US2008752A - Follow-up actuating mechanism for pressing machines - Google Patents

Description

July 23, i935.

FOLLOW-UP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESS'ING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1929 E. DAVIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www ATTORNEY.

July 23, 1935. E, DAVls 2,008,752

FOLLOW-UP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N a WM/NTOR.

B M h A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 23, 1935 rArsNr *oFFIc FOLLOW-UP ACTUATNG MECHANISM FOR l PRESSING MACHINES Y Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The V Prosperity Company, Enc., Syracuse, N. Yga

corporation of New York Appucanen February 23, 1929, serial No.' 342,222

` Renewed November l2, 1931 22 Claims.

This invention relates to garment, ironing and laundry presses,A and an object is to attain uniform pressure on the work between the press jaws even though the pad on the buck gradually yields and gives away or thins down due to usage.

soV

In laundry and garment pressing machines, the paddingy on one or both of the pressing elements 0r jaws gradually becomes thinner in the use of the machine. .Temporary thinning or compression results when each pad compresses during each operation of the press, but the pad thinning referred to here is permanent and results from continued use, so that it gets a permanent set which gradually increases with additional use of the press. This thinning of the padding causes the pressure between the pressing elements to vary or to continually decrease gradually. Most pressing `machines have manually operable adjusting means for compensatingY for the thinning or permanent compression of the padding and the adjustment depends entirely on the will or" the operator who may or maynot make the adjustment when it should be made.

This invention has for its object a particularly simple and eiiicient actuating mechanism by which a substantially uniform pressure is delivered regardless of the thickness of the work or of the amount of compression of ther padding used on one or both of the pressing elements; and more particularly an actuating mechanism which has an automatic follow-up action to compensate ior the decrease in thickness of the padding due to the permanent setting of the padding.

The invention consists in the novel lfeatures and in the'cornbinations. and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. l

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

Figure lis a side elevation, partly broken away, of a pressing machine embodying one form of this invention. v Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear Yelevation looking to the left of Figure l.`y 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the joint or knee of a toggle employed toropen and close the press.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, partly in section, illustrating a modied form of the mechanism shown in Figure l.

Figure 6 illustrates an additional modied form.

Figure 7 is an end View, partly in section, of the structure shown in Figure 5. l

This pressing machine comprises, generally, co-

and a release lever Iii.

(o1. css- 9) operatingpressing elements, or press jaws,-one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator or `motor means, and motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element. The motion transmitting means comprise driving and driven members forming initial closing means and normally idle differential or jaw compressing means connecting them and arranged to act when the movable element of the press engages andencounters the resistance of the other element. Through that part of the movement of the movable element, prior to its engagement with-the other pressing element or jaw or during the closing movement of the press,

said members act in one relation to transmit the motion of one member directly to the other and upon the movable element contacting with the other element, the members coact in another relation through the dii'erential means or reduction leverage. These two actions permit the driving member to move at a greater speed and through va greater distanceithan the driven member and thereby translate the greater movement thereof into a movement of lesser extent and with more power orV increased vpressure when the.. movable element moves under final pressure-and is compressing the padding. Y Y

vI have here shownv my invention as embodied in a conventional type of pressing machine comprising upper and lower pressing elements or jaws as the head i which is movablevtoward and from a stationary buck 2 suitably mounted on a frame 3. The head is supported in the usual manner at the front end oi a yoke lever-4 which is pivoted between its ends at 5 to a standard G rising from the frame. l

The press here illustrated is power actuated Vthrough motor means as by a suitable single-mocylinder 'l is controlled in any suitable'manner as by valves which are operatedby a push button 9 The valves and the controls therefor form no part of this invention.

The motion transmitting means between the actuator '8 or motormeans 1 and the head l, in addition to the yoke lever A, comprises driving and driven members forming initial closing means and anormally idle differential orjaw. compressing means carried thereby. The driving and driven members are here shown as toggle links I I and I 2 pivoted respectively at I3 and Ill to the base of the frame and to the rear arm of the yoke lever 1I and pivotally connected together. The pivot also cooperates with a reduction, differential mechanism or jaw compressing means as will be described. The actuator, or piston rod B is pivoted at I5 to the driving link I I.

