US1967083A - Ironing press - Google Patents

Description

jul 17, 1934.

W. M. EM ERY IRONING PRESS 5 Sheets+Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1932 IN EN TOR.

July 17, 1934. w EMERY 1,967,083

IRONING PRESS Filed April 19, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 1934. w EMERY 1,967,083

IRONING PRESS Filed April 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 P05/T/0N A 7 FO-SITIONB POSITIONS cg) 1N VEN TOR.

W. M. EMERY IRONING PRESS July 17, 1934.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 19, 1932 INVENTOR.

July 17, 1934. w. M. EMERY 1,967,083

IRONING PRESS Filed April 19. 1932 s Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTOR Q ET E Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

My invention relates to ironing presses for fabrics, more particularly to presses wherein the pressing elements are positioned one above the other.

Objects of my invention may be stated generally as; to reduce the labor of operation, to facilitate the handling of large pieces, to produce a frictional movement between the elements when desired by the operator and to produce a machine which may be constructed for either manual or motor operation without interfering with the standardization of the parts. More specifically stated some of the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a manually operated machine in which during one part of the stroke sufficient force is stored to move the elements through the remainder of the movement. Secondly, to provide a manually operated machine in which part of the movement is operable only under gravityand possessing-holding means with simple release for the control of the initiation of the gravity movement. Thirdly, to provide a machine in which one of the pressing members may have the following movement, (1) raising, substantially vertically, (2) backward, on a slight incline under gravity, (3) forward, on a slight incline under gravity and (4) downward substantially vertically and to accomplish this movement without a long horizontal track extending beyond the pressing elements. Fourthly, to provide friction reducing means to permit fabrics to slide more easily over the fabric covered buck. Fifthly, to provide a movement of the buck against the head which may be accomplished simultaneously with the application of additional pressure or a reduction of pressure or without effecting pressure according to the position of the parts and the extent of the movement. Sixthly, to provide means to slightly separate the elements without a general movement of one of the elements to per mit the drawing of various portions of a large garment into position to be ironed.

Other objects will be obvious from the description of the mechanism which follows. The structure recited is subject to numerous variations without deviating from the basic principle of the invention, only a few modifications of which are shown here.

Figure 1 is a front view of a manually operated press. The side supporting mechanism on the right side of the view is shown in section being out on line I-I of Fig. 2.

The pressing head is shown in the pressing position hereinafter called position A.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the supporting mechanism viewed from the left side with the sides of the table or base removed and shown in the pressing position herein designated as position A. This mechanism is duplicated on the opposite side of my press.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but shown with the pressing head and its supporting mechanism at the top of its vertical lift which is hereinafter designated as position B.

Fig. 4 is a similar view as Fig. 2 but shown with the pressing head and its supporting mechanism at the end of its rearward movement which is hereinafter designated as position C.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but shown with the pressing head and its supporting mechanism 70 at the beginning of the forward movement which is herein designated as position D.

The difference between positions C and D is that in position D (Fig. 5) the track is tipped slightly forward from position C'and the shoe is 7 correspondingly higher.

In Fig. 5 in dotted lines is shown the course of the shoe in moving through these four positions.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a manual actuating mechanism shown in position A, viewed from the 0 same position as Figs. 2, 3, 4 and E.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 shown in position B.

Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 6 shown in positions C and D.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a clutch and actuating mechanism which is suitable for a power drive. It is shown in position B--plus which is a position a little beyond position B and in which the clutch has just disengaged and before the movement towards position C has been initiated by gravity.

Fig. 10 is a section cut at line XX Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is a side detail of a portion of the cam track to show particularly the pawl latching means to tip the track. It is a view of these parts as situated on the left side of Fig. 1 viewed from line XI-XI.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the buck supporting and actuating means with the ends of the support removed.

Fig. 13 is a front view of a motor operated press similar to the press shown in Fig. 1. The fact that most of the parts are identical is emphasized by the use of similar numbering.

