US2015093A - Ironing device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 24, 1935.

E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet m m m 4 Sept. 24, 1935..

E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1954 5 km Pa Q %& as h -1 a m mm. x 7 m Q mm, mm a Q Q a g Wm a 8 a a E 8 lnwefitors zitlomey;

Sept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet Inventors Attorney:

Sept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL 2,015,093

IRONING DEVICE Filed Ma h 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnventaru Atlarneyg Sept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 24, 1935.

E. WALKER ET AL 2,015,093

IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 norm vnvflvnvnvnv VIIIIIIIIIIIIII" nventars ea 7 J/ Attorney:

Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATS IRONING DEVICE Application March 19, 1934, Serial No. 716,284

15 Claims.

Our invention relates to ironing devices and has particular reference to a device for ironing and folding rectangular sheets of material.

In laundry practice considerable difficulty is encountered in ironing and folding flat work, such as napkins, handkerchiefs, and the like, wherein it is desired to iron such. articles and then fold the same at the center of the article. While no dificulty is encountered in ironing such 10., flat articles, the folding of the same upon the proper center has required manual location of such centers by manual labor, and has required that the folding be done by hand, particularly when it was desired to handle a number of flat 1 15; articles of different dimensions.

For example, in the laundering of table napkins a great many difierent sizes of napkins would be normally encountered during the laundering of any single batch which would require that the operator of any prior ironing machine, though readily ironing the work while fiat, would be required to manually find the centers of the different sized napkins and to fold the same by a manual operation, seriously interfering with the 25 rapidity with which such articles can be finished.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide an ironing device which will automatically iron such flat pieces and automatically fold the same at their centers irrespective of the di- 30- mensions of the particular pieces worked upon.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device for automatically ironing and. folding flat pieces in which the articles are fed into the machine by a device which automatically lo- 35 cat-es the center of the piece, irrespective of its dimensions.

Another object of our invention is to provide an ironing machine in which a plurality of different sized flat pieces may be fed into the ma- 40 chine, ironed therein, and each automatically folded upon its proper center.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of the character set forth in which an operator of the machine may successively 45 feed fiat pieces of varying sizes to the machine and in which the center of such pieces will be automatically located by the machine and the pieces be folded upon their respective centers and fed from the machine in a. finished ironed and folded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic center-locating device for flat pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide 55 an ironing machine in which an automatic cenoer-locating device is employed to feed the pieces to the machine in predetermined relative positions and in which a folding device is employed to automatically fold such pieces upon the centers so located. 5

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specifications read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevational View of an ironing machine constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an ironing machine shown in Fig. 1, as viewed from the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken along line IIIIII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line IVIV of Fig. 3; ig. 5 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line VV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line VIVI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail,.sectional View, taken along line VIIVII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail, plan view of the centerfinding and feeding device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a set of links em- 3 ployed with the center-locating device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail View of the gripping or holding device employed with the center-locating device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating the manner of fastening ironing pads to our ironing device:

Fig. 12 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line XXL-XII of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a detail, perspective view of a rotor assembly employed with our ironing device.

Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated our ironing and folding machine as comprising a suitable frame formed of two side plates l and 2, the tops of which are interconnected by means of a suitable top plate 3 while the bottoms of the side plates l and 2 are connected together by suitable spacer bolts i and 5 to comprise a relatively rigid frame within which and upon which the operative mechanism of our ironer may be assembled.

By referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the interior surfaces of the side plates i and 2 are cut away, as indicated at 5 and i, to -form a pair of internal bearing members upon which may be mounted a rotor assembly 8. The rotor assembly 8 is illustrated particularly in Fig. 13 as comprising an end spider 9, the circular exterior surface of which conforms with the interior surface of the groove 6 on the side plate I, the spider 9 being formed with an outwardly extending boss l journaled in a suitable opening I I in the side plate I, preferably at the center of the side plate I.

The opposite end of the rotor assembly 8 is formed of an annular ring 12, the exterior surface of which conforms with the interior surface of the groove 7 in the plate 2 and forms therewith the sole bearing surface between the left-hand end of the spider assembly 8 and the side plate 2 (as viewed in Fig. 4) The ring i2 is interconnected with the spider 9 to form a unitary assembly by means of a plurality of cross rods i3, in the form of the device shown herein there being six cross rods l3, evenly spaced about the periphery of the ring l2.

