US2087447A - Ironing machine mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. J. w. RACKLYEFT IRONING MACHINE MECHANISM TIE I N VENTOR. Jo//N M /PA cfr/ Yff' ATTORNEY frsr July 20, 1937. J. w. RACKLYEFT 2,037,447

IRONING MACHINE MECHANISM Filed July 13, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q l Q A 7 TE- 1D i@ TORNEY.

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING MACHINE MECHANISM Application July 13, 1934, Serial No. 735,040

20 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines and in particular to portable domestic ironing machines and it has for its object the provision of a generally improved and simplied machine of the type defined; the provision of an inexpensive driving mechanism; the provision of an improved, easily operated safety release; the provision of an improved form of clutch construction; and the provision of a compact and eiricient gearing for driving the operating parts of the ironer.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outl in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ironing machine illustrative of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an en- 20 larged sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, illustrating some of the mechanical details of the -machine shown in Figure 1; Figures 3,

4, 5, and 6 are detail sectional views taken on lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, and 6 5 of Figure 2 respec- 25 tively; Figure 7 isa sectional view taken on line 1 1, Figure 2; Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 8 8, Figure 2; Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 9 9, Figure 2; Figure 10 is an enlarged sec- 30 tional view taken on line III-I0, Figure '7, showlng the details of the safety release provided for the ironer shoe; and Figure 11 is a detail view of some of the elements of the roll drive.

' Referring now to Figure 1, the ironing machine 35 selected for the purpose of illustrating the de-v shoe and the roll may be moved into and out of pressing contact with each other at the will of the operator. Y o The ironer shoe is carried on the upper end of an arm il having associated therewith at its lower end, a supporting bracket5 carried by the supporting structure l of the machine. Means, inr, cluding a rod housed within the tube 6 and a 'i control lever having a handle 1, are provided for manually shifting the shoe into and out of engagement with the roll and such means constitute a safety release for releasing the shoe from press- 5 3 ing engagementV with the roll, although they can be used otherwise than as a safety release, as will be described in detail presently. Suitable operating mechanism is housed Within a gear case 8 located at one end of the supporting structure I for effectingrotation of the roll and for laterally moving the s ame into and out of pressing contact with the shoe 3. Power for effecting the aforesaid operations is supplied by means of an electric motor Ill located in a lower compartment provided by the casing 8. A small finger-operated lever II is carried on the exterior of the case for controlling the lateral and rotational movements of the roll. This control is arranged to be operated by a very light pressure and may be aptly described as a fingertip control.

A second lever I2, located alongside the lever II on the gear case 8, is provided for preventing the rotation of the roll at such times when 'l 1t is intended for using the machine for pressing operations, in which case, the manipulation of the lever II serves only to shift the roll into and out of engagement with the shoe and does not cause the rotation of the roll as is d one in the ordinary operation and use of the machine.

Referring now to the sectional view of Figure 2 and the detail views 3, 4, 5; and 6, it will be seen that the roll of the machine is supported entirely from the gear case 8, which has an upper compartment I3 for most of the operating mechanism of the machine. A removable cover plate Il is provided to permit access to the operating elements housed within the compartment I3. 'I'he gear case 8 has a laterally extending hollow boss I5 in which is rigidly fitted a tube I6, provided for carrying a supporting bearing I'I for the outer end of the roll.

The inner end of the roll is carried on a bearing member I8 ilxed to a bracket 20 rigidly secured by means of a pin 2l to a rocker-shaft 22, which extends the length of the roll in a position a Slight distance below the tube I6. At its outer end, the rocker-shaft 22 is journaled in the lower end of a supporting bracket 23 ywhich is xedly secured to the outermost end of the tube I6. An axially oiset part 24 of the bearing II is secured to the rocker-shaft 22 by means of.

The roll is held against axial movement with.

-respect to its supporting bearings by means of a bolt 30 and an associated washer 3l which cooperate with. the end cap 28 and the bearing member I1 to hold the roll in proper position with respect to its bearings. The bearing member I8 engages with a bearing surface 32 provided by a lateral annular extension formed integrally with an internal gear 33 which may conveniently be formed from a single die-casting. The gear 33 may have a pressed fit in the end of the roll, or it may be iixedly secured at this point by `any suitable means such as screws or pins 34.

