US2171563A - Control mechanism for presses - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1939. y E L HYD 2,171,563

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Sept. 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.- 2

INVENTQR ELBERT L. HYDE BY a4 a7 1 I W E. L. -HYDE Sept. 5, 1939.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Sept. 3, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-6 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHQE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,292

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control mechanism for pressing machines.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a power closed pressing machine control means for the power means which is actuated by spaced safety manuals having two stages of operation. These manuals are arranged in their first stage of operation to actuate the control means for a press closing operation, but so arranged that upon release of either manual the press will open. A maintaining means for holding the press closed is provided and operable by second stage operation of the manuals. One of the features of the present invention is the provision of an enabling block without which the second stage of manual operation is ineifective to establish the maintaining means. This block is arranged for movement into enabling position upon the press reaching a safe closed position where the operators hand cannot be caught between the pressing elements and injured.

Several modifications of my invention are disclosed. In one form the two stages of manual operation occur in the same direction. In the second form the two stages occur in directions at angles to each other, and in a third form the two stages of operation occur in opposite directions.

Ihe various novel features of my invention are more fully shown in the accompanying drawings and descriptioon and the essential features will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of a pressing machine in open position with one form of my improved control mechanism shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a view of the press of Fig. 1 after the same has reached a safe closed position with the control mechanism diagrammatically shown in corresponding position; Fig. 3 is a view of the control mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the parts in fully actuated position; Figs. 4 to '7 show a modified form where the second stage of manual operation is in the opposite direction to the first; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 correspond respectively to open, safe closed and fully closed positions as in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 7 is an elevational view taken approximately on the line of Fig. 4; Figs. 8 to 11 show a third modification where one of the manuals has a second stage of operation at an angle to its first stage of operation; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views of control mechanism analogous to those shown in connection with the previous modifications, that is, Fig. 8 corresponds to press open position, Fig. 9 to safe closed position, and Fig. 10 to fully closed position of the press; while Fig.

11 is a plan View of the control mechanism of Fig. 8.

While my invention is applicable to various types of pressing machines, I have illustrated the same as applied to a type of press commonly found in garment and laundry presses having a frame I2 supporting a pressing bed l3 and also supporting a yoke M which carries a pressing head I5 into and out of engagement with bed l3 upon manipulation of the toggle l6 by the fluid motor H. A spring I8 tends to return the head to open position. Fluid supply for motor I1 is by way of conduits l9 and 20 valve casing 2| and conduit 22. Casing 2| houses a normally closed 15 inlet valve 2|a and a normally open outlet valve 2 lb on a stem 2|c which is provided with a yieldable end 2 Id and with a shoulder 2|e. Valves in casing 2| are actuated by means of the floating whifiietree 23, the opposite ends of which are engageable by pins 24 and 25 connected with the manually operated push buttons 26 and 21 respectively. Each button has two stages of operation. During the first stage the springs 28 are not compressed until the collars 29 hit the shoulders 30. Following this a second stage movement occurs upon compression of springs 28. First stage movement is sufficient to actuate the valves in casing 2|, but because of the whifiietree arrangement both buttons must be coincidentally depressed. If either of the buttons is released 30 the valves in casing 2| return to unactuated position and the press will open. For maintaining the press closed means is provided for holding the valves in casing 2| in operated position. The pin 24 connected with manual 26 is adapted to actuate the valves in casing 3| for this purpose, but such actuation of pin 24 is ineffective to establish the maintaining means until the press is safe closed because of the air gap 32. To fill this gap a block 33 is suitably supported and pivotally connected with a rod 34 which in turn is connected with a press part, in the present instance the toggle IS. The block 33 has a narrow portion 330. normally lying over the valve stem for the valves in casing 3| and a wide portion 33b 45 which is the enabling portion of the block.

In casing 3| is a normally closed inlet valve 3|a and a normally open outlet valve 3|b both actuated by stem 3|c, which has a shoulder 3|d. Upon the actuation of the valves in casing 3| 5|) motive fluid is supplied through conduit I9, casing 3| and conduits 35, 36 and 31 to the diaphragm servo motors 38 and 39. Servo motor 38, when energized, acts through lever 4|] against shoulder 3|d to hold the valves in casing 3| in actuated 55 position. Motor 39, when energized, acts through lever 45 against shoulder 2|e to hold the valves in casing 2| in actuated position. A conduit 42 leads to casing 43, which houses a normally closed outlet valve 43a operable by stem 43b.

With the press in the open position of Fig. l, the operator arranges the lay of work on bed I3 and depresses manuals 26 and 21 through the first stage of their operation. This moves the valves in casing 2| to actuated position, supplying motive fluid to motor I1 and movingthe press to closed position. The press, however, will not remain closed unless the maintaining means is actuated. Upon the press reaching the safe closed position of Fig. 2, the wide portion 33b of block 33 comes between valve stem 3|c and the pin 24 connected with button 26. Second stage movement of buttons 26 and 21 (permitted by the yielding end 2|d of valve stem 2 I0 actuates the valves in casing 3| to their operated position as shown in Fig. 3. This supplies motive fluid to servo motors 38 andn39, thus holding the valves in casing 3i and 2| in actuated position as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the buttons may be released and the press will remain closed. To open the press valve stem43b is momentarily depressed, evacuating the maintaining servo motors 3S and 89, permitting the press to open.

