US2215489A - Ironer - Google Patents

Description

M2. 24, 39 0- e. w. WARDWELL, JR

IRONER Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l a W W ta. 0 m vW g, WH G t. 24, 1 0- I e. w. WARDWELL. JR 2,215,489

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Inventor. George W WardwelLJn, 1 E.)

Hi; Attorn'gg.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES IRONER George W. Wardwell, Jr., Nichols, Conm, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,529

9 Claims.

improved construction and arrangement in rotary ironers, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

perspective view of a rotary ironer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the ironer showing the shoe pressed against the roll; Fig. 3 is an end view of the ironer showing the shoe moved away from the roll; Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the ironer; Fig. 5-is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the construction for supporting the ironer on the wringer post of a domestic washing machine.

Referring to the drawings, the ironer comprises a frame I on which is supported a roll 2, a shoe 3, and the mechanism for driving the roll and for moving the shoetoward and away from the roll. As shown in Fig. 6, the frame has a depending tubular portion 4 having a flange 5 at its lower end which rests on a collar 6 secured to I the upper end of the wringer post I of a domestic ward through the wringer post is a shaft 8 which I is continuously driven by the washing machine mechanism. The shaft is journaled in a bearing 3 fixed to the upper end of the wringer post. Fixed on the end of the shaft is a pinion III which meshes with a crown gear I l keyed to a shaft l2 journaled'in bearings l3 in a boss l4 in the side wall l4 of the frame. The frame has outwardly extendingwalls l5'providing a compartment or housing for the gears 10 and I I. The end wall of this compartment is provided by a removable closure plate [6.

The roll is of the construction shown in my application Serial No. 64,480, filed Feb. 18, 1936. It comprises a sheet metal cylinder IT on the outer surface of which is a pad l8 held in place 50 by a pad cover IS. The pad cover is held in In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a (Cl. 38-61)v At the center of the disks 22 and 23 are sleeves 25 and 26 having outwardly extending flanges 21 and 28 respectively secured to the disks 22 andv 23 and having sleeve bearings 29 and 30 respectively fixed therein. The sleeve bearings 29 and 30 bear respectively on collars 3| and v32 which loosely surround a tube 33 fixed ina boss 34 in the side wall of the ironer frame. The col lars 3| and 32 are non-rotatably supported on the tube 33 in the manner shown at the right of Fig. 4. Within the tube 33are cup-shaped seats 35 and 36 having tubular shanks 31 and 38 exten ing into diametrically opposite openings in the walls of the tube 33 arranged on a center line connecting the roll and shoe when the shoe is pressed against the roll. The shank 31 is s'lidable in its openingand the shank 38 is fixed in its opening. Extending through the tubular shanks 31- and 38 are pins 39 the upper ends of which fit in seats 40 in the inner'surface of the collars 3|. and 32 and the "lower ends of which extend through openings 4| in the collars and are flush with the outer surfaces thereof. Between the seats 35 and 36 and around the pins 39 are helical compression springs 42. The

springs 42 are strong enough to normally bias the collars 3| and 32 upward so that the lower parts, i. e., the parts corresponding to the part of collar 32 shown spaced from'the tube in Fig. 4, are normally held against the under side of the tube 33. The pressure from the springs 42 is transmitted to the collars 3| and 32 through the shanks 31 of the seats 35. The supporting arrangement for the collar 3| is identical with the support for the collar 32.

When the shoe is away from the roll, the collars 3| and 32 will be urged against the under side of the tube 33 and the roll will occupy the position as shown in Fig. '3. In this position an internal gear 43 which is fixed to the flange 24, for example, by screws 44 threaded into the gear from the outside of the cylinder ll, will be out of mesh with a pinion 45 fixed to the continuously driven shaft l2. When the shoe is pressed against the roll the pressure of the shoe on the roll overcomes the relatively weak springs 42 and moves the roll transversely with respect to the tube 33 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In this position the internal gear 43 meshes with the pinion 45 completing a driving connection to the roll. Since the springs 42 are relatively weak, rotation of the roll is started before full ironing pressure is developed between the roll and the shoe. This decreases the starting load on the roll.