The roll supporting bearings are carried by the rocker-shaft 22 from a point some distance below the roll axis so that when this shaft is rocked by means which will be described in detail presently, the roll may be shifted into and out of contact with the shoe 3 when the shaft 22 is rocked in one direction or the other. At

' the same time this takes place, the internal gear 33 is brought into and out of meshing engagement with a gear or pinion 35 xedly secured to a shaft 36 which is mounted for rotation about a xed axis. l

The pinion 35 serves to drive the roll when the roll is moved laterally into contact with the shoe and when the roll is moved out of contact with the shoe, the gears 33 and 35 are separated from meshing engagement with each other and the power drive ofthe roll is thus automatically connected anddisconnected by the simple expedient of the shifting of the roll.

The roll is mounted for bodily-movement about. an axis below and rearwardly of the axis of the pinion 35 and clashing of the gears 33 and 35 at-the time they are shifted into engagement is obviated to a great extent because the contacting portions of the internal gear 33 and the pinion 35 are both movling in the same general direction at the instant of engagement.

The outer cover of the roll 2 is in the form of one or more layers lof suitable padding 31 and the shoe -is provided with a heating element 38 which may for convenience be a resistance-Wire heating element which is operated from the same source of electrical current supply as is the driving motor III of the machine. A suitable heat insulating cove'r 4I! is provided at the rear of the heating element 38 to prevent the rear side of the shoe 3 from becoming excessively hot and also for the purpose of increasing the transfer of heat to the forward or working face of the shoe. y

A pivotal connection 4I is provided for securing the shoe to the upper end of the arm 4 for limited movement about a horizontal axis. The lower end of the shoe supporting arm 4 is xedly secured kto a torsion rod or shaft 42, which in turn is secured to a crank arm 43, the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 44 to one end of a pair of toggle links 45 and 46. IOne end of one of these links is pivotally connected at 41 to an end of the link 46. -An intermediate part of the link 46 is pivotally connected at 48 Ato a bracket 50 rigid4 with the supporting `structure I of the ironing machine. A portion of the bracket 56 is bent up to provide a stop 50 for the toggle link 41 for movement in one direction and the part 5I!h of the bracket provides a. stop for the link 45 when the toggle is moved in its other direction. i

The aforesaid elements. which are best shown in Figure 10. constitute an overlooking toggle joint and permit the shifting of the shoe into -and out of engagement with the roll by simply manipulating the handle 1 carried on the outcrmost end of the toggle link 46. By reason of the arrangement shown, the shoe may be shifted inot and out of pressing contact with the roll byexercise of a very little force. This is an important detail in a domestic appliance which is usually operated by women as ordinarily they do not possess great physical strength. In Figure 10 of the drawings. the operative position of the shoe and the manual control provided therefor, are shown in full lines; the dotted line positions for such parts corresponding to the inoperative or released position of the ironer shoe.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2 and 9 and some of the detail views. it will be seen that the gear case 8 has a hollow laterally extending boss 5I provided for reception of a tubular bearing member or sleeve 52 which is pressed into the boss 5I so as to form a. rigid and xed part of the gear case. 'Ihe outer and inner surfaces of the sleeve 52 are smoothly finished to provide bearing surfaces for the parts which will be described presently. 'I'he shaft, 36 is received inside the tubular bearing member 52 and it projects beyond this bearing member at either end thereof. l

The gear 35 is fixed to one end of the shaft 36 and at its other end a cylindrical driving member 53 is securedto the shaft by means of a pin 54. coil spring, friction clutch member 55, and as is best shown in Figure 8, the spring 55 comprises a'` number of turns which are wrapped about the member 53 and also about an adjacent sleeve 56 which is fixed to a worm gear-51, driven by a Worm 58 carried on a shaft 60. A bearing 6I for one end of the shaft 6i) is formed in a. boss 62 carried at one side of the gear case and the other end of the shaft `is mounted in a bear-r ing 63 provided by the boss 64, also formed integrally with the gear case.

At the outermost end of the shaft 60 there is xed a belt pulley 65 for receiving a belt 66 which in turn is engaged by a belt pulley 61 carried by the armature shaft 61n of the motor I0. The Worm gear 51 may conveniently be formed from a die-casting which is cast on the sleeve 56. This sleeve is preferably formed from hardcned steel so that it will not be apt to wear by reason of the frictional engagement and disengagement with the clutch springs ofthe machine.

