US1999445A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

April .39, 1935. E. DAvls 1,9992445 PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed' Jan. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR.

A TTORNEYS April so, was. DAVIS www5 PRES S ING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY5 pri 30, 1935. E. DAvls 1,999445 PRESSING MACHINE,

Original Filed Jan. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 d ATTORNEYS Apri 3Q? i935. E. DAVIS l L999A45 PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr.l 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE PRESSING MACHINE Application January 2, 1930, Serial No. 417,900 Renewed December 13, 1933 14 Claims.

This invention relates to garment and laundry presses having means for steaming the garment or work, and means for passing a current of air through the work either by blowing or by suction,

5 and has' for its object a particularly simple and eflicient means by which the airing operation automatically follows immediately after the steaming operation, and is -controlled by the steam used during the steaming operation, and

10 by which the airing operation is automatically controlled by and timed relatively to the steaming operation, whereby the airing operation begins after the starting of the steaming operation and continues after the ending of the steaming 15 operation.

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

In describing this invention, reference is had 3;) to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevationof a pressing machine embodying my invention.

-, Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the pressing elements of the machine showing diagrammatically the means for controlling the steaming and airing operation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional gm view of parts seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating means for controlling the air operation by the temperature of the steam.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating 3;, a modied form of actuator for the air valve.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the valve for controlling the iiow of air as operated electrically.

This invention comprises generally, means con- 45 trolled by the steaming operation for controlling the airing operation either by the steam pressure, or by the temperature of the steam, all whereby the airing operation automatically follows irnmediately after the steaming operation.

4:, I have here shown my invention as embodied in a conventional type of garment press including cooperating pressing elements as a head I movable toward and from a buck 2 which is suitably supported on a frame 3. The head I is supported .2.) by the usual lever 4 pivoted between its ends at 5 to an upright 6 rising from the frame. The press is power operated, usually by a fluid pressure operated motor and motion transmitting mechanism between the motor and the press head I.

53 The motor here illustrated comprises a cylinder 'I having a piston therein, and the motion transmitting mechanism here shown, in addition to the lever 4 comprises an angle lever 8 pivoted at its angle at 9 to the base of the frame, and having a forwardly extending arm pivoted at I 5 to the piston rod II, and an upwardly extending arm pivoted at I2 to the lower end of the link I3, the upper endof which is pivoted at I4 to the rear end of the lever 4. The piston is single acting and the press is opened when the force tending to hold it closed is released, by countersprings I and I6.

The flow of motive fluid, as air, to the cylinder is controlled in any suitable manner by valves which are manually operated, as by push buttons I'I and II, two push buttons being used in order that both hands of the operator may be employed while the machine is closing. The press is held closed by the pressure in the cylinder 1, and is opened by releasing the pressure therein by either one or two release valves operated by a trip lever I8.

In the construction shown in Figure 2, the steam may be projected through or against the garment on the buck 2 through either the head 25 or buck, or both, and the flow of air takes place through the buck. The head I is shown as formed hollow, or with a steam chamber 2| having perforations 22 leading therefrom through its pressing face. This steam chamber 2I is 30 preferably not coextensive with the pressing face, but of conventional construction with steam chambers on either side for heating the head and the chamber 2| separate therefrom as shown in Figure 4.

It will be understood that the construction of the head forms no part of this invention, as steam heated pressing elements with means for projecting steam through the garment are old and Well known. l 40 The buck 2 is formed with a chamber 23 hav'- ing perforations 24 opening through the pressing face of the buck beneath the padding 25 thereon. The buck is formed with steam heating chambers 26. The chamber 23 acts to distribute both air and steam throughout the perforations 24.

The ow of steam to the chamber 2I of the head I, to steam the garment through the perforations 24 from the top, is controlled by a suit- 50 able manually operated valve 21 having a handle 28, the valve being connected through a pipe 29 to any suitable steam supply.