-I shall describe the press first as if manually operated, as shown in Fig. 1. The press is mounted on a table or base 12 consisting of a top and two sides mounted on legs (not shown) A flat padded pressing member 13 called a buck supported at 110 times by a support 14 is connected to the base of table 12.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 a cooperating metallic pressing member 15 hereinafter called the pressing head is pivotally suspended at 16 at the center of its two ends in stable equilibrium from a support arm 17. This support arm is itself supported by a movable pivot 18 in a radius arm 19 which is fixed to shaft 20 which is journaled in the side ends of base 12 (see Fig. 1).

In order to determine the movement of shoe 15 when shaft 20 is turned, a roller 23 is fixed as to support arm 1'7 and is operable in a track or cam 22. This track is mounted for a limited pivotal movement by pin 24 which is fixed relative to base 12.

In Fig. 11 is shown the forward portion of this cam track 22 the roller 23 which is fixed to support arm 17 and a pawl catch 25 pivotally mounted in 22 which due partly to gravity normally engages a notch 26 in support arm.

The angles of notch 26 and the corresponding surface of the pawl catch 25 are such that pressure between them tends to disengage them by turning pawl catch 25 clockwise as shown in these views.

obstructing this movement is plunger 2'7 any movement of which is resisted by spring 28, which is too stiff to permit movement thereof by said disengaging forces. Plunger 2'7 and spring 28 are held in mounting 29 which is fixed as to base 12. As shaft 20 is turned clockwise, support arm 1'7 is raised by the radius arm 19 and pawl catch 25 functions to cause the cam track 22 to rise with support arm 17 until surface 30 of pawl catch 25 rises above the top surface of plunger 27 at which time the disengaging forces at notch 26 no longer being resisted by plunger 2'7 cause pawl catch 25 to completely disengage notch 26 and simultaneously to engage the top of plunger 27 in such a way as to prevent cam track 22 from dropping back. A spring 31 resists the raising of cam track 22 and later causes catch 25 to bear on the top of plunger 2'7.

Ann is integral with pawl catch 25 and extends upward from it. When the parts are in the positions just described a clockwise turning movement of arm 45 will disengage pawl catch 25 from plunger 27 and the cam track will drop to its original position due to the action of spring 31. The simultaneous disengagement of pawl catches 25 left and right as shown in Figs. 1 and 13 is accomplished by the backward movement of handle 46 which turns rod 4'7 which has fixed to it fingers right and left 48 which contact with arms 45 of catches 25.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 is shown mechanism for manually revolving shaft 20 to actuate the previously described mechanism. Fixed to said shaft is an actuating lever and cam 33, said cam consisting of, a straight portion 34 which functions at one time to lift the head and at another time produce final pressure, and an arcuate portion 35 the center of which latter is the center of shaft 20 to permit free movement of lever 33 when the head moves horizontally under gravity.

Operating in this actuating cam 33 is a roller 36 mounted in a radius arm 37 which is pivotally attached to base 12 by mounting 38. Attached to radius arm 37 is operating lever 39. See Fig. 8.

Starting with the ironer in position A, that is with roller 36 in the extreme position of the straight portion 34 of the actuating cam 33 as shown in Fig. 6 and with the shoe and supporting mechanism as shown in Fig. 2 the hand lever 39 is depressed by the operator moving the roller 36 towards the other end of the straight portion 34 of the actuating cam as shown in Fig. '7. This turns shaft 20 which turns radius arm 19 which lifts support arm 17 and because pawl catch 25 is engaging support arm 1'7 (see Fig. 11) cam track 22 is tipped slightly clockwise on pivot 24 (said tipping being resisted by spring 31) until pawl catch 25 disengages itself from support arm 17 and engages plunger 2'7 which latter as shown in Fig. 3 holds the cam track 22 in the tipped position. Supporting arm 1'7 continues to rise and roller 23 follows the substantially vertical portion of the cam track 22.

When the roller has come to the end of this vertical movement it is in position B (see Fig. 3) however as shown in Fig. '7, roller 36 is not quite at the endof the stroke in position B.