While in this form of control second stage movement of buttons26 and 21 is always possible, no maintaining efiect will be produced; as the valves in casing 3| cannot. be actuated until the wide portion of block 331is in the-position of Figs. 2 and 3. If thebuttons 26 and 21 are moved through both stages of operation upon their first actuation, the press will close, however, because the wedge shape of block dtnpermitsthis block to be pulled from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Figs. 2 and 3, whilethe operator holds the manuals depressed.

In the modification of Figs. 4" to '7, the control mechanism functions similarly-to that just described, but the second stage of manual operation is in the opposite direction to the first. In Fig. 4 the pressing machine is shownv in the open position and control for supply of-motive fluid to motor i1 is here of a slightlydifferent form, namely, the valves in casings 44 and :45 must both be held in actuated position to efiectively supply fluid to motor IT. This is in ,place of the whifiietree arrangement of Figsjl to'3. Valve .casing 44.

uses a normally closed inlet valve 44a and a normally open outlet valve 441) on a common stem 440 having a yieldable end 44d and a shoulder 54e, Casing 45 houses a normally open outlet 'valve 450: on a stem 45b having a shoulder 45c.

Manuals 45 and .41 SEIVBi'tO actuate the valves in casings 44 and 45 respectively and these man uals are so spaced as to require a hand of the operator on each of them forztheir-coincidental.

- operation. It is obvious that if both sets of valves are not actuated at once fluid cannot be effectively supplied to motor l1. Thecfirst stage of manual'operation is downwardly and serves to move the valves in casings and-45 to actuated position.

y, the valves in casings 44 and 45 in actuated posi- -tion.

The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a slide 48 suitably mounted in the press frame for reciprocation and provided with a catch 46 connected by suitable linkage with a catch release handle 55 and spring means 5| for maintaining the catch in its extended position. Located above the slide 48 is a valve casing 52 housing a normally closed inlet valve 52a and a normally open outlet valve 521) on stem 520 which is provided with a shoulder 52d. An air gap 53 between slide 48 and valve stem 52c normally prevents upward movement of slide 48 from actuating the valves in casing 52. A block 54 suitably mounted for reciprocation is pivotally connected by rod 55 with the press toggle l6. When the press reaches safe closed position the straightened toggle moves block 54 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Figs. 5 and 6, thus enabling the upward movement of slide 48 to actuate the valves in casing 52.

Operation of the valves in casing 52 supplies motive fluid from conduit 56 through conduit 51, casig 52, and conduits 53, 59, 60 and 6| to servo motors 52, 63 and 64. Motor 62, when energized, acts through lever 65 to hold the valves in casing 52 in actuated position. Motor 63 acts through lever to hold the valve in casingt45 in actuated position. Motor 64, through lever 61, will hold the valves in casing 44 in actuated position. Conduit 66 leads to casing 59, whichhouses a normally closed outlet valve 66a operable by stem 6%.

The operation of this modified form is as follows:

With the press in the open position, the operator depresses manuals 46 and 41, which moves the valves in casing 44 and 45 to'supply motive fluid through conduit 56, casing and conduits 15 and 1| to motor 51. The first stage of manual operation carries the manuals to the position of Fig. 5 where manual 46 engages beneath catch 4B on slide 48. Until the press is safe closed, release of manual 46 or 41 will open'the press. Release of manual 41 exhausts pressure from motor 41, as willv be obvious. Release of manual 45 will cause the same to move upwardly under the influence of its spring, returning the valves in casing 44' to their unactuated position, and while it may move the slide 48 upwardly, yet because of the gap 53 no maintaining effect will be produced. However, when the press is safe closed,

block 54 moves into the position of Figs. 5 and 6, whereupon release'of manual 46 causes the same to be moved upwardly by its spring, as shown in Fig. 6. This carries slide 48 upwardly and through block 54 actuates the valves in casing 52 to the position of Fig. 6, energizing servo motors 62, 63 and 54 and holding all of the associated valves in operated position. The press will thus remain closed and the manuals may be released. To open the press valve stem 6% is momentarily depressed, evacuating all of the maintaining servo motors. Also release handle 50 must be actuated to release catch 49 whereupon slide 48 will return to its lower position ready for the next operation.

It will be noted in comparing the yieldable valve stem .end 44d in Figs. 4 and 5, that the spring of this yieldable end is compressed before manual 46 engages beneath catch 49. Therefore, during second stage movement of manual 46 upwardly, the valves in casing 44 are not released but remain in actuated position until the valves in casing 52 are actuated to establish the maintaining effect of servo motor 64.