Several turns of the clutch spring 55 extend over the sleeve 56 and this end of the clutch spring is welded or otherwise secured to one end of three or more turns of a larger spring 68 which is wrapped about the end of the coil spring 55. 'Ihe other end 16 of the spring 68 is upturned so that it may be engaged by a. stop 1I which may be moved into and out of the path of this end of the spring.

'I'he stop 1I is carrled on a shaft 12, ixedly secured to the control lever I2, which is located Y exteriorly of the gear case 8. The lever I2 can be moved to one orthe other of two limiting positions, as determined by a. pair of spaced stops 13 and 14, formed exteriorly of the gear case and fixed thereto. When the lever occupies its upper position, as shown in Figure 1, the stop 1I will be in the path of the end of the spring 68 and it will serve to hold the clutch spring 55 from driving' engagement with the sleeve 56.

The shaft 36 which carries the roll driving gear 35 is thus prevented from rotating and with the control lever I2 in the stated position. the roll can be moved into and out of engagement with the shoe without aiecting the rotation of the roll. Normally, however, the lever I2 is in its lower position in contact with the stop 14, in which position, the clutch engaging stop 1| occupies a position outside the path of the end 'i0 of the clutch spring, so that the clutch spring is in continuous driving engagement with the sleeve 56. Y

Leakage of oil from the gear case is prevented by means of a suitable packing washer 'l5 which is maintained in sealing relation around the shaft 12 by a spring 'i6 which is held against the packing washer 'i5 by a washer TI secured in position on the rocker-shaft 'l2 by means of a pin '18. u

Viewed from the end of the machine at which the gear case 8 is located, the worm gear 51 rotatesy in a clockwise direction and the coils of the springs 55 and 68 are wound so that movement in a counterclockwise direction on the end 'l0 of the spring 68 will tend to uncoil the springs 55 and 68. The spring 68 is provided for the purpose of preventing frictional 'drag between the clutch parts when they are in disengaged position and when the driving elements of the machine are in operation.

'Ihe manner in which this works is as follows: When the stop 'il engages with the upturned end 'l0 of'the spring 68, there is initially built up in the coils of this spring a certain amount of tension and when this tension reaches a predetermined value it serves to disconnect the driving engagement of the spring 55 with the sleeve 56, and after this takes place the tension of the spring 68 then operates to completely release the spring 55 from the sleeve 56.

This is accomplished by reason of the fact that it takes a slightly greater force to effect the disengaging movement of the clutch than it does to hold the clutch parts in their disengaged position, which difference amounts to the difference between the static and kinetic friction of the driving and driven clutch parts; the static friction being of slightly greater value, as is customary, so that the aforesaid results may be accomplished.

Asis best shownfin Figure 9, the-sleeve 56 extends outwardly a considerable distance from each side of the worm gear l. Ihe portion of the sleeve to the left of the worm gear is provided fo'r selectively driving an eccentric 80. The eccentric 80 is mounted for rotation on the xed bearing sleeve 52 which is carried by the boss 5I of the gear case.. 'I'his eccentric may also be formed from a die-casting and it is provided at one edge with a flange 8| and opposite thereto it .has an oiset hub part 82 of substantially the same shape and dimensions as the adjacent part of the sleeve 56.

A number of teeth 83, as best shown in Figure 8, are provided on one side of the eccentric. The spaces between these teeth are provided for receiving the end 84 of the clutch spring 85, which is provided for effecting selective driving engagement between the sleeve 56 of the worm gear 51 and the eccentric 88.

The clutch spring 85 is of substantially the same construction as the clutch spring 55 and it is secured at one end to an end of an outer spring 86 having a number of turns terminating at its other end with an upturned part 81 which engages with one or the other of a pair of stop arms-88 and 90 which are carried on a shaft 9|, which in turn is xed for movement with the control lever The control lever and the associated stops are normally maintained in position 12o-engage the end 8'I of the clutch spring by means of a coil spring 92 which engages at one end with the shaft 9| and at its other end with the gear casev 8.