The completion of said' stroke brings roller 36 in a position to idle in the arcuate portion 35 of the actuating cam 33. This brings the mechanism into a position I herein designate as Bplus in which roller 23 has been lifted out of the vertical portion of cam track 22 and started on its backward movement.

At this point on account of the predetermined curve and the inclination of the cam track 22 the shoe continues its backward movement under gravity until the mechanism comes into the position C as shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

A backwardmovement of control 46 by the operator as previously explained simultaneously frees the cam tracks right and left to tip forward again under the-action of spring 31 raising the shoe to position D shown in Figure 5. This involves no movement in the mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

The forward tipping or inclining of the cam track now causes the shoe to come forward under gravity towards position A. In Fig. 8 the actuating lever and cam 33 turn until roller 36 is about to move into the straight portion 34. Up to this point the handle 39 does not move but with a continuation of the backward turning of the actuating lever and cam 33 the roller 36 moves into the straight portion 34 of the cam and the handle 39 rises until the head and buck are together.

In order to apply final pressure the operator makes any final movement of handle 39 as may be necessary to resume the pressing position of position A. It is the applicant's expectation that the uncounterbalanced weight of the shoe will be sufiicient for much of the ironing.

Referring to Fig. 11 on the downward movement, support arm 1'7 strikes the point of pawl catch 25 but this pawl catch is pushed out of the way moving plunger 2'7 compressing spring 28 thus permitting support arm 17 to pass pawl catch 25. The catch then swings back to engage notch 26 of support arm.

In the case of the motorized press the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is substituted for that shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown disc 50 in which is formed a circular actuating cam 51. This disc is mounted eccentrically at 52 so that as it revolves it actuates roller 53 which is mounted in radius arm lever 54 fixed to shaft 20. As shown in full lines radius arm lever 54 is in position B plus. In this position it is free to move when the head is actuated by gravity to the position shown in broken lines which is position C or D and back again to the position shown in full lines.

Position A of radius arm lever 54 resulting from the turning of disc 51 is shown in part in broken lines in Fig. 9.

Clutch means for revolving disc 50 include a pinion 6O driven constantly by the motor 5'7 and a gear 61 meshing with pinion 60. Integral with gear 61 is a ratchet 62. Held in normal engagement with ratchet 62 by spring 63 is a pawl 64 with arms 65 and 66. This pawl 64, 65 and 66 is pivotally attached to disc 50 to normally drive it clockwise. One end of spring 63 is attached to disc 50 and the other end is attached to pawl 64.

An obstacle 67 is normally in a position to obstruct either arm 65 or 66 as shown in Fig. 9. When this occurs pawl 64 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 62.

By proper positioning of arms 65 and 66 and obstacle 67 it is obvious that the disc may be normally brought to rest at predetermined positions. Such positions should be, when the shoe is raised, past the high point and when at the pressure position, a little beyond the low point to give steadiness to the clutch by causing arms 65 and 66 to bear on obstacle. 6'7 when clutch is disengaged. In order to avoid chattering, drag means is placed between the constantly revolving gear 61 and the disc 50. This is illustrated in Fig. 9 by drag plunger 68 pressed against gea 61 by spring 69.

In operation, starting at position A at which time obstacle 67 is engaging pawl-arm 66 the obstacle is withdrawn by a manual movement of 67 (see Fig. 1). Ann 66 slips past said obstacle 67 and as soon as the operator releases it the obstacle arm 67 again assumes an obstructing position under gravity. Disc 50 revolves clockwise until radius arm lever 54 assumes the position B+ which is the position as shown in Fig. 9 at which time pawl arm 65 is obstructed by obstacle 6'7 and accordingly the clutch is disengaged. The shoe now moves free under gravity to position C and radius arm lever 54 is free to move to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9.

When the operator as previously explained moves control 46 permitting the cam track 22 to tip forward the shoe comes forward again under gravity and eccentric arm 54 resumes the full line position shown in Fig. 9.

