US1871436A - Pressing and ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY M Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM PRESS ING AND IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1930 INVENTOR ("Jar/ s 15 hraam T ole/v51:

Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM 1,871,436

FRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1 I I V////////////////////////a 7//////////////////////// 6:, ATTORNEYJ Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED. STATES PATENT. 'OFECE BHABLES E. WAREAM, OF NOR-WOOD, (EH10, ASSIGNOR T THE IAMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A COEPORATIQN OF OHIO rn-Essrne AND mourns Macrame Application filed July 3, 1930. Serial No. 465,555.

My invention relates to a pressing and ironing machine and, particularly, to a press-V ing and ironing machine which is continu-- ous and automatic in operation and relieves the operator of all responsibility in connection with the pressing and ironing operation with the exception of making the proper lays of material to be ironed on the padded bucks.

It contemplates the provision of a pressing and ironing machine embodying a plurality of padded bucks automatically movable over a fixed path and beneath and in contact with the series of spaced sets of heated ironing rolls which are rotated in such direction with relation to the travel of the padded bucks and at such speed as to impart to the articles on the bucks a sliding ironing action. In previous ironing machine of the continuous type, a part or all of the padded bucks have been brought to rest within the ironing areas to load and unload a part or all of the bucks or rearrange the Work thereon. However, in my device, the padded bucks are only stopped intermediate spaced ironing areas any one of which intermediate points may be the initial loading station and any one of which may be the unloading station. r r

Various objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pressing and ironing machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of parts of the press ing and ironing machine shown in Fig.1 and taken on the line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. %l is a detail view taken on the line -l l of Figs. 1 and 3. v

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the electrical current distributing means for the heated ironing rolls. 7

Fig. 6 is a view, partly diagrammatic, showing the electrical control means for the apparatuses well-as the electrical circuit for heating the ironing rolls. r

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, '1 have shown a press; ing and ironing machine embodying supporting uprights and'frames 1 and 2' which are of the same general construction so. that a de-; scription of onewill suf'rice fora description of both. Upright members 3, 4i, 5.. and 6 are secured to frames 1 and 2 and each pairof upright members, for instance, 3, 4: and'5, :6 are connected together at their upper ends by plates 7 and 8 that provide a covering for a plurality of ironing rolls hereinafter described. The frames 1 and 2 also support track members 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the track members '9, 10 and 11 forming one side of asubstantially oval shaped loop and the track members 12, 13 and14; forming the opposite side thereof. As shown in Fig. '1, the track members 10 and 13 are connected at their ends by circular=tracks to complete the substantially oval shaped loop and these ci-rcular track portions consist of tracks 15 and 16 and flat portions 17, 18, 1-9 and 20, the Hat portions 17 and 18 being supported on the frame Work 21 and the flat portions 19 and 20 being supported on a framework 22 which is similar to the frame work'21. I

Suitable carriages 23 are mounted upon these tracks by means of rollers 24, the carriages providing a means for supporting padded bucks 25 and the padded bucks :being resiliently mounted on the carriages by means of bolts. 26 and springs 27 to permit downward movementof the padded bucks when they engage and'pass beneath heated ironing rolls during the ironing operation. As shown in'Fig. 1, each carriage 23 is secured to one of the links of a continuousconveyor chain 28 as at 29 and separate carriages are connected to the chain 28 at equally spaced in tervals. a

The driving mechanism for the conveyor chain 28 consists of a drivingsprocket .30 mounted on the frame 21 at one end of the machine and keyed to thejhubo fa bevelgear 36, the driving sprocket and bevel gear both being mounted and free to turn on .a stud 37 suitably supported in the frame 21 -Abevel pinion 38 that is rigidly mounted on one end of a driven shaft 39 meshes with the bevel gear 36, the power being transmitted to the driven shaft 39 from an electric motor 40 and thence through a coupling 41 and suitable gear speed reductionmechanism 42' to the driven shaft. Thus, the padded bucks 25 may be moved about the substantially oval track hereinbefore described.