The rotor assembly 8 is preferably employed to form the ironing surface upon which the napkins, handkerchiefs, or other fiat work pieces, may be placed, during the initial ironing operations, and for this purpose we have illustrated the rotor assembly as being provided with a plurality of supporting plates l4, each of which is formed of a flat metal plate bent at its center on an angle of approximately 120 so that when the plates are assembled upon the rotor E? with one of the cross rods 13 at the bend of each of the plates, the set of six plates form a substantially hexagonal surface surrounding the rotor assembly.

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the construction and mounting of the plates i i is such that each of the fiat surfaces of the hexagon is formed by one-half of the area of one plate and by one-half of the area of its adjacent plate the two ends of the adjacent plates being spaced apart as indicated at i5 at a point exactly at the center of the flat surface of the hexagon.

We prefer to provide the ironing surface of the rotor 3 with a suitable padding or resilient cloth covering to contact the articles to be ironed during the ironing operation, and for this purpose we have illustrated each of the plates It as being covered with a sheet it of suitable cloth material, such as flannel, or similar material, having a relatively thick pile or nap. Each of the sheets i6 is preferably secured to its associated plate M, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 3, 11 and 13, as by turning the front and rear edges thereof back beneath the plate 14, as is illustrated particularly in Fig. ll at IT. The inturned edge of the sheet iii may be held in place by any suitable securing device, though we prefer to provide a clamping plate I8 for each edge of the sheet 15 secured thereto in any suitable manner. As is particularly illustrated in Figs. 3, 11 and 12, the edges of the plates M may be suitably supported upon the spider 9 and the ring i2, as by providing upturned ears H) on the plates [4 adapted to receive screws rethreaded into the side walls of the ring and spider, the screws 28 being also employed for the purpose of securing the clamping plates l8 in place in proper associated relation with the plates having an area approximately equal to one of the hexagonal surfaces of the rotor 8. The ironer 2! is preferably mounted at the top of the frame formed by the plates 1 and 2 so that the ironer may be urged into pressing relation with the articles to be ironed under the influence of gravity.

The side plates 5 and 2 are each provided with an upstanding extension 22 across which the top plate 3 is secured to form a mounting for the ironer 2! permitting the same to be reciprocated vertically relative to the rotor 8; The ironer 2| may be mounted and operated in any suitable 10 manner. For the purpose of illustrating the same, it is shown herein as being secured to the lower end of a piston rod 23, the upper end of which bears a piston Ea operating in a steam or other fluid pressure cylinder 25 so that upon admission of steam or other fluid pressure into the cylinder the ironer 2| will be lifted to such position as will permit the rotor 8 to rotate without contact with the ironer, and when pressure is released from the cylinder 25 the ironer will de- 0 sceiid by gravity to apply pressure to the articles supported upon the rotor.

The ironer 2! may be heated in any suitable manner, as by forming the same of hollow construction, permitting the admission of steam 25 thereto, or by providing the same with any suitable, well-known electric heating arrangement familiar to those skilled in the art.

In the form of the device illustrated herein, employing a hexagonal surface on the rotor, it will be observed that a succession of napkins or other pieces may be placed one at a time upon each of the surfaces of the rotor 8 and brought into position immediately below the ironer 2| by intermittently moving the rotor through one-sixth of a revolution at a time, and for. this purpose we have illustrated driving means for the rotor 8 as comprising a star-wheel 25 keyed as at 2'! to the extending boss E0 of the spider 9, the star-wheel being provided with six teeth 28 spaced evenly 4 aroun the wheel. A pin drive is employed for intermittently engaging the star-wheel, such pin drive comprising a drive pin 29 secured upon a crank arm 39 which is in turn rigidly secured to a shaft 3! extending through both of the side plates l and 2 of the machine and having secured upon the lefthand end thereof, as viewed'in Fig. l, a suitable drive gear 32, or any other suitable device to which motive power from a suitable prime mover source may be applied.