The ow of steam to the chamber 23 of the buck 2 is controlled by a valve located in a valve 55 casing 38 connected in a pipe 3| opening into the chamber 23. The valve casing 30 is connected by a suitable pipe 32 to a source of steam supply. The valve within the casing 30 is normally closed, and operated by a foot lever 33 through a rod 34, Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Steam is supplied to the heating chambers of the head and buck illustrated by the chamber 26 of the buck 2, in any well known manner. Obviously, when the handle 28 is operated, steam will be projected into the chamber 2| of the head I, and through the perforations 22, and when the foot lever 33 is operated, steam will be projected through the pipe 3| into the chamber 23 out through the perforations 24, the pad 25, "and the garment lying on the pad.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the air is blown by pressure through or against the garment in contradistinction to being passed through the garment by suction, and preferably, the air is blown through the lower buck or the chamber 23 thereof.

35 designates an air pipe communicating with the chamber 23 and connected to a union 36 having a branch pipe 31 connected to a source of supply of air.

A normally closed valve 38 in the pipe 35 has a stem 39 extending lengthwise of the pipe 35 and the union 36 to the outside of the same where it is connected to operating means to be presently described.

In the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, the flow of air, that is, the opening of the valve 38 is controlled by the steam pressure within the chambers 2|, or 23. This pressure operates devices 40 and 4I, which are here shown as bellows.

'Ihe device 40 is located in a passage in the head where it is exposed to the pressure in the chamber 2| and operates, through a stem 42, a mechanism for opening the valve 38. Likewise, the pressure device 4| is located in a passage in the buck 2 where it is subject to the pressure within the chamber 23 and has a stem 43 which operates mechanism for controlling the opening of the valve 38.

In Figures l, 2 and 3, the valve 38 is opened by pressure operated means as a diaphragm chamber 44 having a diaphragm 45 therein acting on a head 46 provided on the stem 39 of the air valve 38. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber is connected by a pipe 41 to a chamber 48 of a valve casing 49. The valve casing 49 also has a second chamber 58, the chambers communicating through a passage A normally closed spring pressed valve 52 controls said passage 5| and the stem 43 of the devices 4I acts on the stem of the valve 52 as seen in Figure 3. The stem of the pressure device 40 associated with the head acts upon a similar valve in a valve casing 49al on the head. The pressure device 40 and associated parts are the same as the device 4| and companion parts.

The chamber 50 of the'valve casing 49 is connected by a pipe 56 to a source of supply for air under pressure. y

In operation, when the steam valve within the casing 30 is opened by depressing the pedal 33, the steam passes into the chamber 23 under some pressure, and it is the pressure of this steam after it builds up, that operatesthebellows 4| and compresses the same so that its stem 43 opens the valve 52 permitting air to flowthrough the vpipeV 56, chamber 58 of the valve casing 49, through the passage 5| as the valve 52 is now open, chamber 48, and pipe 41 to the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 44, thus opening the air valve 38 so that air flows through the perforations 24, the padding 25, and the Work overlying the padding, to dry and cool the garment.

The air valve 52 automatically closes when the pressure within the chamber 23 drops as the air pressure is less than the steam pressure. Also, a blast of steam escapes through the perforations 24 before the pressure of the steam is built up suiiiciently to operate the bellows 4|. Likewise, when the handle 28 which operates the valve 21 is actuated to permit steam to enter the chamber 2| of the head, steam will be projected through the perforations 22 against the garment, and thereafter the bellows 40 will be operated to open the valve in the valve casing 49, similar in all respects to the valve casing 49, to permit air to flow from the feed line through pipe 56, valve casing 49, and pipe 48, to the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 44. 'I'he valve casing 49a and parts therein are generally the same as the valve casing 49 and parts therein.

Obviously, an air blowing operation will immediately follow a steaming operation when the steam is blown either from the top or the bottom, or both. The air blowing operation dries and cools the garment, and also dries the padding 25. The source of supply for the air blowing operation is the source of supply for the air used in the cylinder 1.