The operator now removes obstacle 6'? by the handle integral therewith and the disc 50 again revolves applying pressure between the elements until position A is assumed and obstacle 67 obstructs pawl arm 66 once more.

It is also practical to have the mechanism in its forward movement under gravity trip the obstacle 67 automatically causing the engagement of the clutch.

This construction is detailed in my application #581,540 December 17, 1931.

Also it is practical to provide locking means to prevent the manual movement of the obstacle 6'7 when the gravity control 46 should be operated.

It is however noteworthy that if with a crank and connecting arm it were attempted to motorize the manual movement shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 and the motor power was accidentally applied while in position C or D the mechanism would stall or break while the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10 should the motor power be applied at such time no harm would occur and further the shoe would not descend to the buck until cam track 22 was tipped forward by the operator so that my construction furnishes a novel safety feature in that the mechanism is not repeating, that is, should the clutch fail to disengage in position B and its cycle continue, the head 15 would not descend upon the buck with possible danger to the operator.

Tests on a crude wood model show in the manual type that effort is applied only during a small part of the movement in other words the upward lift represents a movement of about 23 degrees of shaft 20 and the gravity movement represents about 65 degrees each way.

During about the first 13 degrees of the upward movement forces are stored in spring 31 to actuate the forward movement of the head 15 under gravity and during the next 8 degrees forces are stored by virtue of the further lifting of the mass of the head 15 to actuate the rearward movement of the head.

During this initial 13 degree period the actuating leverage begins at dead center and functions under the most favorable mechanical advantage.

In other manually operated presses on the market four manual movements are necessary for their cycle. (1) relieve the pressure by raising the head or by lowering the buck (2) move the head away from the buck (3) move the head to the buck (4) apply the pressure between the head and the buck. One of the principal features of this invention is that two of these movements are made automatically and are not under the control of the manual lever. The second movement as outlined above follows automatically from the first, and the third and the majority of the fourth follow automatically from the operation of the latch control (45) that might well be a push button control because its operation is practically effortless.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the rear side of the buck there is shown a roller '71 mounted for rotation in supporting brackets 72. The top of the roller is slightly above the top of the buck.

The modern domestic ironing press performs satisfactorily in comparison with the revolving roll mangle type on small fancy pieces, but when ironing large flat pieces the operation not being continuous as with the mangle, the working of the press becomes very monotonous and tiresome to the operator. To facilitate the handling of these pieces I have added the friction reducing roller just described. The material yet to be ironed may be thrown to the rear of the machine and as one section of the fabric is fully ironed the pressing elements may be released and the operator by pulling on the fabric may bring another section of the fabric into position to be ironed. The roller 71 especially because it extends slightly above the buck is of great value in facilitating this movement by eliminating the friction between the wet fabric and the cloth surfaced buck.

In Figs. 1 and 12 is shown a simple arrangement to accomplish a number of necessary movements, (1) to produce a friction between the pressing elements at the same time produce additional pressure (2) or at the same time to reduce the pressure (3) or to produce said friction practically without change of pressure. (4) By using it to lower the buck, the pressing elements may be separated sufiiciently to draw the average fabricbetween the elements as explained in the preceding paragraph. (5) The buck. may be raised and lowered sufficiently to compensate for garments of various thicknesses.

The novel buck supporting and actuating means which is part of this invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 12 consists of a support 14 upon which the buck rests when it is in its low position. Two pairs of arms 81 and 82 of equal length are journaledon shafts 83, 84, 85 and 86, the first two shafts being fixed to the buck and the other two being fixed to the table or base 12.

, when lever 87 is raised or lowered by the operator the buck 13 will be moved either rearward or forward against. the face of the presser head 15. If the movement occurs from the position shown in Fig. 12 in full lines to those shown in dotted lines then pressure will be increased during the frictional movement. If the movement is from the dotted line position to the full line position then the pressure will be reduced during the frictional movement. If the movement is a short one starting at the dotted position or is back and forth slightly over the vertical dead center then the movement is practically horizontal with only a slight up and down movement. It is also obvious that the position of the buck may be raised or lowered sufficiently to accomplish the fourth and fifth movements previously described.