The shaft 3! is arranged to be continuously rotated by its prime mover during the entire operation of the machine, while the pin 29 is arranged to engage the teeth of the star-wheel 28 only once in each revolution of the shaft 3!, as by providing a suitable cam secured to the exterior of the side plate I so shaped and located as to engage the outer end of the pin 29 when the crankarm is rotated to a position to bring the pin 29 to a position substantially immediately above the shaft 3! By referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the cam 33 1s bent outwardly, as indicated at 34, to provide an inwardly sloping cam surface 35 engageable by the pin 29 to move the (55 pin toward the star-wheel, the pin 29 being provided with a suitable compression spring 36 normally holding the pin out of possible engagement with the star-wheel. Thus each time the shaft 3| is moved through one revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 2, the pin 29 will engage the star-wheel and move the star-wheel one-sixth of a revolution before the pin 29 is released by the cam 33, and thereafter continued movement of the shaft 3| through the remainder of its revolution will not be accompanied by further movement of the star-wheel and its rotor 8.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and l, it will be observed that the left-hand ends of the shaft 3|, as viewed in Fig. 4, may be provided with a suitable operating mechanism for causing movement of the ironer 2| in proper timed relation with the rotation of the rotor 8, as by providing a cam 31 upon the shaft 3| to engage an operating rod 38 associated with a control valve 39 for controlling the admission of fluid pressure to the ironer operating cylinder 25. By selecting the shape and the position of mounting of the cam Bl upon its shaft 3|, the ironer 2| may be lifted just prior to the engagement of the pin 29 and its star-wheel so that the ironer ill will be lifted out of the way of the moving rotor just prior to the movement of the rotor and the ironer will be permitted to descend to the new surface of the rotor as soon as the pin 29 is released from the star-wheel at the completion of the forward movement of the rotor 8.

With the apparatus thus far described, napkins, handkerchiefs, or other fiat pieces placed one at a time upon each of the fiat surfaces of the rotor a may be automatically moved into ironing position beneath the honor by the successive rotation of the rotor 8, and it will be observed that if each of these pieces is so placed upon its surface of the rotor that the space It lies immediately beneath the center of the napkin, such napkin may be folded at the space H: to fold the napkin properly upon its center.

To properly space and locate the napkin upon its ironing surface, we prefer to provide a feeding mechanism to automatically center the napkin upon the rotor, irrespective of the size or varying dimensions of successive pieces to be handled by the machine.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8. we have illustrated such feeding mechanism at it as comprising a backing plate 4| mounted upon a bracket &2 which is in turn pivoted upon a shaft 43 extending between and journaled in the side plates and 2 and as having outwardly extending ears M formed thereon. On the upper surface of the backing plate 4| we provide four Ushap=ed brackets 45, at, M and t8. The brackets 5 and M3 are arranged in alignment with each other upon the right-hand side of the plate l l, as viewed in Fig. 8, and constitute a continuous bearing support for a rod 49, while brackets 4'! and d8 are similarly located upon the left-hand side of the plate M and constitute a support for a second rod 56. The rods 49 and 5f! constitute bearing members for the opposite ends of a slide 5| which extends across the plate M near the upper end thereof and also constitute bearing members for a similar slide 52 located and extendingacross the lower end of the plate 4|. The slides 5| .and 52 are interconnected with each other by means of a pair of cross links 53 and 54 pivotally joined together at their centers as by means of a suitable bolt 55, while the outer ends of the links are provided with slots 56 each engageable with a pin 51 extending rearwardly from the ends of the slides 5| and 52. Thus any movement of the slide 5| toward or away from the center of the plate 4| will be accompanied by an equal and opposite movement of the slide 52 toward and away from the center of the plate fill. Thus if a napkin has its upper edge secured to the plate 5| and the slides are moved toward the center until the lower edge of the napkin abuts a predetermined point on the slide 52, the napkin will have its horizontal center located at the exact horizontal center of the plate M. This construction, therefore, constitutes a device for locating the horizontal center of the napkin as it is placed upon the feeding device Mi.

By referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the bar 5| has attached at its center a bracket 58 which extends as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, substantially parallel to the plate The bracket 58 has mounted thereon a shelf 59 upon which the napkin may be spread so that both the napkin and the shelf 59 may be moved upwardly and downwardly to properly center the horizontal center of the napkin with the horizontal center of the plate M. It will also be observed that the lower .bar 52 has a strap t8 attached thereto, extending over the upper surface of the shelf 59 to constitute a guide which the lower edge of a napkin on the shelf 58 may abut when the napkin is properly centered upon the. shelf.

