US2153690A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. HANNEY PRESSING MACHINEV Filed March 15, 1957 April l1, 1939.

April 1l, 1939.

A. F. HANNEY PRESS ING MACHINE Filed March l5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR Gus F. HANNEY April 11, 1939. A. F. HANNEY PRESS ING MACHINE Filed March 15 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5`

FIG. 5a,

INVENToR ANGUS F. HANNEY l IW ATTRESE I l l Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Application March 15, 1937, Serial No. 130,962

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pressing machines and more particularly to such machines used for pressing garments and laundered articles.

Among the novel features of my invention is the provision of head and bed pressing members closed by power means and in which both of the pressing members and the essential parts of the power means are mounted on a portion of the frame so as to be swung away from the main or base portion of the frame, providing for easier assembly of new machines and easier repair of old machines.

Another feature of the present invention is the arrangement of the power means for causing press closure in very compact form with a minimum number of parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressing machine for garments so that certain portions thereof may be pressed without mussing other parts of the garment. To this end the pressing bed and the supporting table thereunder are formed in such a manner as to allow the garment to hang smoothly when draped upon the pressing bed. Contributing to the same end the control members for the press closing power means are arranged in a novel manner on brackets above the pressing members.

Another novel feature of the invention is the provision of spring means for opening the press and a novel relationship of the spring connection with the power means which operates the press, whereby the spring is placed in position to cause an initial opening movement of the pressing head.

Another feature of the invention is the novel connection of a motor with the head lever and with a toggle also connected with the head lever whereby the power means exerts a double effect, one acting directly on the head lever to move it toward closed position and the other acting on the toggle links to move the latter in toggle straightening direction, thus providing the final squeeze when the pressing members engage.

My invention also resides in the novel features disclosed in the drawings and described in the specication, and the essential features of which will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is' a front elevation of my improved pressing machine showing in dashdot lines a shirt dressed on the pressing bed; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine in open position with certain parts broken away to more clearly show the construction, the pressing head being shown by dash-dot lines in safe closed position; Fig. 3a. is a diagrammatic view oi the control mechanism corresponding to the open l position of the press in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevational View similar to Fig. 8 showing the press closed; Fig. 5a is a diagrammatic View of the control mechanism corresponding to the position of the press shown in Fig. 5; while Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine with the main parts thereof swung away from the base portion of the frame.

I have illustrated one form of my pressing machine as embodying a frame having a base portion Ill and a movable table portion I I hinged at I2 to the portion I0 so that the table II may be swung from the position of Fig. 3 or 5 to the position of Fig. 6. The movable portion II carries the pressing head and bed, the control mechanism and the power means, and when in the position of Fig. 6 all of these parts are more readily assembled on a new machine or more easily repaired in the case of an old machine.

While I have shown my invention applied to a press in which both the head and bed are movable, it will be understood that certain features are applicable to a machine in which only one of the pressing members is movable. In the present instance the pressing bed I3 has a downwardly extending sleeve I4 which embraces the cylindriy cal portion I5a of the member l5 which is secured to the table II and forms with the portion II a of the table a servo-motor having a piston I6 secured to the sleeve I4 and arranged to be engaged and lifted by a diaphragm I'I beneath which pressure 'iiuid is supplied. A spring I8 biases the piston downwardly. A pin I9 prevents turning'of the bed during its vertical movement.

The head is secured at one end of the head lever 2l which is pivotally mounted at 22 intermediate its ends. The mounting 22 is between the bearing brackets 23 which are carried by the table II. These brackets have forwardly extending stiiiening webs 24 and laterally extending flanges 25 which are also connected to the rear edge of table II and form flanges for carrying the brackets which support the control mechanism. Flange plates 26 secure the steam connections 21 in place and suitable conduits 28 and 29 conduct steam to the pressing head. Other conduits 30 carry steam to the pressing bed.