Packing means a similar to thatA described in connection with the rod 82 are provided at the point where the shaft 9| traverses the wall of the gear case. A stop 93 is provided exteriorly of lthe gear case 8 to maintain the lever in proper position against the tension of the spring 92. The stop arms 88 and 90 are spaced substantially 180 from each other so that the clutch formed in part by the sp-ring 85, may be disengaged after each successive half-turn, provided the lever H is released soon after it has been depressed, which is the normal method of operating the machine. The adjustment provided by the teeth 83 permits the shifting of the spring to take care of slight irregularities as may occur between different clutch springs.

The face of the eccentric 80 is engaged by a yoke 98 pivotally connected at 95 to a crank arm 96 which is fixed to the rocker-shaft 22. When the clutch formed in part by the' spring 85, is in driving engagement, the eccentric will be rotated approximately 180.", moving from the full line to the dotted line position, as shown in Figure 5 or vice versa as the case may be, and this movement o-f the eccentric serves to rock the shaft 22 and in this manner swing the bearing members Il and I8 toward and away from the shoe of the ironer, thus bringing the padded roll and the heated shoe into and out of pressing c ontact with each other.

The rod i2 associated with the shoe 3, is initially placed under some tension by the operation of the safety release when the shoe is moved to its operative position by the handle 1. This may be readily accomplished by having the shoe supporting arm move into contact with a xed stop (not shown) as the shoe is moved to its operative position. The lower end of the shoe supporting arm is fixed to the torsion rod 42 as previously stated, and this arm is free to move about the axis of the rod 42 subject to the restraint occasioned by the tensio-n of such rod. When the roll is moved into engagement with the shoe, there is considerable pressure exerted between the contacting surfaces of the roll and the shoe due both In the present construction a cam surface 98 is formed on one side of the eccentric member for the purpose of quieting the operation of the machine. This surface is arranged so that when the roll is moved away from the shoe, the cam surface comes into engagement with a brake member 97 which is urged against the cam face by means of a spring 99, pressing against a washer |09, pinned to a pin |82, which transfers the tension of the spring to the brake member 91, so that considerable pressure is exerted between the cam fac'e 98 and the brake member 97 when they move into engagement with each other.

The braking eiectv of the friction between these parts prevents the shoe and the associated shoeshifting elements from over-running the yoke driving mechanism during the initial part of the movement of the roll in a direction away from the shoe. The brake member 91 has a down-turned end formed with a projecting pin |03 which extends in a suitable hole |04 provided in the yoke 94 and it is thus prevented from turning about the pin |02 when it engages with the cam face 96.

The ironing machine referred to in the foregoing description, possesses vthe advantages of being light in weight; inexpensive in construction and exceptionally easy to operate. This last advantage is primarily due to the novel clutch arrangement shown, which makes it possible to operate the ironer by the exertion of the slightest of pressures on the control levers and this in turn enables one to turn out a large amount of work with the expenditure of a minimumy amount of effort.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of ironing machine mechanism shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and lthat various modications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departure from this invention as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironer shoe and a power actuated ironing roll mounted upon said structure, said roll being .adapted to move toward and away from the said shoe, tensioning means for producing yielding pressure between said shoe and roll when they are in engagement with each other, and means including an overlooking toggle joint for releasing said tensioning means and moving said shoe away from said roll.

2. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironer shoe and a power actuated ironing roll mounted upon said structure, said roll being adapted to move toward and away from the said shoe, tensioning means for producing yielding pressure between said shoe and roll when they are in engagement with each other, and means including an overlocking toggle joint having an operating handle located in a position accessible to the operator of the machine for releasing said tensioning means and moving said shoe away from said roll.

3. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironing roll and driving means therefor carried by the supporting. structure, a shoe mounted adjacent to the roll, a, supporting arm carrying the -shoe,'and yielding means for effecting movement H of the shoe toward and away from the roll, the

said means comprising a tube and a shaft therein operatively connected at one end to said arm, re-

' leasable locking instrumentalities comprising an overlooking toggle connected to the other end of said shaft for holding the same against rotation and means for operating said toggle, said lastnamed means and toggle being adapted to effect the turning of the said shaft upon the unlocking of the toggle joint for Ymoving the shoe away from the roll.