It has been noted that the pressing head 15 is pivotally supported at 16 in stable equilibrium. The purpose is two fold, first, to conserve the heat of the shoe by keeping its major surfaces, particularly the ironing face, horizontal thus reducing the convection of heat from these surfaces; second that the pressing head while per-- forming its longitudinal movement may skim over the buck clearing it only by enough not to muss the clothes. ,On account of this it tends to push out of the way the operators hands or gives warnit eliminates the alligator-jaw-like movement common in the art.

The terms horizontal or substantially horizontal are used in these specifications andclaims in the broadest sense and should not be limited to a concept equivalent to level. It refers to a movement of a part incident to a movement of the center of gravity of associated parts along an inclined path. The movement herein referred to as substantially horizontal or horizontal may be rectilinear and truly horizontal, but more likely the movement is arcuate and at an angle to the true horizontal.

In the claims the term configurative potential energy is used and refers to the energy resident in resilient bodies which are temporarily distorted evidenced by forces tending to cause said bodies to resume their normal configuration or shape, such as spring 31 in positions B and C.

Also the term positional energy is used. When a body possessing weight is raised or lifted against gravity, positional potential energy is said to be stored in that body and is evidenced by the forces of gravity which tend to return the body to its original position and the work which is done by that body when it resumes its original position, such as when the presser head is raised into position D sufficient positional potential energy is stored therein to move it under gravity to position A.

The presser head is raised from position C to position D by the conversion of the configurative potential energy resident in spring 31 into positional potential energy made resident in the mass of the parts so raised.

I claim:

1. In a pressing machine for fabrics, a buck and a pressing head disposed when cooperating one above the other, means to move the head substantially horizontally towards the buck, means to store forces to effectuate said movement and holding means normally preventing said forces from being operative.

2. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, a gravity cam or track in which one of said elements is mounted for movement towards and away from the other, means to tip said cam or track to elect the direction of the movement of the element under gravity, means to store energy suflicient, when tipping said cam or track to effect movement in one direction, to return said cam or track to its original position.

3. In a pressing machine two pressing elements one of which-is mounted for vertical and substantially horizontal movement, a cam or track one portion of which determines said vertical movement and another portion of which determines said substantially horizontal movement, a fixed pivotal mounting for said cam or track and means to slightly turn said cam or track on said fixed pivotal mounting to vary the inclination of said cam or track.

4. In an ironing machine for fabrics, pressing elements one of which is mounted for movement relative to the other, a support arm for said movable element, a radius arm pivotally connected to said support arm, a cam or guide track operably connected with the support arm to control the course of the movement of the movable element and means to vary the inclination of said track to determine the direction of said movement.

5. In an ironing machine, cooperating pressing elements mounted for relative movement, actuating means operably connected to cause an initial separation of said elements, means to further separate said elements under gravity and means to return said elements to their cooperating relationship under gravity, independently of further actuation by the first mentioned means.

6. Inan ironing machine, two pressing elements one mounted for short movement from the other and mounted for a longer substantially horizontal and rectilinear movement one away from and towards the other, means to produce forces to effect the latter movement while actuating the first movement.

7. In an ironing machine, two pressing elements operative means to eifectuate relative movements between said elements, said movements consisting of a relatively slow short movement of long leverage of one element relative to the other and a longer and more accelerated movement of one element relative to the other and means to store energy during the first mentioned movement to actuate the second.

8. In a pressing machine including a pressing head and a buck each mounted for movement; supporting means for the head including a support arm pivotally connected to a radius arm and a cam or track also operably connected with said support arm to control the movement of the head; supporting means for the buck including a pair of radius arms of equal center distances operating in parallel; and means to actuate the supporting means for the head and for the buck.

9. In a press pressing elements including a buck and a head mounted for movement one towards the other, a cam or track to at least in part determine the course of said movement, means to mount said cam or track for tipping, means to store energy to tip said track to effect said move-' ment under gravity and control means to allow or prevent the tipping of said cam or track.

