opened, the air in the diaphragm chambers-41, 42 will be exhausted permitting the valves 19, 20 and 35- to return to their normal position, that is, the position in which the exhaust valves are open so that air can exhaust from the cylinder 7 and hence the press opens. The corresponding parts for the machines operated by the cylinders 7a and 76 are designated `respectively,"72a, 726; 73a, 736; 75a, 756; 76a, 766.

Preferably, meansl is provided by which when the operator leaves one machine and thus removes his weight from the ioor treadle 62, 62a or 626, the return of this treadle by its spring 63 operates the mechanism to exhaust the air in the diaphragm chambers corresponding to they diaphragm chambers 41, 42 of the press to which he is next going.

This means consists of a cylinder 77 having a piston 7 8 'movable therein and connected by a rod 79 to the treadle 62, the cylinder being connected by a pipe 8O to a pressure operated motor 81 or diaphragm chamber which actuates a plunger 82 acting on the release handle 56 to operate said handle of the machine to which he is next going to operate, to exhaust the air from the chambers corresponding tothe chambers 41, 42 and thus permit the companion' press to open. 'Ihe corresponding parts just described are designated in the othermachines respective 77a; 776; 79a, 796; 80a, 806; 81a, 816; 82a, .826. Each cylinder is also provided with a check valve control pipe 83, 83a or 836 preventing it from becoming air bound.

-In operation, any one machine may be closed independently of the others by operating the push buttons 23, 36 and opened by operating fthe trip .handle 56. Assuminy that the presses operated bythe cylinders 7 and 7a` are closed and that operated by' the cylinder 76 is open, as this is the, order they will automatically AeventualljT tak'e regardless of whetheror not they are all open at the start or of any other condition as to opening and closing they may be in at the start, the operator goes to the machine actuated by the cylinder 76, which machine is open and places a garment thereon and as he steps on treadle 62 of the machine operated by the cylinder 7, the machine operated by cylinder 76 closes. As long as the operator is workingA at this machine, he is, standing on the treadle 62. ,When he steps on the treadle 62, through the Alll mechanism previously described, the intake valve in the casing 68 is. opened to permit air to pass from the main line 27, through pipe71 toautomatically operate the controlling mechanism of the machine operated by cylinder 7 b so that this machine is closed after the operator has taken his position on the treadle 62 of the rst machine operated by the cylinder 7. After the operator is through working on the machine operated by cylinder 7 and steps off the treadle 62, the trip lever 56a of the next machine actuated by cylinder 7a is operated through cylinder 77 and the pressure set up therein by the piston 78, pipe 80 and pressure operated motor 81a, thus relieving the control mechanism of the machine operated by cylinder 7a so that it opens and is opened by the time the operator reaches it. As the operator takes his position on the treadle 62a of the second machine, the valve in casing 68a is operated to control the flow of air to the control mechan-ism of the first machine operated by cylinder 7 so thatthe first machine is closed when the operator is away from it and attending the second machine. As the operator steps 0H from the treadle 62a, the machine operated by cylinder 7b opens and as he steps on the treadle 63a, the second machine operated by cylinder 7a closes. Thus, at no time can the operator be at a machine when it is closing unless he is closing the machine by the use of the two hand control. If anybody at any time steps up to the machine onto the treadle 62, 62a or 62?) all that will happen will be that the machine will open or if an operator is attending one machine or just stepping on one machine and thereby closing another and some other person comes up to the other machine, it will not close as such other person must stand upon the control member 62, 62a, or 621) in order to get near enough to the machine to be in danger.

The sides and back of the machine may if desired be fenced in as indicated at F or protected so that no one can approach the machine except from the front side where the control members or floor sections are located.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operation of the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by a person approaching the machine and connected to the controlling means of the other machine to effect the closing of said other machine.

2. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operation of the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by a person approaching the machine to open said machine and connected to the controlling means of the other machine to e'ect the closing of said other machine.

3. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the op- 'eration of the power means of each machine including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and moved in one direction by a person approaching the machine and connected to the controlling means of another machine to effect the closing of such other machine, means for returning said controlling member to its normal position and means operated by such return movement to operate the controlling mechanism of still another machine to open the last machine as the person leaves the first machine.

4. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closino` movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operation of each machine by the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by the operator approaching the machine, and connections between said member and the controlling means of another machine to effect the closing of said other machine, the controlling member comprising a movable loor section arranged to be operated and depressed by the weight of the operator.

5. The combination of a plurality of ma` chines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operation of each machine by the power means comprising operator operated parts by which each machine may be opened and closed independently of the other machine, and also including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by the operator approaching the machine and connectedto the controlling means of another machine to effect the closing of said other machine.

6. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and. closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines,means for controlling the operation of each machine by the power means comprising operator-operated parts by which the machine may be opened and closed independently of the other machine and also including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by the operator approaching the machine and connected to the controlling l 0 means of another machine to effect the closing of said other machine, the operator operated parts individual to each machine comprising two manually operated members both of which must be operated to effect the closing of the machine.

7. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operation of the machines by the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and connected to the controlling means of another machine to ei'ect thevclosing of the next machine, the control-l ling member comprising a movable floor section positioned in the path of approach to the machine to be depressed by the weight of the operator, means for returning the floor section to its normal position, and connections operated by the return movement of the floor section and connected to the.'v controlling means for another machine to operate the same to open said other machine.

8. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the operations of the machines by the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach of the machine so as to be engaged land operated by the operator approaching the machine and connected to the controlling means of another machine to effect the closing thereof, the controlling means for each machine including manually operated members o erable to effect the opening and closing of the machine independently of the other machine, and connections operated by the returning movement of the controlling member of each machine to operate the member which'eflects the opening of said other machine. i

9. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means individual to the machines for opening and closing them, means located at each machine for operating the controlling means of another machine to close said other machine while the first machine is being opened, the last mentioned means including a member positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be -engaged by the operatorV when Working at one machine, and connections operated by said member when moved in one direction to control the closing of another machine.

10. The combination of a lurality of machines having opening andp closing movements, powermeans for opening and closing the machines comprising a motor, and means forcontrolling the operation of each motor comprising fluid pressure controlled valves,

a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged by a person approaching the machine, and a valve operated by said controlling member, said valve controlling the flow of motive iuid to the fluid pressure operated valve of the motor of another machine to operate the same.

ll. The combination ef a plurality of machines. having opening and closing movements, a motor for opening andiclosing each machine, means for controlling the operation of each motor including a iiuid pressure controlled valve, a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and moved in one direction by a person approaching the machine, a valve for` controlling the flow of motive Huid to the pressure controlled valve of another machine for closing said other machine, means tending `to move the controlling member of each machine in the other direction and thus return said member to its normal position, the controlling means for each machine including an exhaust valve for releasing said pressure operated valve, and pressure creating means operated by the return movement of each controlling member of eachmachine and connected to the release valve of another machine to operate said release valve upon the return movement of said controlling member connected thereto.

12. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, a fluid motor for opening and closing each machine means for controlling the closing of eac comprising operator operated valves, fluid pressure means for holding the valves in their operated positions, and a release 'member operable to release the pressure from the valve holding means, the controlling means also including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged 'and operated by the operator approaching the machine, means including a valve connected to the controlling member of each machine to be operated thereby during the movement thereof for controlling the operation `of lthe valve holding means of another machine;

13. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, a pressure operated motor for opening and closing each machine, means for controlling the closing of each machine by the iiuid motor comprising operator-operated valves, Huid pressure means for holding the valves in their operated positions, a release member operable to release the pressure :from the valve holding means, the controlling means also including a controlling member associated with each machine and ositioned in the path of approach of the mac ine so as to be engaged and operated in one direction by the operator approaching the machine, means for returning the controlling member in the opposite direction, means including a valve connected to the controlling member to be operated thereby during the movement thereof in one direction for controlling the operation of the valve holding means of another machine, and pressure means, actuated by the return movement of each controlling member connected to the release valve holding means of still another machine.

14:. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means controlling the operation of the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and positioned in the path of approach to the machine, so to be engaged and operated by a person approaching the machine to open said machine, and connected to the controlling means of the other machine to eEect the closing thereof, means for returning the controlling member to its normal position, and means connected to each controlling member and operated by the return movement thereof to operate the controlling mechanism of another machine to open the same.

15. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, power means for opening and closing the machines, means for controlling the 0peration of the power means including a controlling member associated with each machine and postioned in the path of approach to the machine so as to be engaged and operated by a person approaching the machine, and operating connections between each controlling member and the controlling means of another machine, whereby the controlling member of each machine is a remote control for the controlling means of another machine.

16. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, motor means for closing the machines and holding them closed, a control member for controlling the operation of the motor means of each machine, a release member for the motor means of each machine, means for operating the release member of each machine, connections between the control member of one machine and the release member operating means of a second machine for controlling the operation ofthe release member of the second machine, whereby the release member of the second machine is operated from the controlling member of the first machine.

17. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing move- -means is released, means ments, means including a single acting pressure operated motor for closing each machine and holding it in closed position, means tending to open each machine when the motor on each machine for controlling the flow of motive fiuid to the motor of another machine, a normally closed release valve for controlling the iiow of fluid from the motor, a plunger for opening the release valve of each machineand means associated with the plunger and connected to the controlling means of another machine for operating said plunger. f

18. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movement, means for closing each machine including a single acting pressure operated motor, means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the motor of each machine, a normally closed release valve for the motor of each machine, a manually operated member therefoi, and means operated by the controlling means of each machine for automatically operating the release member of asecond machine to open the latter machine.

19. rlhe combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, means for opening and closing each machine and holding it closedincluding a pressure operated motor, valve means on each machine for controlling the iioW of motive fluid to the motor of another machine to close the other machine, a second valve ymeans for each motor for controlling the exl haust of fluid and the opening of the machine, a manual member for operating the exhaust valve means of each machine to effect the opening of that machine and an additional operating member for said exhaust valve means of each machine, said additional member being grouped with the controlling means of another machine.

20. The combination of a plurality of ma-h chines having opening and closing movements, means for opening and closing each machine and holding it closed including a pressure operated motor, means on each machine for controlling the flow of motiveI fluid to the motor of another machine to close the other machine, a second valve means for each motor for controlling the exhaust of fluid and the opening of the machine, a manual member for operating the exhaust valve means of each machine to effect the opening of that machine, and an additional operating member for the exhaust valve means of each motor, said additional member being grouped with the controlling means of another machine.

21. The combination of a plurality of machines having opening and closing movements, motor means for closing the machines and holding them closed, means on each mamotor means of another machine Lee-feos Y other machine, release means for controlling the openingof each machine including a manually operated lever, additional ,means for operating the lever including a plunger, for thrusting againstv the lever and actuating means therefor, means for controlling the actuation ofthe plunger actuating means, including connections between the controlling means of one machine and the plunger actuating means o f another machine whereby the controlling means of one machine operates the release lever of another machine for opening the other machine.

In `testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 22nd day of October, 1926.v

ERNEST f DAVIS.

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