4. An ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironing roll supported from points adjacent to its ends by said structure, a cooperating ironing shoe, a shoe supporting' arm carried by the supporting /structure' and connected to said shoe at a point intermediate its length, said sh being elsewhere free and unsupported, and tensioning means including an overlooking toggle, operating means therefor and resilient means connecting the toggle to said shoe for eiecting yielding pressure between said shoe and roll, the -shoe being'also adapted to yield in a. direction to compensate for different thicknesses of material along the line of contact between said shoe and roll.

' 5. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a rotatable padded roll and a heated shoe, support means for said members, and power operated means for rotating said roll and for `bodily moving the same with respect to said shoe for bringing the roll into its operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power operated means for rotating said roll comprisingl a source of power, an internal ring gear and pinion inside said roll, a shaft fixed to said piniol, l., and gearing including cooperating clutch mem`V il bers coaxial with said shaft for effecting driving connection between said source of power and said shaft, pinion and ring gear. l

6. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a rotatable padded roll and a heated shoe, support means for said ironing members, and power operated means for rotating said roll and for bodily moving the same witli respect to the shoe for bringing the roll into its operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power operated means for rotating said -roll comprising a ring gear and worm gear, the ring gear being carried internally of said roll and xed to rotate therewith and the worm gear being carried externally of the roll and rotatable about an axis to one side of the axis of said ring gear, asource of power connected to said worm gear, shaft and gear means coaxial with said worm gear and-operatively connected to said ring gear, and clutch means for connecting said worm gear to said ring shaftmand gear means.

7. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe, support means for said members, and power means for rotating said roll member and for bodily moving one of said ironing members with respect to the" other for bringing said members into their operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power means comprising a motor having an armature shaft, a worm driven by said amature shaft, a worm gear meshing. therewith and mounted for rotation about an axis to one side of the axis of said roll, a pinion inside said roll fixed for rotation with said worm gear and coaxial therewith, an internal ring gear inside said roll for connecting said pinion in driving relation to. the roll, cooperating driving and driven clutch parts mounted for rotation about the axis of said pinion and driven by said worm gear, eccentric means carried by the driven clutch part, and means connecting said eccentric means to said bodily movable ironing member.-

8. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe,l support means for said ironing members, and power means for, rotating said roll member and for bodily moving the same with respect to said sh for bringing said ironing members into their operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power means comprising a motor having an armature shaft, a worm driven by said shaft, a worm gear meshing therewith and mounted for rotation about an axis parallel with and to one side of the axis of said roll, a. pinion inside said roll fixed for rotation with said worm gear and coaxial therewith, a gear xed to said roll internally thereof for connecting said pinion in rotatable driving relation to the roll, cooperating driving and driven clutch parts mounted for rotation about the axis of said pinion and adapted to be driven by said worm gear, and eccentric means operated by said driven clutch part and connected to said roll member for moving the same toward and away from said shoe.

9. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe, support means for said ironing members including means for maintaining said shoe in a substantially fixed position, and power means for rotating said roll` member and for bodily moving said roll with respect to said shoe for bringing said members into their operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power means comprising a motor, a pinion adapted to be driven by said motor, a gear fixed to said roll interiorly thereof and movable therewith into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, roll shifting means and selectively operable connections between said motor and said roll shifting means.

10. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe, support means for said ironing members including means for maintaining said shoe in a substantially fixed position, and power means for rotating the roll and for bodily moving said roll with respect to said shoe for bringing said members into their operative and inoperative ironing positions respectively, said power means comprising a motor, a pinion adapted to be driven by said motor, a gear fixed to said roll interiorly thereof and movable therewith into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, "roll shifting means and selectively operable connections between said motor and said pinion and said motor and said roll shifting means.

11. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing' member also carried by said supporting structure, and power means for rotating said roll and for shifting the same into and out of contact with said shoe, said power means for rotating said roll including a disconnectible driving connection comprising an internal gear fixed. to said roll internally thereof and a pinion mounted inside the roll for rotationl about a fixed axis and adapted for meshing engagement with said internal gear when said roll is moved into contact with said shoe.

l2. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, roll shifting means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing engagementwith each other, and power means for rotating said roll including a pinion inside said roll; disengageable driving means for said pinion, and a gear inside said roll and fixed with respect thereto and movable therewith into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion.