10. In a pressing machine for fabrics, cooperable pressing elements including a buck and a pressing head mounted for relative movement and disposed when cooperating one above the other, means to move one of said elements away from the other under gravity, means to store energy to move one of said elements towards the other and latching means to normally prevent the one of said elements from moving towards the other under forces due to said means to store energy.

11. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements relative to the other, means to store configurative potential energy in the moving means upon separating said elements and to convert said stored energy into positional potential energy in the movable element, and control means to efiect said conversion so as to enable said movable pressing element to move under the force of gravity into pressing coaction with the other.

12. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements relative to the other, means to store configurative potential energy in the moving means, and later to convert said stored energy into positional potential energy in the movabfe element and control means to effect said conversion so as to enable said movable pressing element to move under the force of gravity substantially horizontally towards the other element.

13. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements relative to the other, a metallic spring to store configurative potential energy later to be converted into positional potential energy in the movable element, and control means to effect said conversion so as to enable said movable pressing element to move under gravity towards the other element.

14. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements towards and away from the other, part of said movement being substantially vertical and part of said movement being substantially horizontal, means to store configurative potential energy in the moving means during the vertical movement, means to actuate said moving means, means to convert said stored energy into positional potential energy in the movable element independently of any movement of said means to actuate the moving means, and control means to eifect said conversion so as to move the pressing element under the force of gravity towards the other element.

15. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements towards and away from the other, part of this movement being substantially vertical and part substantially horizontal, a metallic spring in the moving means to store configurative po tential energy during the said vertical movement, means to actuate said moving means, means to convert said stored energy into positional potential energy in the moving element independently of any movement of said means to actuate the moving means, and control means to effect said conversion so as to move the movable element substantially horizontally under the forces of gravity.

16. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means for bodily moving one of said elements towards and away from the other, part of this movement being substantially vertical and part substantially horizontal, means to store configurative potential energy in the moving means, motor means to actuate said moving means, means to convert said stored-energy into positional potential energy in the moving element and control means to effect said conversion so as to move the movable element substantially horizontally under forces of gravity.

17. In a press, a buck and a pressing head, means to mount the head for movement towards and away from the buck and to apply pressure therebetween, and means to actuate said means, including two pivotally mounted actuating members and means operably joining them, one of said members being a radius arm and the other member being a cam shaped to include a substantially arcuate portion having an arcuate center coinciding substantially with the pivotal center about which the cam turns and another portion connected with but at an angle to the first described portion of the cam member, the last mentioned means being associated with the last described portion of said cam when the head is close to the buck and with the substantially arcuate portion when the head is more widely separated from the buck.

18. In a pressing machine for fabrics, a buck and a pressing head, means to move the head from a position away from the buck transversely across and above the buck to a position over the buck, mechanical means to store forces to efiectuate said movement and means to release said stored forces to initiate said movement.

19. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, one mounted for a short vertical movement towards and away from the other and for a longer movement, at an angle to the first movement, towards and away from the other, and means to produce forces to effect the latter movement while actuating the former.

20. In a pressing machine, two pressing elements, operative means to efiectuate relative movements between said elements, said movements including a relatively slow short movement of long leverage of one element relative to the other, and a longer and more accelerated movement of one element towards the other and means to store energy during the first mentioned movement to eifect the second.

21. In an ironing machine for fabrics, pressing elements one of which is mounted for movementrelative to the other, a support arm for said movable element, a radius arm pivotally connected to said support arm, a curved guide track operably connected with the support arm to control the course of the movement of the movable element and means to vary the angle said track thereby changing the course of the said movement of the movable element.

22. In a pressing machine for fabrics, two pressing elements, means to mount one of said elements for a movement widely separating the elements, and a movement returning them to a contacting position and forcing them together, means to store sufficient forces while the elements are moving and near each other to initiate and effect at least the said returning movement of the movable element from a widely separated position to a position near to the other element, and means to apply said forces to effectuate said result.

WILLIAM M. EMERY.

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