The reduction gearing, differential mechanism, or jaw compressing means'here illustrated comprises a cam i6 associated with one of the links and a follower or roller` I'I movable along the cam and associated with the other link, the cam I6 extending at an angle to the direction of the thrust or lifting movement of the toggle link I2V or in the direction of the movement of the joint of the toggle. In other words, the cam I5 is eccentric to the pivot I3 with its left end a greater distance from the pivot I3 than itsright end, as viewed from the side of the press in Figure 1.

Means are provided for holding or locking the cam I6 and the follower II from relative movement during the' straightening of the toggle II-I2, until the head encounters the resistance of the buck or pad thereon when reaching preliminary closed position. This means comprises a shoulder or roller I22L carried by the link I2 which thrusts against the link I I together with a gear wheel I3 mounted on one side of the follower I'i and meshing with a rack I9 extending along the slot I6 and also includes means for normally locking the gear wheel I8 from rotation. As seen in Figure 3, this diierential locking means is a brake wheel 2B also mounted on and movable with the follower I'I and gear wheel I8 and a brake member 2 I normally engaged with the wheel 20, the brake member being operable out of its holding or braking position by the reaction of the head when it encounters the buck 2.

The toggle link I2 is formed of two sections arranged end to end with a compression spring or other yielding means 22 between them, as shown in Figure 3, and the brake 2|' is carried by and movable with the section of the link I2 which is connected to the yoke lever 4.

The roller I2a above referred to is carried at the lower end of the lower section of the link I2 and normally thrusts against the end wall I2b of the wall of the cam slot IB (see Figure l) to prevent movement of the cam along the slot when the initial starting impulse is given to the toggle links II, I2 to overcome the inertia of the stationary head and start it in motion. As the links II, I2 initially straighten, the roller I2av rides out of engagement with the end wall I2b and thereafter the follower II and the cam I 6 are held from relative movement bythe brake wheel 2U and brake member 2I.

Obviously, when the toggle links I I, I2 are actuated toward a straight line, the cam follower I'I will beheld from movement along the slot I6 so that the toggle links will act solely as a toggle. When, however, the head I presses against the buck 2 with a predetermined pressure, the spring 22 between the sections of the link I2 will be cornpressed, that is, the link I2 will shorten, moving the brake member 2I out of coaction with the brake wheel 20, thus permitting the follower I1 to move along the slot I6 or rather permitting the slot to move along the follower. movement, the cam I6 will thrust the link I 2 upwardly and further press the head I against the buck 2 duringlrearward movement of the link II relatively to the link I2, the amount of relative movement. of the cam follower ,I1 and slot I6 de- During such pending upon the amount of padding on one or the other of the pressing elements is compressed.

Means is also provided for locking the initial closing means or particularly the driven member or link I2 of the toggle from swinging movement while the reduction or differential mechanism is acting and this locking means is controlled by the compression of a resilient mounting such as the padding on the buck 2.

As shown in Figure l, a locking bolt 23 extends vertically through the buck and into the padding and has a head 24 at its upper end underlying the top surface of the pad. The lower end of the bolt coacts with a rack Zta connected by a link 25 to the toggle link I2 but the bolt 23 is held normally in its retracted position, or out of engagement with the rack by a spring 2&5 so that the rack moves rearwardly as the press closes. When the pad compresses, it moves the bolt into engagement with the rack and thus holds link I2 in its place or against pivotal movement while link II moves rearwardly to exert upward thrust against the link I2. Obviously, this' operation can take place only after the toggle links II and I2 have moved toward straightened position far enough to bring the head I down on the buck 2 where it starts to compress the pad. The rack 2da is slidably mounted so 'as` to move rearwardly while the toggle links are straightening.