13. An ironing machine comprising in combnation, a relatively xed shoe, a roll disposed in juxtaposition to the said shoe, means for rotatably supporting one end of the roll, means for rotatably supporting said first named means for movement about an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said roll, driving means for the roll including `gears one of which is carried by and rotatable with the roll, and means inside said roll and actuated by the said driving means for moving said first named means to shift the position of the roll with respect to the said shoe.

14. An ironing machine comprising, a pair of cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe one of which is movable into and out of pressing contact with the other, means for rotating said roll including power operated mechanism movable to one or the other of two limiting positions for moving the movable ironing member into and out of pressing contact with the other ironing member, resilient means opposing the movement of said mechanism to one of its limiting positions and operating to assist the movement of said mechanism to its other limiting position, and brake means opposing the assisting effect of said resilient means, said brake means being ineffective when said resilient means is opposing the movement of said mechanism.

15. In a device of the type described, a power operated mechanism movable to one or the other of two limiting positions, resilient means opposing the movement of said mechanism 'to one of its limiting positions and operating to assist the movement of said mechanism to its other limiting position, a segmental friction block operatively connected to said mechanism and movable therewith, and a cooperating braking member associated with said friction block, said block being adapted to engage said braking member over a portion only of its movement so as to retard said mechanism when said resilient means is operating to assist the movement of said mechanism.

16. In a device of the type described, a power operated mechanism movable to one or the other of two limiting positions, resilient means opposing the movement of said mechanism to one of its limiting positions and operating to assist the movement of said mechanism to its other limiting position, said mechanism including a one-way clutch having driving and driven clutch members, and a friction brake means operable each time said resilient means operates to assist said mechanism to prevent the driven clutch member from over-running the driving clutch member, .f

said friction brake means being so constructed and arranged as to be normally inoperative when said resilient means is opposing the movement of said mechanism. A

17. An ironing machine comprising cooperating ironing members, means for shifting said members into and out of pressing contact with each other including a power-driven element rotatable in one direction in steps of substantially one hundred and eighty degrees, spring means for insuring yielding contact between said members, said spring means operating with said firstnamed means in effecting the separation of said ironing members, and intermittently operable friction brake means associated with the rotatable element of said first-named means for compensating for the eiect of said spring means when said ironing members are moved out of pressing contact, said brake means 'being normally inoperative during the movement of said ironing members into contact with each other.

18. Ans-ironing machine comprising, a heated shoe, a cooperating, rotatably mounted padded roll, a gear case having an opening in one of its walls, and operating mechanism for rotating said roll and for bringing said roll and shoe into and out of pressing contact with each other, the operating mechanism for rotating said roll including a bearing member supported in the opening of said gear case, a. shaft journaled inside said bearing member, a driving member coaxial with said shaft and journaled on said bearing member inside said gear case, means for operatively connecting said driving member to said shaft and means for operatively connecting said shaft in driving relation with respect to said roll.

19. An ironing machine comprising, a heated shoe, a cooperating, rotatably mounted padded roll, a gear case having an opening in one of its walls, and operating mechanism for rotating said roll and for bringing said roll and shoe into and out of pressing contact with each other, the operating mechanism for rotating said roll including a bearing member supported in the opening of said gear-case, a shaft journaled inside said bearing member, a driving member coaxial with said shaft and journaled on said bearing member inside said gear case, clutch means mounted on said bearing member for operatively connecting said driving member to said shaft and means for operatively connecting said shaft in driving relation withI respect to said roll.

20. An ironing machine comprising, a heated shoe, a cooperating, rotatably mounted padded roll, a gear case having an opening in one of its walls, and operating mechanism for rotating said roll and for bringing said roll and shoe into and out of pressing contact with each other including a bearing member supported in the opening of said gear case, a shaft journaled inside said bearing member, a driving member coaxial with said shaft and journaled on said bearing member inside said gear case, clutch means operatively associated with said driving member and means journaled on said bearing member driven by said clutch means for effecting relative shifting movement between said roll and shoe, means for operatively connecting said driving member to said shaft and means for operatively connecting said shaft in driving relation with respect to said roll.

JOHN W. RACKLYEFI.

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