Slidably mounted upon the bar 5| is a pair of blocks El and 62. The block 6| is secured in any suitable manner, as by Welding, to a bearing member E53 having flanges 54 and t5 downturned therefrom to engage the side edges of the block i| so that the bearing 63 with its block |5| may be moved horizontally along the bar 5!. The bearing member 63 may be retained upon the bar 54 in any suitable manner, as by an elongated strap 6 5 secured as at 81 and 63 to the bar 5| and passing over the bearing members 53 to prevent them from movingaway from the bar 5|.

It will be observed that the bar 5| is provided with a pair of elongated slots 69 and it through which pins H and it on the blocks 6| and 52, respectively, may project, the slots 69 and lo each extending for a considerable distance along the length of the bar 5|. 7

The block Bl is provided with a vertically extending slot it, in which is located a grip member M, the same being retained in the slot 13 by means of a spring l5, one end of which passes through the grip M, while the other end it of the spring bears upon the base of a horizontal slot H intersecting the slot 33.

Likewise the block 62 is provided with a grip 3 similarly retained by means of a spring W. The lower ends of the grips i l and is are each provided with a prong 8i and 5|, respectively, and these prongs extend to a position substantially in alignment with the forward edge of the block 6| at a point immediately adjacent the upper edge of the shelf 5.; so that by depressing the rear ends of the grips 'M and i3. the grips will be rotated relative to the blocks El and 62 to raise the prongs out of the slots 5'3 and permit the upper edge of a napkin to be inserted between the prongs and the blocks 6! and 52.

By referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 it will be observed that the block is provided with a link 82 pivoted as at 83 to the bar 5!, and having an elongated slot is extending longitudinally thereof to engage the lower end of the pin H. Similarly, the block 62 is provided with a link 85 pivoted as at 36 to the bar 5i and having a similar elongated slot 8| engaging the lower end of the pin '52. The lower end of the link 35 is connected by a bar 88 to a point 89 on the link 32 spaced upwardly from the pivot point 83 of that link so that any movement of the slide 5! along the bar 5! will, through the linkage 82 l33i5 be accompanied by a similar but opposite movement of the block .62.

By properly initially locating the blocks GI and 62 at equal distances on opposite sides of the vertical center of the plate 4|, it follows that any movement of the block 9! relative to the center will be accompanied by an equal and opposite movement of the block 92 toward or away from the center. Thus by securing the extreme corners of the upper edge of the napkin to the grips T4 and i8 movement of the blocks SI and 62 to stretch the napkin flat will automatically locate the vertical center of the napkin in alignment with the vertical center of the plate 4|. If desired, the links 82 and 35 may be normally urged outwardly (that is to a napkin-stretching position) by means of a spring 99 connected respectively to the link 82 and the bar 88.

With the construction of the napkin-feeding device thus far described, it will be apparent that all that an operator has to do is to grasp a corner of the upper edge of a napkin, place the same upon the shelf 59 and engage the grips I4 and 18 with the corners of the napkin, which operation will automatically find the vertical center of the napkin and locate the same upon the vertical center of the plate 4|. Then by drawing the bar 5| bodily upwardly or downwardly until the lower edge of the napkin abuts the guide strap 69 of the bar 52, the napkin will have its horizontal center also properly located relative to the horizontal center of the plate 4|.

The napkin so located upon the feeding device 49 is now ready to be placed upon one of the ironing surfaces of the rotor 8. This may be accomplished by rotating the entire feeding mechanism 49 about its shaft 43, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 3, to bring the nap-kin which is now supported upon the shelf 59 into contact with that hexagon surface presented forwardly and upwardly upon the machine. The movement of the feeding mechanism 49 may be accomplished by hand, if desired, though we prefer to move the same automatically, as will be hereinafter described, and we provide an automatic releasing device for releasing the grips I4 and I8 when the napkin is pressed into contact with the padding or covering of the plates I4, which mechanism consists essentially in a pair of rods 9| and 92 extending from opposite ends of the shaft 43 in such position that the outer ends of the rods SI and 92 will engage a cross rod 93 extending through the outer ends of both grips I4 and I8. The rod 93 is slidably mounted in the bracket 58, as by means of passing the same through an elongated slot 95 in the bracket, and securing the same against lateral movement by means of a pair of collars 95, one on each side of the bracket 94 mounted upon the bar 5|. Thus as the napkin is pressed ti htly upon the cloth covering of the plates I4 the grip members will be operated to release their grip upon the napkin and the napkin will then be secured upon the cloth covering of the plates by the adhesive action of the pile of the cloth covering.