It will be noted that the initial closing means of the motion transmitting means or the toggle links II and I2 are moved to preliminary closed position without the toggle links reaching straightened position or the limit of their extent of movement. In other words, the toggle or initial closing means has a greater extent of movement than is necessary to bring the jaws I and 2 together. With this construction provision is made for mashing of the pad on the buck 2 orV a permanent set being sustained by the resilient mounting, in that the toggle can continue to close until the jaws are preliminarily engaged, irrespective of the amount of mashing which has taken place in the pad. The locking means is operated or controlled by the jaws engaging and thereby prevents further operation of the toggle or initial closing means of the motion transmitting means whereupon the jaw compressing means or differential mechanism is set into operation.

In Figures l and 5, the locking bolt 27 is shown as operated by a diaphragm 28 in a diaphragm chamber 29, the pressure side of which is conn nected by a pipe 3U to a suitable source of com*- pressed air. The flow of air to the diaphragm chamber is controlled by a normallyclosed.' spring pressed, intake valve 3| in a valve casing 32, this valve being operated by a rod 33 extending vertin cally through the buck and into vthe padding so as to be depressed by the compression of the padding. The intake valve 3i is coupled with a normally open exhaust valve 34. The bolt 21 is secured to a collar 35 having a square hole therein through which a rod 36 extends, this rod performing the function of the rack 24. When the bolt 27 is depressed, it causes the wall of the square hole to bind on the rod 3B and Valso causes the rod 35 to bind on the walls of the guide passage 3l through which the rod 3S slides.

Obviously, when the rod 33 is depressed by the compression of the padding, the exhaust valve 311 will be closed and the intake valve 3I opened, so that air is free to pass from the intake pipe 28 through the valve casing 32 and outlet pipe 39 to the pipe 30 to actuate the diaphragm 28. The

rcontrolled by the compressing of the pad. In

this form of the invention, the yoke lever 4 is pivotedY at 5 in an upwardly movable sliding bearing block 4t, the movement of the bearing block upwardly being against the action of a spring 4l. Obviously, when the head comes down under pressure on the buck, the pivot of the lever carrying the head tends to move upwardly under the lifting force applied to the rear arm of the lever.

The upward movement of the pivot or bearing block 49 is utilized to operate valves located in the valve casing 42 through suitable motion transmitting parts as levers 43, 44 and a link 45 connecting them. The air passing through the valve casing 42, passes to the diaphragm chamber 29 and operates the bolt 21 as before described. The valve casing 42 andl the valves therein are substantially the same as the valve casing 32 with valves 3| and 34 therein.

This invention is particularly advantageous in that a practically uniform pressure is automatically delivered regardless of the thickness of the work and the compression or mashing of the pad within limits and without any attention or adjustments on the part of the operator because the motion transmitting means acts only to the eX- tent necessary to compensate for the compressionof the padding. Thereafter the dierential mechanism or jaw compressing meansdelivers its compression movement tothe movable jaw and applies substantially uniform pressure because the motor means delivers uniform power and thefcam means in having a constant rate of increase or a fixed inclination necessarily delivers uniform pressure. In some instances, with a new thick padding, the differential mechanism may act toalmost its full extent and` in other cases, it will act very little. It will act between these extremes to various degrees depending upon the thickness of lthe worker thev amount of compression of the padding. l

In operation, the operator lays the work on the buck, depresses the push button 9 and the press yhead closes by the `straightening movementV of the toggle links Il and l2. Thereafter, `when the head encounters the resistance of the buck, nal heavy pressure is applied from motor means 'l by'the'diiferential or follow-up movement ef- `fected by the cam I6 and the follower ll, because the pin 23 locks the rack 24a to hold the upper link l2 against further rearward travel, but lower link ll is driven further, as noted in right hand dotted line position, to boost upwardly on link l2 to effect final jaw compression.v It will be obvious that the pin 23 also locks the'upper link l2 against forward movement which would tend to fold vthe toggle as the upward pressure exerted by the cam I6 increases.

Compensation for pad wear andfdiminishing thickness thereof so as to maintain uniform compression ofthe pad and work is obtained by the feeler head 24 which is mounted under the pading of the buck. This feeler head 24 is sensitive to Yand detects the contact of the movable pressing element with the upper pad surface and hence as the padwears and flattens, it follows that the toggle is allowed to straighten further rearwardly to lower the movable pressing element further and further to follow up the gradually. thinning padding on the buck. A

To open the press,.the operator operates the release lever I0, so that the press is free to open under the action of the countersprings 46.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members, differential means connecting the driving and driven members to normally transmit the motion of one directlyto the other, and means operable by the pressure between the pressing elements to control the operation ofthe differential means.