The power means for operating the pressing head comprises a cylinder and piston motor 3,I carried by the table II. The cylinder 3Ia is pivotally mounted at 32 on a pin carried by the `55 brackets 33 which are a portion of the table II. The piston 3|b is pivotally connected at 34 with a crank arm 35 which is rigidly fastened to a pin or shaft 36 rotatably mounted in the lower end of lever 2 I. A toggle comprising the links 31 and 38 connected together at the knuckle 39 is pivotally connected at the forward end by pin 32 to the frame and at the rear end by pin 36 to the head. lever. In effect the cranks 35 and 31 form a bellcrank so that movement of crank 35 counterclockwise upon operation of motor 3l tends to move the toggle towards straightened position.' At the same time the piston 3IbI exerts a direct rearward thrust on the lower arm of lever 2| to cause a rapid movement of the head 20 toward closed position. By having the crank arm 35 extending toward the pivot 22 the point 34 travels along very nearly a straight path during the operation of motor 3|. This is due to the fact that point 36 describes an arc downwardly, while point 34 describes an arc upwardly about the point 36. Thus the resultant path of point 34 is very nearly in a straight line and reduces the wear of the piston in the cylinder of motor 3|.

The movement of the head lever toward open position is limited by stop member 40 and the movement of the toggle as it reaches and passes slightly beyond straightened position as shown in Fig. 5 is limited by the shoulders 38 engaging a. stop member 4|.

A spring 42 biases the head lever in open position. A very advantageous arrangement of this spring is provided by arranging a long spring within the base portion I0 of the frame having its lower end secured by a T-bolt 43 removably beneath a bracket 44 and having its upper end connected by a flexible member such as the chain 45 with a crank arm 46 rigid with pin 36. The chain passes over a sprocket 41 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 32. With this arrangement of the spring it exerts a direct pull on pin 36 when the head is open as shown in Fig. 3. The relationship between arms 35 and 46 is such that when the head is moved to closed position as shown in Fig. 5, the arm 46 is moved through substantially 45, stressing spring 42 and at the same time providing aturning moment of the spring'force about the point'36. It results from this arrangement of the parts that when the power means is released at the close of a pressing operation, the spring swings the link 31 of the toggle in Ytoggle breaking direction, thus moving the toggle' from its over-center position of Fig. 5.

A link 48 connects the toggle knuckle with a snubber mechanism 49 located in the baseV of the machine so as to properly snub both the opening and closing movements of the press. The control mechanism, as best seen in Figs. 3a and 5a, cornprses valve casings 58 and 5I connected in series with a source of pressure fluid 52 and connected by conduit 53 with motor 3|. Casing 50 houses a normally closed inlet valve a actuated by a manual 58h. Casing 5I houses a normally closed inlet valve 5Ia and a normally open outlet valve 5|b, both on a common stem and operated by manual 5| c. Conduit 54 connects the two valve casings in series. The power supply for servomotor |6-I1 comprises conduit 55, valve casing 56 and conduit 51. Casing 56 houses a normally closed inlet valve 56a. and a normally open outlet valve 56h mounted on a common stem and operated by manual 56e. Slidable along manual 56e is a detent 58 spring pressed toward the right as shown in Fig. 3a by spring 58a and adapted to engage beneath a portion 59 of the frame. When manual 56C is depressed as shown in Fig. 5a the detent 58 engages frame portion 59 and holds the manual in its operated position. Upward movement of manual 56e moves the detent backwards because of the rounded nose thereof.

In order that laundered articles, such as shirts, coats and the like, may be pressed without mussing other portions of the garments, I have formed the frame and the work table or guard 60 so as to provide a smooth curve convex toward the o-perator as shown at 66a, Fig. 2 and have arranged all other parts of the mechanism so that nothingprojects at the front portion of the machine to disturb a garment depending from the pressing bed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For accomplishing this purpose and also because it is a convenient location, I have mounted the control members for the power means above the pressing members on brackets 6l and 62. These brackets are bolted to the flange portions 25 of the table and extended at the rear of the press upwardly and then forwardly. In bracket 6I is mounted the control member 5|c. In bracket 62 are mounted control members 56h and 56o. The control members 5019` and 5 I c are spaced apart greater than the span of the operators hand so that two hands must be used to supply power'to motor 3 I. The manual 56o is close to the manual 50h so as to be actuated by the same hand of the operator.