As the internal gear is moved into mesh with the pinion 45 there is a possibility of clashing of the gear teeth." This tendency for clashing is increased by the fact that the pinion 45 is an external gear with the teeth extending radially outward and the gear 43 is an internal gear with the teeth extending radially inward. It is, therefore, possible for a pair of teeth on the pinion to straddle a pair of teeth on the internal gear. Under this condition further approach of the gear teeth would cause serious jamming. This tendency for clashing or jamming of the gear teeth is prevented by the yieldable mounting for the roll provided by the collars 3| and 32. As the internal gear is moved into mesh with the pinion 45, if the teeth are in a position to cause jamming, the right end of the roll, as shown in Fig. 4, will pause in its movement while the left end of the roll will continue its movement. During the pause in the movement of the right end of the roll the teeth of the continuously rotating pinion 45 will move to a position in which the teeth may mesh without jamming.

Under some circumstances it is desirable that the roll remain stationary when the shoe is pressed against the roll. This is accomplished by moving a block 46 between the collar 32 and the upper side of the tube 33 when the shoe is away from the roll. Under this condition, the upper side of the collar 32 will be spaced from the upper side of the tube 33 to perinit insertion of the block 46. The block 46 prevents movement of the collar 32 transverse to the tube 33 and thereby holds the internal gear 43 out of mesh with the pinion 45 when the shoe is pressed against the roll. The block 46 is carried on a slide 41 which pro: jects between the tube 33 and the collar 3! to the outer end of the roll. A handle 48 is provided on the outer end of the slide. The slide is provided with a slot 49 through which the pin 39 of the collar 3| projects and a slot 56 through which extends a screw 50 The head of the screw 50 overlaps the ends of the slot 58 preventing displacement of the slide.

The inner end of the roll is closed by a guard plate 5| fitting over the boss 84 which covers the teeth of the gears 43 and 45. Lengthwise movement of the roll is prevented by a thrust washer 52 mounted between the inner end of the boss 34 and the flange 28 and by a thrust washer 53 pinned to the outer end of the tube 33 and bearing against the flange 21.

The construction of the shoe is shown in Fig. 4. It comprises an arcuate metal plate 54 having studs 55 welded to its rear surface around which are arranged sleeves 56. A cover plate 51 is clamped between the sleeves 56 and cap nuts threadedon the studs. Between the cover plate and the rear surface of the plate 54 are arranged suitable electric heating units (not shown). At the center of the shoe is a U-shaped bracket 58 fixed to a strip 59 and clamped between the cover plate and two of the sleeves 56. Between the arms of the bracket 58 extends a U-shaped bracket 60 the arms of which are welded to a sleeve 6| keyed to a shaft 62. The brackets 58 and 60 are pivotally connected by a pin 63 passing through the arms of the brackets and held in place by snap rings 64. There is sufiicient clearance between the pin 63 and the bracket arms so' that the shoe may have a tilting movement sufiicient to equalize the pressure between the shoe and the roll. The sleeve 6| is held on the shaft 62 between a shoulder 65 and a snap ring 66. The brackets 58 and 60, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprise the links of a toggle for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll. When the shoe is pressed against the roll the rock shaft 62 and the common pivot'point of the toggle links, the pin 63, he slightly below a center line passing through the shoe and the roll. When the shoe is away from the roll, as shown in Fig. 3, the pivotal movement of the bracket 58 is limited by ears 6'! struck out of the side walls of the bracket 68.

As the shoe is moved into engagement with the roll, the rotation of the roll starts, as explained above, before the development of full ironing pressure. The friction exerted on the shoe by the roll tends to straighten the toggle decreasing the force required ,to press the shoe against the roll.