In Figure 1 a feed line 58 is controlled by the valves operated by the push buttons. In so far as this invention is concerned, the two hand control, or for that matter, a one hand control, forms no part of this invention. It is sufllcient to bear in mind that the push button I1 operates a combined normally closed intake and normally open exhaust valve, and that when it is operated, air will flow from the feed line 58 past the valve operated by the push button I1 through a pipe 59 to the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

As before stated, the other push button I1* must also be depressed to close a normally open exhaust valve to prevent the air from passing out through a pipe 60 instead of into the cylinder.

'Ihe pipes 56 and 56a are connected through a pipe 6| to the pipe 59, which pipe is controlled by the push buttons I1 and |13. Thus, the air can be blown only after the buttons have been operated to close the press. Valve casing 49 is provided with a normally closed spring pressed exhaust valve 62 controlling a passage 63 between the chambers 48 and 58 of the valve casing 49. 'I'he valve casing 49a is of similar construction. This valve is for the purpose of permitting the air to exhaust from the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 44. When the bellows 4| or 40 return to their normal position and close the valves 5|, and when the press is opened by operating one of the release levers I8 so that the valves controlled by the push buttons I1 and I1a return to their normal positions, the air is then free to exhaust from the diaphragm chamber 44 back through the pipe 41, chamber 48 of valve casing 49, past the check valve 62, and out through - pipes 56, 6|, 59 and 68.

The operation of the valves operated by the push buttons I1 and I1, and the trip lever I8 is substantially the same as in Davis Patent No. 1,860,236.

Generally speaking, the push button I1 operates a normally closed combined intake and exhaust valve, the other push button l1u operates a normally open exhaust valve. These valves are locked in their operated position after thel press closes by diaphragms connected by pipe 6I* to a pipe 64 opening into the cylinder 1 through a port in a casing 65 on the side of the cylinder, this port being located to be uncovered by the piston when the piston approaches the end of its out stroke.

The operator holds down both push buttons until the pistonuncovers the port in the casing 65 so that the air pressure passes back through the pipes 64I and 64, and locks the valves in their operated position. The trip levers I8 when operated, release the pressure in the pipe 64a so that the valves operated by the push buttons I1 and I1a can return to their normal positions, permitting the air to exhaust from the cylinder. As before stated, this feature forms no part of this invention, and is fully disclosed in the vDavis patent referred to.

In Figure 4, a valve 52 in the casing 49, similar to the valve 52 in the casing I9, is thermostatically operated, instead of pressure operated, that is, it is operated by the temperature ol' the steam to control the airing operation, a thermostatic element 66 being exposed to the temperature of the steam in the steaming chamber of the pressing element. Upon the operation of the valve in the casing 9b by the thermostat, the flow of air is controlled the same as in the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 5, the air valve 38 is operated by the movement of a piston 61 in the cylinder 68 instead of by a diaphragm in the diaphragm chamber. The low of air to the cylinder is controlled by a valve similar to that in the casing 49 through a pipe 48a, and in addition, an air leak is provided from the cylinder through a pipe 69 having an adjustable needle valve 18 therein. In operation, the piston 61 is operated to open the valve 38B. It works against the action of a spring 1I, and the air begins to leak out slowly through the needle valve 10, permitting the valve to gradually close oi, so that the air blowing action is timed, and the stopping thereof not dependent upon the opening of the press.

