US2157086A - Ironer - Google Patents

Description

W. E. STlLWELL. JR

I RONER Filed Feb. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS May 2, 1939.

May 2, 1939.

w. E STILW'ELL. JR

' IRONER Filed Feb. 14, 1958 mam 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN\-ENTOR.

@bwwgt.

M/1 1-6 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE momm a corporation of Ohio Application February 14, 1938, Serial No. 190,370

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to power driven ironing machines and is particularly directed to a machine of the type employing a rotating roll and a heated ironing shoe adapted to be engagedwith the roll. More particularly, the invention resides in a machine Which is portable.

The ironing machines manufactured heretofore, for use in the laundry of the home, have been relatively expensive and quite heavy. The weight and size of these machines have confined their use to the basement of the home, with the result that the housewife has found their use inconvenient and has preferred to use the conventional electric hand iron. Particularly has this been the case when the family resides in an apartment. Accordingly, it has been the object of the present inventor to provide a machine of extremely low cost and one which is of the utmost simplicity. More'particularly it has been the object to provide a machine which is truly portable and can be carried about the apartment or home by the housewife and placed on a bridge table. In other words, the power driven ironing machine of this invention is so constituted that it may be used around the house or apartment with substantially the same facility as an electric hand iron.

The provision of this type of machine requires an improved arrangement of parts of light weight and compactness, which, at the same time, provides a working capacity and efficiency equal to that of larger machines. More specifically therefore, a machine has been provided which in-= cludes a delivery or guide means in relation to the shoe and roll for rapidly and emciently delivering the material being ironed from the machine and preventing bunching where large pieces of work, such as sheets, are being ironed.

Bearing in mind the requirements as to size, weight, and compactness so that the housewife can carry the machine about the house, it is apparent that these requirements will of necessity limit the space beneath the roll. It is therefore important that efiicient means be provided for discharging the ironed garment from the space beneath the roll onto the bridge table. The guide means employed, for directing the material from the shoe to the front of the machine, may have the added function, as disclosed .hereln, of forcing the shoe away from the roll when the shoe is released. For this purpose, it consists of spring elements. i l

Also it has been the objectof the inventor to providea yieldable mounting for the shoe so that it will yield to unequal thicknesses of work and in order that uniform pressure is provided holding the work against the roll. In the fulfillment of this objective, the invention resides in the provision of a resilient T-shaped lever, the head of which is disposed parallel with the shoe and has its ends preferably flexibly attached to the shoe. The lower end of the shank may be suitably attached to an actuating means. This arrangement permits yieldable movement of the shoe in planes at right angles to each other.

This application has been divided and a copending case filed as to certain features of the invention shown herein but not claimed. The divisional application was filed on March 2, 1939' and bears Serial No. 259,396.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the improved ironing machine.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the same.

Figure 3 is an end view of the ironer.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 41-6, Figure 1, showing the ironer shoe against the roll in the position of use.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 4, detailing the shoe and roller structures and mountings.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line II-i, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the ironer.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the base of the machine is indicated at it), the feeding roll generally at H, and the ironer shoe at B2. The feeding roll consists of an. open cylindrical drum it having a padded periphery typical of such ironer rolls. In this instance, the padding is. made up of a layer of fibrous material M, such as cotton or felt fibers, and a cloth covering 65.

The roll is mounted and driven centrally of its length and is clear of obstructions at the ends, so as to permit the operator to iron successive widths of apiece, the total width of which may be greater than the width of the ironing element.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the roll is supported from one end only. The support means consist of a cantilever bracket l6, having a pedestal portion I! secured to the base of the machine. The upper portion l8 of the bracket the motor.

2 arsaoee extends horizontally and parallel with the base, and projects into the open end of the feeding roll. The inner extremity of this projected portion of the bracket includes a flange I 9, to which is secured the power unit 20.

The power unit consists of a motor 2| and a speed reducing unit 22. The motor end of the power unit includes a fan 20a adapted to cool The drive shaft 23 of the power unit projects from the inner end thereof and is disposed co-axially of the feeding roll. The power unit is attached to the flange IQ of the bracket by means of bolts 24, and acts as an extension of the bracket. The unit is of small diameter and fits within the ,roll cylinder, with ample clearance remaining to permit rocking of the cylinder.

The drive and support of theroll cylinder is accomplished through the medium of a spider 25 attached within the cylinder and located in a position centrally between the two ends of the cylinder and loosely secured on the drive shaft. Accordingly, the cylinder is supported on the drive shaft in a balanced condition.

The spider 25 includes a peripheral rim 26, which is rigidly secured to the inner periphery of the feed roll drum, A plurality of arms project inwardly of thisrim and terminate in a hub 21, which is secured to the drive shaft by means of a pin 28. It will be noted from a study of Figure 6 that the bore 21a of the hub is slightly I larger than the diameter of the drive shaft 23. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a loose orrocking support for the cylinder, which will permit yielding or rocking of the cylinder when unequal thicknesses of material are passed through the machine.