In the modification of Figs. 8 to 11, one of the manuals is given a second stage of operation at an angle to its first stage of operation. It will. be understood that the control mechanism of these drawings is intended for use in connection with thepress of previous modifications, which press will have an operating motor |1. The supply of fluid to this motor is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 4 to 7, that is to say, these same valves in casing 44 and casing 45 must be operated by manuals l2 and 13 to supply motive fluid to motor ll. Here, however, the valves in casing 52 are placed to one side of manual 12 instead of above the manual as in Figs. 4 to 7. The valves, however, operate the same and are given the same reference numbers as are all other parts having similar functions.

It will be noted that manual '12 is urged upwardly by spring M and toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 8 to 10, by spring 75. This manual operates in an L-shaped slot '55 in the press frame. The first stage of manual movement is downwardly from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9. This actuates the valves in casing 44. The second stage of operation of manual. 72 is toward the right, as viewed in the various figures from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10. This movement is ineffective to actuate the valves in casing 52 unless the block 54 is in the position of Figs. 9 and 10. This block is in all respects analogous to block 54 described previously, and is connected with the press parts so as to be moved from the normal position of Fig. 8 when the press is open to the position of Figs. 9 and 10 when the press is safely closed. I

It is thought the operation of this form of the device will be understood. When the press is open manuals l2 and T3 are in the position of Fig. 8 and are then depressed to the position of Fig. 9. This actuates the valves in casings 44 and d5, as shown, and supplies motive fluid to the motor ll. If either of the manuals is released at this time, the press will open. Second stage manual operation of manual 72 from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10 is effective to establish the maintaining means if the press is safely closed so that block is in the position of Fig. 10. In this figure it will be noted that movement of manual 12 to the right has moved the valves in casing 52 to their actuated position, thus supplying motive fiuid to the servo motors 62, 63 and M so as to hold the valves in casings 52, 45 and i i respectively in their actuated positions. The press will then remain closed until the release valve 69a is opened.

It Will be noted that in all forms of the device, second stage operation of one or more of the manuals is inefiective toset the maintaining means unless the press has safely closed, moving an enabling block into proper position.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a control member for causing press closing action of said mechanism, a control member for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first and second stages of operation for actuation of said first and second named control members respectively, there being an operative connection between said manual means in its first stage of operation and said first named control member requiring coincidental use of both hands of the operator on said manual means for effective operation of the said control member, there being a relationship between said manual means in its second stage of operation and said second named control member including an air gap normally rendering said manual means inoperative to actuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enabling operation of said second named control member, said block being in inoperative position when said press is open, means for moving said block to enabling position by movement of said pressing members to safe-closed position, and one of said control members being movable to inoperative position for causing the press to open.

2. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuated operating me .ianism therefor, a control member for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a control member for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first and second stages of operative movement for actuation of said first and second named control members respectively, said second stage movement being in the same general direction as said first stage, there being an operative connection between said manual means in its first stage of operation and said first named control member requiring coincidental use of both hands of the operator on said manual means for effective operation of the said control member, there being a relationship between said manual means in its second stage of operation and said second named control member including an air gap normally rendering said manual means inoperative to actuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enabling operation of said second named control member, said block being in inoperative position when said press is open, means for moving said block to enabling position by movement of said pressing members to safe-closed position, and one of said control members being movable to inoperative position for causing the press to open.

3. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a control member for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a control member for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first and second stages of operative movement for actua tion of said first and second named control members respectively, said second stage movement being in the opposite direction to said first stage, there being an operative connection between said manual means in its first stage of operation and said first named control member requiring coincidental use of both hands of the operator on said manual means for effective operation of the said control member, there being a relationship between said manual means in its second stage of operation and said second named control member including an air gap normally rendering said manual means inoperative to actuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enabling operation of said second named control member, said block being in inoperative position when said press is open, means for moving said block to enabling position by movement of said pressing members to safe-closed position, and one of said control members being movable to inoperative position for causing the press to open.

4. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a control member for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a control member for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first and second stages of operative movement for actuation of said first and second named control members respectively, said second stage movement being in a lateral direction relative to said first stage, there being an operative connection between said manual means in its first stage of operation and said first named control member requiring coincidental use of both hands of the operator on said manual means for effective operation of the said control member, there being a relationship between said manual means in its second stage of operation and said second named control member including an air gap normally rendering said manual means said pressing members to safe-closed position, and

one of said control members being movable to inoperative position for causing the press to open.

5. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, control means for said mechanism normally in power cut-01f position, power means for holding said control means in power-supply position, twohand safety manual means for moving said control means to power-supply position, said manual means having an additional movement other than that necessary to actuate said control means, a block movable by said additional movement of said manual means, said block normally being in inoperative position where it is not movable by said manual means, means for moving said block to operative position when said pressing members reach safe-closed position, a control member for supplying power to said power means, said control member being positioned for actuation by manual movement of said block, and said control member being movable to inoperative position for causing opening of said press.

ELBERT L. HYDE.

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