Energization of the motor or power unit 40 drives the conveyor chain 28, thereby moving the padded bucks 25 into and out of an ironing area or into and out of contact'with a plurality of ironing rolls 43 which rolls are preferably driven in the direction of travel of the padded bucks and by the same motor means so that the relative movements of the ironing rolls andthe padded bucks will be more or less synchronized. a 7

As shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a gear wheel 44 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 39 and is in mesh withagear 45 on a shaft 46 which is suitably j ournalled in the uprights 5 and 6. A bevel gear 47 is disposed on the shaft 46 and is adjacent each of its outermost ends and this gear is adapted to mesh with bevel gears 48 and 49 on shafts 50 and 51 to drive such shafts in opposite directions. Each of the shafts 50 and 51 have a gear .52 rigidly secured thereon and in meshing relation with a gear 53 which has driving connection with a gear'on the next adjacent roll 43' whereby a series of rolls maybe driven from each of the driven shafts 50 and 51. Each of the rollers 42 is provided with a gear in mesh ing relation with the gears of the next adj acent rollers whereby the rotation of one roller will cause rotation of the others at the same rate of speed or synchronously. These rolls are preferablyrotated in a direction and at a speed to impart a sliding ironing action to the work on the bucks passing therebeneath. r

The control means for the actuation of the electric power unit 40 preferably comprises an electrical switch of the dashpot type as shown in Fig. 6 and whichconsists of a switch housing 54 and an oil housing 55. A switch rod 56 is mounted within and adapted to slide in the casings 54 and. and has a roller 57 mounted on the upper end thereof and attached thereto by means of a clevis 58 and carrying a connector or bridging member 59 thereon within'the switch housing and a pisten 60 within the oil housing. The contactor or bridging member 59 is adapted to normally connect spaced contacts 61 and 62 mounted within the switch housing 54 and insulated from the walls thereof, as shown. A packing gland 63 prevents escape of oil from the oil housing into the switch housing.

The lowermost side of the piston 60 which has ports 64 therein rests upon a compression spring 65 and in the operation of this part L of the apparatus, downward movement of the the ports 64 tothe under side ofthe piston 60. Therefore, a conduit or by-pass 67 through which the'oil flows from the upper to the under surfaceof the piston is provided. A needle valve 68 in the conduit 67 provides 'ameansfor regulating the rate of flow of the ports 64 to a posioil from one side of the pistonto theother Y and thus prov-idesa means for re ulating the speed of upward movement of the piston and the resultant movement of the bridging member 59 into contacting relation with the 'contacts 61 and 62.

In order to automatically operate the dashpot switch structure and thereby automatically control the movementof the operationof the motor or power unit 40 and movement of the padded bucks 25 about the substantially oval path hereinbefore described, a switch actuating lever 69 is pivotally mounted beneath the track 10 or 13, in this instance by means of a bracket 70, the switch actuating lever and switch being located intermediate adjacent pressing stations so that operation of the motor and travel of the bucks will be stopped when the bucks are intermediate successive ironing areas or ironing rollers. This lever has a portion 71 that extends upwardly to above the level of the track 10, when the dashpot switch mechanism is in operative position and is adapted to be engaged and pushed downwardly by a trip lever 72 that is adjacent one of the traction elements 24 of the buck supporting frame on which it is mounted. The outer end of the switch actuating lever rests upon the top of the roller 57 which is disposed on the uppermost end of the switch rod 56.

In theoperation of this automatic switch operating mechanism, the dashpot switch mechanism and the actuating lever 69 is disposed at a desired point about the substantially oval shaped track hereinbefore described whereby the buck supporting frame coil 7 4 of the magnetic contactor is energized by a circuit from L1 through the main line switch 75, line 76, line 77, contact 61, bridging member 59, contact member 62, line 78, coil 74, line 79, line 80, and main lineswitch to L2. This circuit causes the contacts 81 and 82 to be closed completing the circuit to the armature 83 and field 84: of the motor or power unit 40, the circuit being from L1 through the line 76, contact 81, line 85, armature 83 and field 84;, line 86, contact 82, lines 79' and 80, and main line switch 75 to L2. ith this construction, when the circuit is broken between the bridging member 59 and contacts 61 and 62, the coil 74 will be deenergized which will break the motor circuit at the contacts 81 and 82 thus causing stoppage of the motor or power unit and a stoppage in the travel of the padded bucks after a slight coast, this coast being suiiicient to disengage the switch actuating lever 69 from the roller 57. Then, the spring 65 will slowly force the piston 60 upwardly until the bridging member 59 again engages the contacts 61 and 62 at which time the contactor coil 74 will be energized closing the contacts 81 and 82 and completing the motor or power unit circuit just described. The time required for the piston 60 to move from dotted line position to full line position and the bridging member to move into bridging relation with the contacts 61 and 62 may be regulated by the needle valve 68 and is preferably of such length as to permit an operator to make a satisfactory lay of an article on the padded buck.