The shoe operating shaft 62 is journaled at one end in an arm 68 projecting from the ironel' frame I. along the roll and has sufficient resilience to equalize the pressure between the roll and the shoe due to variations in the thickness of the pad on the roll and of the material being ironed. Lengthwise movement of the shaft 62 in its hearing is prevented by a pin 69 bearing on a thrust Washer 10 and by an arm 'll pinned to the shaft. The arm ll serves as a crank arm for oscillating the shaft 62. In the outer end of the arm H is a bolt 12 (Fig. 5) on which is pivoted a connecting rod 13. The connecting rod is arranged between washers 14 and '15 on the bolt 12 and the sides and opening in the connecting rod around the bolt 12 are tapered as at 16 and H to permit pivotal movement of the connecting rod '13 about axes perpendicular to the bolt 12. The other end of the connecting rod l3 has a pin 18 fixed therein which is slldable in an opening 19 in a crank loosely mounted on a reduced portion 8! of the shaft l2. The crank is held on the shaft by a screw 82 threaded into the end of the shaft. The inner surface of the crank 80 bears against a disk 83 fixed to the shaft I2, for example by threading the hub 84 of the disk on a threaded portion 85 of the shaft. The hub 84 of the disk projects through an opening 86 in the cover plate l6. As shown in Fig. 4 the hub 84 engages the outer surface of the crown gear II and holds it in place on the shaft. In the disk 83 are series of openings 81 of the same size as the opening 19 in the crank 80. A leaf spring 88 arranged between the connection rod '13 and the crank 80 biases the connecting rod to a position in which the pin 18 is clear of the openings 81. In this position the connecting rod is held against the inner surface of a plate 89 having an angular portion 90 fixed to the outer end of the frame arm 68. The plate 89 is provided with a stiffening rib 9!. In this position, the pin 18 fits in one of two slots or notches 92 and 92 in the plate 85 as shown in Fig. 5. The notches 92 and 92 are located in positions corresponding to the positions of the connecting rod shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In either of these positions the connecting rod 13 is disconnected from the shaft l2 and accordingly remains at rest.

To establish a driving connection between the shaft 12 and the connecting rod 13, the connecting rod is moved toward the disk 83 until the pin 18 enters one of the openings 81 in the disk, thus connecting the crank 80 to the disk. In this position the other end of the pin 18 is clear -of the slots 92 and 92. The arrangement shown for The free end of the shaft 62 extends moving the connecting rod I3 into engagement with the disk 83 comprises a lever 93 pivoted between arms 94 fixed to the outside of the plate 89. Screws are threaded through the arm cpposite the slots 92 and 92 the inner ends of which provide stops or abutments for engaging the pin I8 and moving it into one of the holes 81 in the disk 83. stud 91 biases the lever 93 to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the screws 95 are out of contact with the pin 18, the outward movement being limited by a pin 98 in the stud. Upon movement of the lever 93 toward the disk 83 one of the screws 95 will engage the end of the pin 18 and move it out of the slot 92 or 92 and into one of the openings 81 in the disk 83 connectin the crank 89 to the disk 83. Since there are a larger number of openings 81 there is no perceptible delay in making this connection. The slots 92 and 92' are provided with inclined cam surfaces 99 which cooperate with the end of the pin I8 and force it into the openings 81 in case the pin is not initially moved far enough. As soon as the crank 89 has rotated to a position in which the pin 18 is no longer opposite one of the slots 92 or 92* the pin will be held in the driving position by the face of the plate 89 which prevents outward movement of the pin. The lever 93 may, therefore, be released. As soon as the crank has rotated through the pin 18 will be opposite one of the slots 92 or 92 and will be moved therein by the spring 88 breaking the connection between the crank 89 and the disk 83. The arrangement shown provides a convenient arrangement for rotating the crank 89 in steps of The slots 92 and 92 are placed so that the connecting rod is moved between the'positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the shoe is pressed against the roll. Since the roll is rotating in a clockwise direction in order to feed the material-being ironed beneath the shoe, the friction exerted on the shoe by the roll tends to turn the shaft 62 in a counterclockwise direction. This force would tend to move the connecting rod 13 in the direction of the arrow I99. Such movement is prevented bythe fact that the crank 89 lies along the axis of the connecting rod 13 and is connected to the connecting rod by the pin 18.

It is to be noted that since the toggle links 58 and 69 are substantially in alignment, and since the force of friction on the shoe tends to straighten the toggle, very little force is required from the connecting rod 13 to press the shoe against the roll. From another aspect, this means that the disengagement of the pin 18 fromthe disk 83 will be correspondingly small. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the force of gravity acting on the shoe to turn the shaft 62 in a counterclockwise direction and therefore tends to move the connecting rod in the direction of the arrow I9l. Such movement is prevented by the fact that the crank 89 lies along the axis of the connecting rod 13. The crank is, therefore, in effect on dead center. Furthermore, movement of the connecting rod in the direction of the arrow I9! would be prevented by engagement of the pin 18 with the edges of the slot 92 In the use of the ironer the material to-be ironed is arranged on the surface of the roll while the shoe is separated from the roll. In this position the internal gear 43 is separated from the pinion 45 and the'roll is accordingly stationary. The lever 93 is then actuated to move the pin 18 A coil spring 96 arranged around out of the slot 92 and into one of the openings 81 in the disk 83 connecting the disk 83 to the crank 89. As soon as the crank has rotated to a position in which the pin is no longer opposite the slot 92 the lever 93 may be released and the pin will be held in the driving position by the inner surface of the plate 89. When the crank 89 has moved through 180 and the pin has moved through 180 the pin is moved into the slot 92 breaking the connection between the disk 83 and the crank 89. The parts now occupy the positionshown in Fig. 2 in which the shoe is pressed against the roll. In this condition the roll occupies the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the internal gear is in mesh with the pin 45 and the roll is accordingly rotated. Upon completion of the ironing, actuation of the lever 93 in the manner described above will cause rotation of the crank 89 to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the shoe is separated from the roll.