The ironer shoe l2 comprises an arcuate ironing element 30, a heating element 3| and a cover plate 32. The shoe is arcuate and of substantially the same radius as the roll and is mounted in cooperative relationship therewith. The

shoe assembly is supported and mounted on a T-shaped support bracket 33 adapted to swing the shoe assembly against the roll when the ironer is in operation.

'I'he 'T-shaped bracket consists of an upwardly extended shank member 34 and includes a cross arm 35 at its upper end. The lower'end of the bracket is secured on a longitudinal rock shaft 36, which is actuated by means of an operating lever 31 projecting outwardly of the machine to one side of the roll. The operating lever 31 is removably pinned to the rock shaft and the shaft itself is rotatably mounted on each end in bearing brackets 38.

The cross arm 35 includes a pair of spring sockets 39, one socket at each end of said arm. Each socket provides a housing for a spring 0. the purpose of which is to provide a resilient mounting for the ironer shoe assembly. Each of the resilient mountings is constructed in the fol lowing manner.

A stud 41 is secured to and projects from the ironer shoe and extends axially within the socket 39. The spring is under compression between the ironer shoe and the outer wall 42 of the socket or receptacle 39. The assembly is held together by means of a nut 43, in screw-threaded engagement on the stud 4|. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by means of this nut. The stud 4| loosely traverses the spring socket 33 so as to permit angular movement of the shoe. The shoe, therefore, is free to yield angularly, in any direction, and laterally, and the mounting may be described as universally resilient. I

The resiliency of the mountings allows the shoe to be held against the roller under yielding spring pressure, to permit the shoe to be sprung roll or to the supporting spider and drive shaft. Any tendency in this direction is obviated by the freedom of the roll to deflect angularly.

The control lever 31 is secured on the longi-' tudinal rock shaft in a yoke 44. This yoke is pinned to the rock shaft and has a lateral'boss 5 for mounting the control lever. The bore 46 of this yoke is oblong in a horizontal plane to permit a slight amount of horizontal swing to be imparted to the control lever.

In other words, therecan be no angular thrusts transmitted to the Specifically, the bore as r the yoke is of substantially the same diameter as the rock shaft 33, but in addition, the periphery of the bore includes angular-clearances 46a, on alternate sides, slanted inwardly from each opposite end. These clearances may be formed by drilling or breach ing at an angle to the bore 46 of the yoke, and

they permit the yoke to be canted, as shown in Figure 8. The control lever is removably secured in the boss 45 by means of a pin 41, to facilitate disassembling of the ironer.

The bracket |B includes along its inner edge a notch 48, which acts as a latch to hold the control lever in operative position. The outer end of the control lever includes a pad 43, adapted to be manipulated by the arm of the operator. In operating the ironing machine, the operator contactsthis pad with the elbow and readily moves it downwardly. After downward motion, the lever is moved laterally, so as to latch the lever in the notch 43of the bracket. In this manner the operator has both hands free, to guide and feed the clothing into the machine, and is free to discontinue the engagement of the ironer shoe at any desired time.

Provision is made for controlling the drive of the roll coincidentally with the movement of the shoe into engagement with the roll. This mechanism is located to one side of the bracket and consists primarily of an'electric switch 50. The switch is provided with a spring pressed button 5|, the outer end of which is adapted to be engaged and depressed when the control lever is moved laterally into the notch.

The button 5| projects outwardly into the path of movement of the operating lever. The button is located in alignment with the notched portion of the bracket, so that, when the operating lever is in running position, the button will be depressed. The switch is so constructed that depression of this button closes the motor circuit.

Referring to Figure 9, illustrating the electric circuit, it willbe seen that the switch is in electrical connection with the driving motor 2|. Therefore, when the operating lever is in running position, the motor will be energized simultaneously with the engagement of the shoe and the driving roll. Upon disengagement of the lever Disengagement of the shoe and the roller will occur when the lever is released.

A switch 52 is mounted on the front of the bracket l6. This switch is independently connected with the heating element of the shoe to permit control of the temperature of the shoe, independent of the operation of the motor. A thermostat may be connected in the circuit to control the temperature of the ironer shoe, if this is desired.

In order to guide the finished work as it leaves the roll, a pair of curved guide elements, in the form of leaf springs 53, is provided. These guides are attached to the back of the ironer shoe. To this end they are traversed by the studs ll and held against the shoe by means of nuts 54. The guides are disposed, in an arc, downwardly from the shoe and curve outwardly and downwardly to the forward portion of the base.

The finished work, as it leaves the roll, drops downwardly and comes into contact with the guides and is carried forwardly by the force of gravity. The curvature of the guides is quite gradual, so that the work is not folded or wrinkled as it moves forwardly between the roll and the base member.

The guide members have the additional function of urging the shoe away from the roller. As previously mentioned, these guides are formed of leaf springs. The spring members are rigidly secured on the arm and have their lower free ends engaged against thebase member under compression. A pair of contact blocks 55 is secured on the base member, upon which the ends of the spring bear. Thus, the shoe is constantly urged away from the roll, and the working engagement of the shoe is dependent upon downward actuation of the control lever.