In Figure 6, the operation of the air valve 38b is effected electrically, but controlled by the steam used during the steaming operation. A bellows 40 similar to the bellows 48 or 4I operates to close a normally open electric circuit. When the bellows 40h is compressed, it brings the contact 12 into engagement with the contact 13 which closes an electric circuit from a source of supply 14 through wire 15, contact 12, contact 13, wire 16 to the coil of an electric magnet as a solenoid 11, the core 18 of which acts on the stem of the air valve 38". A suitable cut out switch 19 is connected in the circuit. Obviously, when steam is projected into the steam chamber 2i by operating the valve 28, the pressure thereof will cause the bellows 40h to close the electric circuit through the windings of the solenoid, thus opening the air valve 321b and it Will remain open until the contacts 12 and 13 are separated' by the expanding action of the bellows 40b when the steam pressure falls within the chamber 2|. The contact 12 is moved against the action of a returning spring` 88.

In all forms of this invention, the blowing operation is controlled in some manner by thel steaming operation, either by the pressure or the temperature of the steam, so that the air blowing is controlled by the blowing of the steam and immediately follows the steaming operation, and also the beginning of the operation takes place after the beginning of the steaming operation, and also continues after the end of the steaming operation, or after the steaming valve is closed. Ordinarily, the operator momentarily opens the steam valve, as a blast of steam only 5 is desirable to moisten the garment. It the steaming valve were held open, eventually both the air and the steam would ilow at the same time, but this is an abnormal operation.

The complete operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, is as follows:

The operator closes the press by depressing the push buttons I1 and I1. He then operates either the foot pedal 33, or the lever 28 to open the steam valve to steam the garment. Thereafter, the pressure builds up against the bellows 40 or 4I, so that the air valve 38 is opened, and the air blows through the lower buck and the garment thereon until the pressure in the steaming chambers is reduced sufficiently to permit the bellows-to return to their normalposition. However, the air continues to ow, that is, the` air valve 38 remains open as the airis locked in the diaphragm chamber I4. When the press is opened by operating the release lever I8, the air exhausts from the diaphragm chamber along with the air exhausting from the cylinder 1.

In the form shown in Figure 5, the operation of the air valve 38is the same as in Figure 1 with the exception that it is operated by pressure operated means having an air leal: therein so that the closing of the air valve 38a is timed by the air leaking out past the needle valve 10, and the closing of the valve 38*x is not dependent upon the opening of the press.

In the form shown in Figure 6, upon the opening of the steaming valve, the air valve 38h is opened by electro-magnetic means controlled by the steam in the steaming chamber through a bellows 40h, or it might be controlled by a thermostat similar to the thermostat 66, Figure 4. When the steam pressure drops suiiiciently to permit the bellows 43 to expand, the circuit through the electro-magnet or solenoid 11 is broken so that the valve 38b is free to close, and the closing thereof is not dependent upon'the opening of the press.

What I claim is:

l. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for conductingsteam to articles on one of the pressing elements; means to control the ow of steam in said conducting means; means for conducting air to the article; and mechanism in the path of the steam in said steam conducting means for controlling the ow of air through its conducting means.

2. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to articles on one of the pressing elements; means to control the flow of Steam in said conducting means; a connecting pipe for a current of air; means to conduct the air between said connecting pipe and the article; means to control the ilow of air in the conducting means; and mechanism in contact with the steam and connected with the air ow controlling means for operating said air flow controlling means.

3. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to articles on one of the pressing elements; means to control the flow of steam in said conducting means; means for conducting air to the article; a control member operable to eiect the operation of the steam blowing means and means sensitive to and operated by the steam from the steam blowing means and arranged in the path of the steam blowing means for operating the air current means.

4. In a garment or laundry pressing machine,

cooperating pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to articles on one of the pressing elements; means to control the flow of steam in said conducting means; means for conducting a current of air against the article; and mechanism located in the path of the steam which passes through the steam conducting means, and operated by said steam, for controlling the flow of air in the conducting means.

' 5. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for blowing steam against an article on one of the pressing elements; means for conducting air against the article; operator-operated control means for the steam blowing means; mechanism to control the ilow of air through the air conducting means; and pressure responsive mechanism located in the steam blowing means and sensitive to and operated by steam in the steam blowing means to control operation of the air iiow control mechanism.