While the transfer of the napkin from the feeding mechanism 49 may be accomplished manually, we prefer to automatically move the transfer mechanism toward the rotor and transfer the napkin therefrom at a predetermined time relative to the successive movements of the rotor, and for this purpose we have illustrated an automatic feeding device for operating the feeding mechanism 43 as consisting of a lever 91 pivoted to the outside of the frame side plate I, as indicated at 99, in such position as to be engaged by a cam surface 99 formed on the outer extremity of the crankarm 30 to be swung to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 upon each rotation of the shaft 3 I. The lever 91 is connected by a crank I99 to an ear |9I on the bracket 42 so that as viewed in Fig. 2 movement of the lever 9'! will 5 cause the bracket 42 to swing the feeding mechanism 49 about its pivot 43 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The shaft 43 is likewise arranged to be given 10 an oscillatory motion by the cam surface 99, as by connecting the shaft 43 rigidly to a short lever I92 which is in turn connected by the link I03 to a second link I94 pivoted, as at I95, to the lever 97, the link I94 being arranged to also be engaged by the cam surface 99 as the crank 39 is rotated so that after the feeding mechanism 49 has pressed the napkin into contact with the rotor 8 it will swing the rods 9| and 92 outwardly with respect to the machine to automatically press the rod 93, releasing the grips i4 and I8 from the napkins. The rods 9| and 92 will be held in their grip-releasing position until the feeding mechanism 49 has started its return movement to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. The return movement of the feeding mechanism 49 may be assisted by a coil spring I96, while the outermost limit of movement of the feeding mechanism 49 may be determined by a suitable stop it? secured to the side I of the frame of the machine.

With the apparatus thus far described it will be apparent that a napkin placed upon the feeding mechanism '58 and moved into position upon the ironing surface plates I4 will be ready to be 3 ironed by the ironer 2| at the next movement of the rotor 8. It will also be observed that the napkin, irrespective of its size, will be located upon the ironing surface with both its vertical and its horizontal centers located along predetermined 40 lines on the ironing surfaces.

After the ironing of the napkin takes place by the ironer 2 I, the next successive movement of the rotor 8 will bring the napkin to the position shown at I98, at which time the napkin has been pressed out flat and is ready now to be folded along one of its centers.

Since the napkin has been placed upon its ironing surface with its horizontal center accurately aligned with a predetermined horizontal 09 line on the ironing surface, the napkin may readily be folded automatically along its horizontal center by pressure applied at the space I5 between the plates I4 forming the particular ironing surface upon which the napkin is located. This folding may be readily accomplished by a tucking member I99 comprising a relatively thin flat plate slidably mounted in a suitable guide I I9 arranged substantially radially relative to the center about which the rotor 8 rotates. We have illustrated (30 the plate I99 and its guide I I!) as mounted upon a pair of brackets II I, each of which is mounted upon a block 2 rigidly secured to a spacer bar 3 extending between the plates I and 2 of the frame of the machine. The blocks II2 also con- (35 stitute mounting members for a shaft II4, the outer end of which is provided with a crankann I I5 extending below the shaft I I4 to be engaged by the outer end of a rockpin I I9 slidably mounted in a guide bearing Hi, the opposite end N8 of 7 the pin being engaged by the cam surface 99 as the shaft 3| is rotated. The shaft I I 4 has rigidly secured thereto a red I I9 which extends, as shown in Fig. 3, through a slot I29 in the tucking plate I99 so that upon each movement of the crank I I5 V in the art.