2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator; motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable elementr comprisingV driving and driven members, normally idle differential means connecting the driving and driven members, means normally locking the differential means from operation, and means controlled by the final pressure movement to release the'locking means.

3. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members', normally idle differential means connecting the driving and driven members, means normally locking the differential means from operation, and means controlled by the nnal pressing movement ofvsaidy elements for locking the driven member from movement with the driving member while the differential means is operated.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of `which is movable toward and from the other,'at least one of the pressing elementsbeing compressible, an actuator, and motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members, normally idle diiferential means connecting them, and means operable by the pressure between the pressing elements to control the operation of the differential means.

5. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, one having a compressible pad', an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members and normally idle differential means connecting them and arranged to act during the compressing o-f the pad, means for normally locking the` differential means from operation, and means controlled by the resistance of the pad to the 'movable element to release the locking means.

6. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, o-ne of which is movable toward and from the other, one having a `compre's'siblel pad, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members and normally idle diiferential means' connecting them and arranged to act during the compressing of the pad, and means controlled by the compression of the pad to hold the driven member from movement with the driving member when thev differential means is free to act. l

"7. In apressing machine, cooperating'pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and-the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, the joint between the vtoggle links comprising a cam on one link extending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle, and a follower on the other link adapted to roll on the cam when the movable pressing element encounters the resistance of the other pressing element.

8. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, the toggle embodying a yielding connection arranged to yield during the straightening of the toggle when the movable element encounters the resistance .of the other element, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam o-n one link extending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and a follower on the other link movable along the cam when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, a lock normally holding the follower and the cam from relative movement one along the other, and means operated by the yielding of said connection for releasing the lock.

9. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, one. of said elements having a compressible pad, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, and the toggle embodying a yielding connection arranged to yield. during the straightening of the toggle when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam on one link arranged at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and a follower on the other link movable along the cam when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, a lock normally holding the follower and cam from relative movement one along the other, means operated by the yielding of said connection for releasing the lock, and means operated bythe compression or" the pad to hold one of the links from swinging movement when the pad compresses.

1G. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable. element comprising driving and driven members, a yielding connection arranged to yield when the movable element encounters a predetermined resistance in its closing movement, a normally idle differential means connecting the driving and the driven members, means normally locking the differential means from movement, and means operated by theA yielding of said connection to release the diierential locking means.

1l. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, one of said elements having a yielding pad thereon, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members, a yielding connection arranged to yield when the movable element encounters a predetermined resistance in its closing movement, a normally idle diierential means connecting the driving and driven members,4 means normally locking the diiierentialmeans lfor movement, means operated by the yielding of said connection to release the dierential locking means, and means controlled by the yielding ci the pad to lock the driven member from its normal move-- nient from the driving member whenithe difierential means is acting. f

l2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and `from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between Vthe actuator and the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, the joint between'the toggle links comprising a cam on one link extending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and a follower on the other link'movable along the cam when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack extending along the cam, and a pinion meshing with the rack and connected to the cam follower.

18. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the Inovable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam on one link extending at an angle to the straightening movementoi the .toggle and av follower onthe other link being movable along the when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack eX- tending along the cam, the follower having a pinion meshing with the rack, means normally holding the pinion from rotation, and means operated by the resistance to the closing of the toggle when the movable element presses on the other element to release the holding means.