6. In a garment or laundry pressing machine cooperating pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor, means for conducting steam against an article on oneofthepressing elements, means for conducting air through said article, a normally closed valve for controlling the ow of air in the air conducting means, means for controlling the flow of steam through the steam conducting means, and mechanism controlled by the steam in the steam conducting means for opening said valve, said mechanism including a part arranged in the steam conducting means and sensitive to the steam therein, and connections operated by said part for transferring the reactions of said part to the valve to open and close the same.

7. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor; means for blowing steam against an article on one of the pressing elements; means for conducting air to the article; a normally closed valve for controlling the ow of air in the conducting means; means for controlling the flow of the steam in the blowing means; and pressure responsive mechanism including a pressure responsive part located inthe steam blowing means and connections between said part and said valve to operate the valve.

8. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the E other, and one of which is formed with a chamber and perforations leading from said chamber through the pressing face of said chamber; means for controlling the flow of steam to said chamber; an air pipe connected to said chamber; a normally closed valve in said air pipe: and means operated by the steam in said chamber for opening said valve and including a part located in said steam chamber and sensitive to the steam therein, and connections between said part and the valve for transferring the reactions of said part to the valve and opening and closing the same.

9. In a garment or laundry pressing machine cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and both of which are formed with a chamber having perforations opening through the pressing face of said element; means for controlling the flow of steam to the chamber of one of said pressing elements; a conduit for a current of air communicating with the chamber of the other of said pressing elements; means to control the flow of air through the conduit; and means controlled by the steam in the steam chamberffor controlling the air flow including a part located in one of the steam chambers and sensitive to, and reacting to, the steam therein, and connections between said part and the air ilow control means whereby the reactions of said part are transferred to the air flow control means to operate the same.

l0. In a pressing machine cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, each element being formed with a steam chamber and perforations leading therefrom through the pressing face of said elements, a pipe through which an air current is created communicating with one oi' the chambers, means for supplying steam to the chambers, means for controlling the flow of air through said pipe, and means controlled by the steam in either of said chambers for operating the air ow control means including a part sensitive to the steam in one of the chambers and arranged to be acted upon thereby, and connections between said part and the air flow control means for transferring to the air iiow control means the reactions of said part to the steam.

11. In a pressing machine cooperating upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is mov- `able toward and from the other, each of said elements having means for projecting steam against the work on the lower element and one of said elements having means for 'passing an air current through the work on the lower element, means for supplying steam to the steam chambers, and means controlled by the steam employed in the steaming operation from either of said elements to eifect the flow of air through the work including a part sensitive to and arranged to be acted upon by the steam in one of said chambers and connections between said part and the air current means for transferring to the air current means, the reactions of said part to the steam.

12. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, and operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to an article on one of the pressing elements, means to control the flow of steam in said conducting means, means for conducting air to the article, and means sensitive to the steam and arranged in position to be acted upon by the steam for controlling the air conducting means and causing the airing operation to begin after the beginning oi' the steaming operation and to continue a period of time after the ending of the steaming operation.

13. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, and operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to an article on one of the pressing elements, means to control the il'ow of steam in said conducting means, means for conducting air to the article, and means sensitive to the steam and arranged in position to be acted upon by the steam, for controlling the air conducting means, causing the airing operation to begin after the beginning of the steaming operation and to continue for a period of time after the ending of the steaming operation, the last mentioned means including a pressure responsive device arranged to be acted upon by the pressure of the steam during the steaming operation.

14. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, an operating mechanism therefor; means for conducting steam to an article on one of the pressing elements, means to control the ow of steam in said conducting means, means for conducting air to the article, and means sensitive to the steam and arranged in position to be acted upon by the steam for controlling the air conducting means, the last mentioned means including a thermostatic element arranged in the path of the steam during the steaming operation and sensitive to the temperature thereof.

ERNEST DAVIS.

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