by its pin I66 the rod H9 will be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, to drive the tucker plate I89 into the space I5 between adjacent ironing surface plates I4, and thus tuck the horizontal center of the napkin through the space I5 into of sections a and h, each rigidly secured to a shaft I but with a space I23 therebetween, and similarly the roller I22 is formed in half sec tions 0 and d spaced and mounted upon a shaft I2l. The folding and ironing rollers IZI and IE2 are arranged to be power driven to draw the napkin between them, while heat may be supplied to the rollers IZI and I22 in any suitable manner, as will be understood by those skilled For example, either the rollers may be provided with suitable electric heating coils or the shafts I25 and I2'I may be formed of hollow construction permitting the supplying of steam to the interior of the rollers. As the napkin feeds through the rollers I2I and I22, we have arranged to have the same pass onto the receiving table formed of a pair of shelves I28 and IE3, illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and '7, and arranged to be secured as by means of screws I39 to a downwardly extending bracket I3I which is in turn supported upon a shelf I32 secured to .the side plate 2.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figs. 4 and '7 that the two shelves I28 and I29 are separated by a space I33 along a plane aligned with the vertical center of the napkin when properly placed upon the ironing surfaces of the rotor 3. Thus the napkin which has been initially folded may now be passed down through the space I33 into engagement with a pair of secondary rollers I34 and I35 to again fold and iron the napkin upon the vertical center thereof. The feeding of the napkin down into engagement with the rollers I34 and I35 may be accompanied by a secondary tucker plate I33 mounted between a'pair of upstanding brackets I3'I supported upon the shelf I32. The secondary tucker plate I35 is illustrated as having a roller I33 secured thereto to be engaged by the bifurcated end I39 of a lever I40 which is in turn secured to a shaft I4I extending through the side plate 2 of the frame of the machine.

By referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the shaft I4I has a crank I42 secured thereto, the upper end of which forms a pawl I43 engageable by'a notch I44 in the end of a link I45 secured to and movable with the feeding mechanism 453, as indicated at I46. Thus each time the feeding mechanism 43 is moved inwardly to place a new napkin upon the ironing surfaces, the tucker plate I33 will be moved downwardly to press that napkin which has just been ironed by the rollers IZI and I22 into engagement with the refolding rollers I34 and I35.

Again the rollers I34 and I35 may be supplied with heat in any suitable manner, as described with reference to the rollers IZI and I22.

The coordination of the operations of the rotation of the rotor, the operation of the feeding mechanism 40, the operation of the initial tucker I09, and the operation of the secondary tucker I36 as hereinbefore described, includes the drive mechanism through which power for all of these operations is transmitted through the shaft 3| and crankarm 36 so that by properly gearing the shaft 3! to the rollers I2I--I22 and rollers I34I35, all of the power operations of the machine may be accomplished by supplying rotary power to the single shaft 3 I.

By referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, it will be observed that power for operating the rollers I34 and I35 may be transmitted from the shaft 35 by means of a spur gear I4l coupled through idler gears I48 to a pinion I49 on theend of a stub shaft I53. The stub shaft I53 extends through the side plate 2 of the frame of the machine and bears upon its inner end a mitergear I EI engaged with a second miter-gear I52 secured to a jackshaft I53 mounted in suitable bearings I54, I55 in a bracket I53 secured upon the underneath surface of the shelf I 32. The inner end of the shaft I53 bears a spur gear I5? connected through an idler gear I58 with a pinion I59 rigidly secured to the shaft Ito of the roller I34.

By referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be observed that the shaft I63 is rotatably mounted in the bracket I3I and bears a second pinion I3I which is connected through idlers I52 and I63 to the pinion I64 mounted rigidly upon the shaft I 35 of the roller I35. Since the napkins or other flat pieces which are to be ironed by the .machine wi l vary considerably in thickness, it is necessary to provide some slight play between the rollers I34 and I35, and for this purpose we have illustrated the shaft I65 of the roller I35 as being movably mounted in the bracket I3I. This is illustrated herein as comprising an elongated arcuate slot I66 formed in the bracket I3I, the center of curvature of which coincides with the center of rotation of the shaft IE'I upon which the idler I63 is mounted, the width of the slot I63 being equal to the diameter of the shaft I55 so that a napkin of unusual thickness may press the roller I35 away from the roller I34 without unmeshing the gears I33 and IE4.

The opposite ends of the shafts Ito-465 are likewise mounted in a bracket I63, the shaft I53 being fixedly rotatable in the bracket I38 while the shaft I35 is mounted in an arcuate slot I69 so that this end of the shaft I35 may also move to accommodate varying thicknesses of material.

Both ends of the shaft I35 are normally urged toward the shaft IBEI by means of suitable springs no, each of these springs being connected to a suitable rider I'II mounted loosely upon the shafts.

It may'also be understood that a similar mounting of the shafts I25 and IN for the rollers IZI and I 22, respectively, may be provided to permit these rollers also to separate a greater distance for varying thicknesses of material. This mounting includes the journaling of the shafts I25 and I2? in bearing brackets H2 and M3, the shaft I Z'I extending also through the side plate 2 of the frame of the machine and has a pinion I14 connected through idlers I35 and Ilt to the gear I47 on the shaft 3I.