Since the lever normally is locked in; downward position in the notch, the shoe may be readily disengaged from the roll by the dislodging of the lever from the notch. The leaf spring guides, thereupon, will urge the shoe away from the roll. Thus movement of the roll is limited by the wedging engagement of the lever 31 with the curved inner edge of the bracket it above the notch 48. The wedging action occurs when the yoke 44 reaches its limit of horizontal pivotal movement with respect to the rock shaft 36 therewith, having taken up the clearances provided for swinging the control lever. The machine is provided with a stop member 51 to limit the rearward movement of the shoe assembly when the control lever is removed for storage or s pping.

In operation with the control lever engaged in the notch, the shoe is engaged against the roll under a predetermined pressure which is virtually constant, irrespective of the relatively minor variations in the thickness of the material being ironed. This condition is assured by the spring action of the resilient connection between the T-shaped bracket 33 and the shoe.

The angular freedom afforded the shoe is effective for permitting relative, angular motion between the roll and the shoe as the work is fed therebetween. The forward, leading edge of the shoe is flared outwardly as at 56, to facilitate entry of the edge of the material as it is started under the ironer shoe. As the leading edge of the work is presented to the roll, a slight angular tilting of the shoe will occur, especially if the work is of considerable thickness, as, for example, a blanket. As the feed progresses, the shoe 7 will return to normal position, so that there is uniform ironing pressure throughout the entire operation.

In the event that the work is of greater thickness on one side than the other, the feed roll will tilt angularly to a slight degree from its horizontal alignment. This movement is permitted, as previously described, by the loose, centralized drive mounting. In this manner, uniform ironing pressure is assured across the entire length of the roll and shoe.

Briefly, the angular and lateral resiliency of the shoe mounting, in addition to the balanced, loose central mounting of the roller, provides a structure which will accommodate any reasonable variation in the thickness of the material being ironed. This condition provides a uniform ironing pressure across the entire length of the shoe and ensures against variations in pressure throughout the length of the piece being ironed.

The utility of the machine is greatly increased by the cantilever bracket employed in mounting and driving the roll. The usual cross shaft and driving members and brackets are completely dispensed with, and one end of the roll is left entirely clear of obstruction. The difliculty usually encountered in handling'large pieces of work is greatly reduced by the present, improved structure. Moreover, since the driving mechanism is entirely enclosed within the roll, the danger of soiling the work with oil and grease from the driving and supporting apparatus is eliminated.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an ironer, a base, a roll, means for supporting said roll for rotation relative to said base, means for driving said roll, an arcuate shoe mounted for movement toward and from the roll, a rock shaft, a lever for rocking said shaft, a resilient 'T-shaped bracket securing said shoe to said shaft, the lower end of the shank of said T-shaped bracket being operatively connected to the'shaft, and means for yieldably attaching the ends of the head of the T-shapedbracket to said shoe. 1

2. In an ironing machine, a roll, an ironing shoe, a rock shaft, a base for supporting said rock shaft and said roll, a lever for rocking said shaft, a shoe supporting bracket operatively connected to said rock shaft, said bracket including an arm extending longitudinally of the shoe, flexible connections between the ends of said am and said shoe, and leaf spring elements engaged against the base beneath the roll and in connection with said shoe for urging the shoe away from the roll and guiding the ironed material beneath and forwardly of the roll.

3. A table-type ironer, comprising, a base, a power driven roll rotatably supported on said base, an ironer shoe disposed adjacent said roll, a rock shaft supporting said shoe for movement toward and from the roll, and leaf springs fixed to the shoe, said springs being of curved form and extending into the plane of and contact with the base whereby the springs are effective for moving the shoe out of engagement with the roll and for guiding the ironed material from beneath the roll.

4. An ironer comprising a base, a roll, means for supporting said roll in parallelism with said base, means for driving said roll, an ironing shoe being movable toward and from said roll, and guiding means for the material being ironed, said guiding means having an uninterrupted descent from the region of the lower edge of the shoe to the front of the roll and terminatingsubstantially in a horizontal plane whereby the materials springs of curved form extending between the shoe and the base, and tending to urge the shoe out of engagement with the roll and also serving as guides to direct the ironed material from beneath the roll toward the front of the base.

6. In combination with an ironing roll, a shoe, a bracket, means for operating the bracket to move the shoe relative to the roll, means connecting the shoe with the bracket, and guide means for directing the goods as it leaves the shoe, said guiding means being attached to the shoe by the same means which connects the shoe with the bracket, substantially as described.

71in an ironer, a base, a rotatable roll mounted on said base, a shoe mounted for movement toward and from said roll, a resilient T-shaped bracket supporting said shoe, the lower end of the shank of i said bracket being mounted for rocking movement and the head of the bracket being disposed parallel with the back of the shoe, the ends of said head being attached to the shoe, whereby the shoe is yieldably mounted.

a mu: 2 EARLE S'I'ILWELL, JR.

Images