The operation of the press is as follows: With the press open, a garment is dressed on'the pressing bed I3 and manuals 50h and 5|c are depressed. This supplies pressure fluid from source 52 through valve casing 50, conduit 54, casing 5|, conduit 53 to the forward end of cylinder 3h21I which drives the piston and piston rod 3|?) rearwardly. The head lever is moved in a clockwise direction through the force of the piston acting by way of arm 35 on pin 36. At the same time rotary movement in a counterclockwise direction is provided of cranks 35 and 31 moving the toggle finally to the position of Fig. 5, at which time the pressing head is in safe closed position as indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3. At this time the operator depresses manual 56e, supplying pressure fluid from source 52 through conduit 55, casing 56 and conduit 51 beneath diaphragm I1. This causes the piston I6 and bed I3 to be raised into contact with the head. This pressure of the bed against the head holds the toggle in the locked position of Fig. 5 and motor 3| may be evacuated by releasing manuals 50h and 5|c. The press remains closed until manual 56e is raised to the position of Fig. 3a, cutting off the supply of fluid beneath diaphragm I1. At such time spring'42 in the position of Fig. 5 will cause rotation of crank 46 and link 31 in a clockwise direction, breaking the toggle and permitting spring 42 to complete the opening of the press.

Two presses of the type described may be connected for tandem operation by providing a small servomotor 63 at each press in position to engage an arm 56d rigid with manual 56o. A conduit 64 is then extended from the servomotor at one press to a valve casing 65 at the other press. Valve casing 65 contains a normally closed inlet valve 65a operable by a manual 65h. The casing is supplied with pressure uid through a conduit 66. Preferably the manual 65h is mounted in bracket 6| alongside manual 5Ic. Thus with press B in closed position the controls thereof will be in position corresponding to Fig. 5a. The operator at press A then depresses manual 5511` admitting pressure uid from source 52 through conduit 66, casing 65 and conduit 64 to the servomotor 63 at press B, moving manual 56e thereof upwardly to cause opening of press B in a manner previously described.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that by releasing the T-bolt 43 from the bracket 44 and by disconnecting link i8 from the snubber, table l I may be pivoted rearwardly about the point I2 carrying the pressing members, the power means and the control mechanism to the position of Fig. 6 for better access to these parts. A pair of links 61-58 may be connected between the base portion I and the table portion Il to limit this swinging movement of the table Il.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a frame, upper and lower coacting pressing members mounted thereon for relative approach and separating movement of said upper member relative to said lower member, power means for causing said relative movement, and a control member for said power means mounted on a stationary portion of said frame above said pressing members.

2. In a laundry pressing machine, a frame, upper and lower coacting pressing members mounted thereon for approach and separating movement of said upper pressing member relative to said lower member, power means for causing said relative movement, said frame having a stationary bracket portion extending over said pressing members, a table below the lower of said pressing members having its forward peripheral edge formed as a smooth curve convex toward the operator, and a control member for said power means mounted on said bracket portion.

3. In a pressing machine, a frame having a table portion pivotally mounted on a base portion, a pressing bed mounted on said table portion, a lever pivotally mounted/intermediate its ends at the rear of said table portion, a pressing head at one end of said lever and movable thereby toward and from said bed, and a fluid motor having cylinder and piston members, one member connected with the other end of said lever and the other member carried on the lower face of said table portion, whereby when said table portion is moved about its pivot said motor is exposed for inspection and repairs.

4. In a pressing machine having coacting head and bed pressing members, a frame having a table portion pivotally mounted on a base portion, power means for causing pressing action between said pressing members, and said power means being mounted on the lower face of said table portion, whereby when said table portion is moved about its pivot said power means is exposed for inspection and repairs.

5. In a pressing machine, a frame having a table portion, a pressing bed mounted on the upper face of said table portion, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said table portion, a pressing head at one end of said lever and movable by lever oscillation toward and from said bed, the other end of said lever extending below said table portion, a toggle connected between said other end of said lever and said table portion, said toggle when straightened to move said head adjacent said bed being substantially parallel to said table portion, a crank arm rigid with one of the members of said toggle, a uid motor having cylinder and piston members, one member connected with said crank arm and the other member carried on the lower face of said table portion, and said motor having a power stroke substantially parallel to said table portion.

AN GUS F. HANNEY.

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