1li. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, an actuatoig'mction transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten the toggle, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam on one link extending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and a follower on the other link being movable along the cam when the movable element encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack extending along the cam, the follower having a pinion meshing with the rack, the toggle embodying an endwise compressible section, a spring normally resisting endwise compression of said section, a lock normally holding the pinion from rotation, and connections between said section and the lock to release the latter when the section compresses.

l5. In a garment press, a single actuator, and a single power transmitting mechanism between the actuator and a press jaw includingal member for operating the latter, said actuator connecting with one vend of said member whereby initial closing movement of the press is eiTected by movement of said end of the member with the actuator and a final pressure of the press is effected by continued movement of the actuator relative to the end of said member, iiuid pressure means for operating the actuator, the actuator having means initially forming a positive connection between it and said member to effect the preliminary closing of the press, and cam means on the actuator acting on said member for transmitting differential movement of the actuator to said member during the nal closing of the press and thereby utilizing the substantially full movement of the fluid pressure means in transmitting the motion thereof through a reduced leveragev to said member.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which s movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressing jaws having a resilient mounting, motor means, Ya toggle connecting the motor means with the movable pressing jaw to close the press to a preliminary closed position, the toggle having a greater extent oi' movement thany necessary to bring the pressing jaws together, locking means operable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jaws when the movable pressing jaw l reaches preliminary closed position and locking jaw compressing means cooperating with thev initial closing means and producing pressure between the pressing jaws, and means controlled by the movement of the compressible'pad when the pressing jaws engage for controlling the actuation of the jaw compressing means.

13. An ironing or pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws having a compressible pad upon at least one of the jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward and from the other, an actuator; motion transmitting` means between the actuator and the movable jaw to close the press,

including initial closing means which operate until the pressing jaws engage, the initial closing means having a movable member, and jaw compressing means connected with the actuator and.

impelling the movable member substantially longitudinally for producing pressure between the pressing jaws; and means controlled by the movement of the compressible pad when the pressing jaws engage for holding the movable member against any pivotal movement other than that needed to obtain substantially only longitudinal movement thereof and thereby controlling the actuation of the jaw compressing means.

19. An rironing' or pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws having a compressible pad upon at least one of the jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmitting means to close the press connected between the actuator and the movable pressing jaw; the motion transmitting means including initial closing means which operate until thepressing jaws engage, the initial closing means having a member which pivots substantially during the initial closing movement, and jaw compressing means cooperating with the pivoted member of the initial closing means to move the same substantially Y longitudinally with only such pivotal movement as is necessary'to obtain the longitudinal movement; and means controlled by the movement of the compressible pad when the pressing jaws engage for holding the pivoted member against the aforesaid substantial pivotal movement other than that necessary to obtain substantially only longitudinal movement thereof and thereby controlling the actuation of the jaw compressing means.

20. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which'is movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressingl jaws having a resilient mounting, motor means, motion transmitting means connecting the motorV means with the movable pressing jaw including initial closing means to close the press to a preliminary closed position with the jaws in contact, the initial closing means having a greater extent of movement than necessary to ring the pressing jaws together, means operable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jaws when the movable pressing jaw reaches preliminary closedposition for locking the initial` closing means against further operation, andjaw compressing means operatively connected between the :motor means and the movable pressing jaw and controlled by the locking vof the initial closing means to apply nal jaw compression.

2l. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one` of which is movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressing jaws having a resilient mounting, motion transmitting means connected with the mov- Vable pressing jaw including initial closing means to yclose the press to a preliminary closed position, the initial closing means having a greater extent of movement than necessary to bring the pressing jaws together, locking means operable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jaws when the movable pressing jaw reachesY preliminary closed position and locking the in- .tial closing means against further operation, a

single motor,v and'jaw compressing means carried by the initial closing means and operatively connected with the motor whereby the initial closing means is operated through the connection with the motor and the jaw compressing means becomes operable to apply nal jaw compression by the locking of the initial closing means.

22. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressing jaws having a resilient mounting, a toggle connected with the movable pressing jaw to close the press to a preliminary closed position, the toggle being in bent position at all times irrespective of mashing of the resilient mounting and the thickness of the work, locking means operable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jawsA when the movable pressing jaw reaches preliminary closed position for locking the toggle against vfurther closing movement, a single motor, and jaw compressing means carried by the toggle and operatively connected with'the motor whereby the toggle is operated through the connection of the motor therewith and the jaw compressing means is operated to apply final jaw compression by the locking of the toggle.

ERNEST DAVIS.

Images