As shown in Fig. 6, the main line switch 75 also controls the heating of the ironing rollers 43. Vhen the main line switch 75 is in op-, erative position, electrical current passes from L1, through the main line switch 75 and line 87 to distributor rings 88 and 89 shown in Fig. 3. An electrical current passes from the line 87 to distributor rings through the medium of contact fingers 90 and 91 that are mounted on studs 92 which are secured in the downwardly extending webs 98 of the cross members 7 and 8.

As shown in Fig. 6, there are a plurality of these distributor rings 88 and 89 connected in series from the line 87 and the line 9erespectively and each distributor ring has connected thereto one end of a resistance wire 95 which passes within an ironing roller 43 there being a resistance wire for each respective ironing roll. The circuit through these resistance wires or heating elements is from L1, main line switch 75, line 87, contact finger 91, distributor ring 89, resistance wire 95, distributor ring 88, contact finger 90, line 94, and main line switch 75 to L2. Thus, a means is provided for simultaneously causing heating of the ironing rolls and movement of the padded bucks.

To prevent the padded buck carriages 23 from shifting sideways have provided upwardly extending flanges 96 and 97 which are engaged by rollers 98 and 99. One of the rollers is preferably mounted midway of the length of the buck and the other is mounted near the rearwardmost end thereof. The operation and effect of these rollers will be clearly apparent during the travel of the carriage from one end to the other of the substantially oval shaped track. However, the rollers are disengaged from the flanges during travel of the padded buck carriages around the curved portions of the tracks 15 and 16 so as to permit turning of the bucks and buck carriages about the loops 7 Referring to the drawings and the preceding description, it will be seen that I have provided a pressing and ironing machine embodying numerous novel and advantageous features. For instance, I have provided an ironing and pressing machine of such construction that the padded bucks having the articles to be treated thereon pass continuouslyfrom the initial loading station under a spaced serles of iron ng rolls plurality of which will travel in the same direction as the padded bucks and thereby impart a sliding ironing action'to the material being treated. Another advantageous feature resides in the fact that I have provided a continuously op erating pressing and ironing machine that is automatic so far as the operation of the mechanism is concerned thereby relieving the operator of any and all responsibility other than making the proper lays of the material on the padded bucks. Still another advantageous feature resides in the fact that the device is preferably so constructed and the parts so arranged, namely, with the power unit controlling means between adjacent pressing stations that the padded bucks do not stop within an ironing area but onlyat points between such ironing area or at the initial loading station. Various other features will be readily apparent.

, Nhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through a given path, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points in the path for engagement with said bucks, and means in the path of said bucks operative upon being actuated by a buck for rendering said conveying means ineffective. 7

2. In a machine of the class described,a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for. connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through a given path, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points in the path for engagement with said bucks, and means for automatically causlln ing a step by step movement of said bucks into engagement with said ironing rolls and into and out of a position intermediate adjacent ironing rolls. 3. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through a given path, a plu- 10 rality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points in the path for engagement with said bucks, means for automatically causing a step by step movement of said bucks into engagement with'said ironing rolls and into and out of a position intermediate adjacent ironing rolls, and means for'heating said ironing rolls. a 4. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for'conveying said bucks through a given path, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points in the path for engagement with said bucks, means actuated by movement of said bucks about said path for rendering said conveying means inefi ective, and means including a dashpot control mechanism for controlling operation of said buck conveying means to initiate movement of said bucks.

5. In a machine ofthe class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks arranged in a loop with straight sides, means for connecting said 85 bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks about said loop, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points about the loop for engagement with said bucks, and means in the path of said bucks operative upon being actuated by a buck for rendering said conveying means'ineffective. 6. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks arranged in a loop With straight sides, means for connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks about said loop, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points along the straight sides of said loop for en gagement with said bucks,"and means in the path of said bucks operative upon being actuated by a buck for rendering said conveying means inefiective.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature. 7 p

CHARLES E. W'AREAM;

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