The shaft I2? also bears a pinion Ill connected through an idler I18 to a pinion H9 on the shaft I25, the location and connection of the pinions ITII'I8-II3 being identical with that described with reference to the. pinions. I6II32-I63I64 for the rollers I34 and I35.

It will, therefore, be observed that we have provided an ironing machine in which napkins may be fed into the machine in proper centering relation relative to the ironing surfaces upon which they are to be ironed and which will, therefore, permit the accurate folding of the napkins along such centers as the napkin progresses through the machine by successive movements of the rotor 8.

7 It will also be observed that the napkins may be fed to the machine by employing the feeding mechanism 49 automatically finding the centers of varying sizes of napkins and properly locating the napkins upon the ironing surfaces of the rotor.

It will also be observed that with our machine the folding of the napkin is not only accomplished but that the napkin is ironed upon the fold so that a, napkin fed into our machine is first ironed fiat, then folded upon one center and ironed, then folded upon another center and ironed, and the napkin is thus completely finished ready for use. While the finished napkin may be passed out of our machine by any suitable means, we have diagrammatically illustrated herein a transporting mechanism which will receive the napkin from the rollers I34 and I35 and pass the same outwardly through an exit opening I89 as they are finished. The transporting mechanism illustrated herein consists essentially of an endless belt conveyor IBI mounted to operate upon suitable rollers, the inner end I82 of which is illustrated as being mounted substantially below the space between the rollers I34 and I35. The conveyor may be driven by any suitable means so long as the movement of the conveyor belt is sufficiently rapid to receive the downcoming end or edge of the napkin and move the same toward the exit opening at a speed preventing the napkins from piling up immediately beneath the rollers.

While the feeding mechanism illustrated herein moves the rotor only through 60 of movement for each rotation of the shaft 3I, it may be desirable to provide a folding mechanism for preventing inadvertent movement of the rotor during the ironing operation or during any of the other operations of machine, and for this purpose we have illustrated a folding device as comprising a lever I83 pivoted to the slide bearing III, as indicated at I84, the lever I83 being provided upon its lower edge with a. notch I 85 engageable with one of the teeth 28 of the star- Wheel so that when so engaged the star-wheel cannot be moved. The outer end I86 of the lever I83 may be projected into the path of movement of the cam surface 99 of the crank 30 so that immediately prior to the initial movement of the pin 29 to engage the star-wheel the lever I83 will be momentarily lifted to release the starwheel while as soon as the forward movement of the rotor is completed the lever I83 will again engage its notch upon the ends of the teeth of the star-wheel to hold the same against further movement until the next forward movement of the rotor.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to any of the details of construction shown herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, means forming a supporting surface upon which a work piece to be ironed may be placed, and means for feeding fiat work pieces to said supporting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with predetermined transverse center lines of said supporting surface.

2. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of 5 located upon said supporting surface irrespective of their dimensions.

3. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of varying dimensions, means forming a supporting surface upon which fiat work pieces may be 20 placed fiat ready for ironing, having dimensions in excess of the maximum dimensions of the work pieces to be ironed thereon, and means for feeding flat work pieces of varying dimensions to said supporting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with transverse center lines of said supporting surface, and means operating along the center line of said supporting surface for engaging the center line of work pieces thereon to fold the same.

4. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, a frame, a rotor mounted for rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piece supporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding work pieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to a predetermined position by rotation of said rotor, and ironing means for successively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeeding position.

5. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a 40 frame, a rotor mounted for rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piece supporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding work pieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to a predetermined position by rotation of said rotor, ironing means for successively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeeding position, and means for moving said rotor, said feeding means and said ironing means in predetermined timed relation to each other.

6. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a frame, a rotor mounted for rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piece supporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding work pieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to a predetermined position by rotation of said rotor, ironing means for successively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeeding position, and means for folding work pieces on said surfaces when moved to a still further successive position by rotation of said rotor.

'7. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a supporting surface upon which work pieces may be supported while fiat, having a slot in said supporting surface extending transversely of a work piece thereon, means for folding a work piece including a tucker insertable through said slot to engage a work piece and pass the same through said slot, and ironing means mounted below said surface for receiving said folded work piece and for ironing said folded piece.

8. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, a supporting surface upon which work pieces may be supported while fiat and having a slot in said supporting surface extending transversely of a work piece thereon, a pair of cooperative ironing rollers mounted below said supporting surface with the space between said rollers aligned with said slot, and means for folding a work piece including a tucker insertable through said slot to engage a work piece thereon and pass the same through said slot and into the space between said ironing rollers.

9. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, means for supporting flat work pieces while flat, including a rotor having thereon a plurality of surfaces for receiving Work pieces, each of said surfaces being provided with a slot extending transversely of work pieces placed thereon, tucker means for engaging and folding work pieces, means for moving said tucker into and out of the slot in said rotor, means for intermittently rotating said rotor, and for moving said tucker only when said tucker is aligned with one of said slots.

10. In a positioning device for fiat work pieces, a supporting shelf upon which pieces may be placed, means at one edge of said shelf for engaging the ends of one edge of a work piece, means mounting said engaging means for equal and opposite movement relative to a line drawn through the center of said shelf whereby a work piece so engaged will have its center line accurately aligned with the center line of said shelf.

11. In a positioning device for flat work pieces, a supporting shelf upon which pieces may be placed, means atone edge of said shelf for engaging the ends of one edge of a work piece, means mounting said engaging means for equal and opposite movement relative to a line drawn through the center of said shelf, whereby a work piece so engaged will have its center line accurately aligned with the center line of said shelf, a guide for the opposite edge of said work piece, means mounting said guide and said engaging means for equal and opposite movement relative to the transverse center line of said shelf, whereby alignment of the opposite edge of said work piece in said guide will accurately align the transverse center of said work with said transverse center line of said shelf.

12. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of varying dimensions, means forming a supporting surface upon which fiat work pieces may be placed flat ready for ironing, having dimensions in excess of the maximum dimensions of the work pieces to be ironed thereon, and means for feeding flat work pieces of varying dimensions to said supporting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with transverse center lines of said supporting surface, folding means operable along a plane extending through one of the center lines of said supporting surface for folding said work piece along one of its center lines, and a second folding means operable along a plane extending through the other of the center lines of said supporting surface to engage said folded work piece and refold the same along the other of its center lines.

13. In a device for folding rectangular work pieces, means forming a supporting surface for receiving said work pieces while flat, means for feeding said work pieces to said supporting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with transverse center lines of said supporting surface, folding means operable along a plane extending through one of the center lines of said supporting surface for engaging and folding said work piece along one of its center lines, a second supporting surface for receiving said folded work piece, and a second folding means operable along a plane extending through the other of said center lines of said supporting surface for engaging said folded work piece and folding the same along the other of its centers.

14. In a device for folding rectangular flat work pieces, means forming a supporting surface for receiving and holding pieces while flat and having a slot extending therethrough along one of the center lines of said supporting surface, means for feeding said work pieces to said sup- 1 porting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with the two transverse center lines of said supporting surface, means for folding said work piece along one of its center lines including a tucker insertable through said slot to fold said work piece and pass the same through said supporting surface, a pair of cooperating folding rollers mounted below said supporting surface and aligned with said slot for rolling said folded work piece therebetween,

a second supporting table adjacent said rollers for receiving said folded work piece therefrom, and having a slot extending ina plane coincident with the transverse center line of said supporting surface, a second tucker movable through said slot in said second supporting surface to fold said work piece along the transverse center line thereof.

15. In a device for folding rectangular fiat work pieces, means forming a supporting surface for receiving and holding pieces while flat and having a slot extending therethrough along one of the center lines of said supporting surface, means for feeding said work pieces to said supporting surface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned with the two transverse center lines of said supporting surface, means for folding said work piece along one of its center lines including a tucker insertable through said slot to fold said work piece and pass the same through said supporting surface, a pair of cooperating folding rollers mounted below said supporting surface and aligned with said slot for rolling said folded work piece therebetween, a second supporting table adjacent said rollers for receiving said folded work piece therefrom, and having a slot extending in a plane coincident with the transverse center line of said supporting surface, a second tucker movable through said slot in said second supporting surface to fold said work piece along the transverse center line thereof, and a second set of cooperating rollers mounted below said second supporting surface and aligned with the slot therein for receiving and rolling said work piece after the second fold has been made therein.

EDWARD WALKER. HARRY CRICKLER.

Images