What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and a shoe, a shaft, means supporting the shaft for rotation on its axis, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting one of the ironing members on the shaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the other ironing member, said toggle comprising a link fixed to said shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link and connected in supporting relation to the supported ironing member, the common pivot point of said links and the shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting the ironing members when the ironing members are in engagement, and power means having connections for selectively rotating theshaft on its axis and for rotating the roll.

2. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame having provisions for supporting the roll, a rock shaft supported in the frame for rotation on its axis, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting the shoe on the shaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, said toggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of said links and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting the roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, and power means having connections for selectively rotating the shaft on its axis and for rotating the roll.

3. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame having provisions for supporting the roll, a rock shaft supported in the frame for rotation on its axis, a toggle forming the sole means supporting the shoe on the shaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, said toggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of said links and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting the roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, power means for oscillating the shaft on its axis whereby the shoe is moved toward and away from the roll and for rotating the roll, and means controlling thedriving connection between said power means and the roll to start the roll prior to the development of full ironing pressure between the roll and the shoe, the direction of movement "of the toggle being such that the force of the friction exerted on the shoe by the roll assists in straightening thle toggle and pressing the shoe against the ro 4. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame at one end of the roll having provisions for supporting the roll, a rock shaft journaled at one end in the frame for rotation on its axis and having its free end extending along the roll, said shaft having sufficient resilience to equalize the pressure between the roll and the shoe under varying ironing conditions, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting the shoe and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, said toggle comprising a link fixed to the shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link and fixed to the shoe, the common pivot point of said links and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting the roll and the shoe when the roll and shoe are in engagement, and power means having connections for selectively rotating the shaft on its axis and for rotating the roll.

5. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and a shoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, a connecting rod beyond an end of said shaft connected to one of said ironing members for efiecting engagement and separation of said ironing members upon reciprocation thereof, crank means having connections to said shaft and connecting rod for reciprocating the connecting rod, manually operable means for establishing the connection between the crank means and the connecting rod, means for automatically breaking said connection upon a predetermined reciprocation of the connecting rod, and a driving connection between the driving means and the roll for rotating the roll.

6. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and a shoe, 2. rock shaft supported for rotation on its axis, a toggle forming the sole means for supporting the shoe on the rock shaft and for moving it into and out of engagement with the roll, said toggle comprising a link fixed to said shaft and a second link pivoted to the first link and connected in supporting relation to the shoe, the common pivot points of said links and the rock shaft lying substantially on a center line connecting the ironing members when the ironing members are in engagement, and power means for rotating the roll and for selectively oscillating the rock shaft on its axis, the direction of rotation of the rock shaft to press the shoe against the roll being such that the force of friction exerted on the shoe by the roll assists in pressing the shoe against the roll.

7. In an ironer, a roll, power means for rotating the roll, a rock shaft, a connecting rod, means connecting the connecting rod to the shaft for efiecting oscillation of the shaft upon reciprocation of the connecting rod, a crank for reciprocating the connecting rod, a shoe, and means for supporting the shoe on the shaft whereby the shoe is moved toward and away from the roll by oscillation of the shaft, said supporting means being constructed and arranged so that the friction exerted on the shoe by the rotating roll tends to turn the shaft in a direction to cause the connecting rod to be under tension.

8. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and a shoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, 8. connecting rod beyond an end of said shaft connected to one of said ironing members for effecting engagement and separation of said ironing members upon reciprocation thereof, a crank loose on the shaft, a clutch disk fixed to the shaft and having a series of openings therein, a pin fixed in the connecting rod and providing a pivotal connection to the crank, one end of said pin being slidable into one of said openings upon lateral movement of the connecting rod, means for biasing the connecting rod to a position in which the pin is clear of said openings and a plate engaging the other end of said pin for holding the pin in said openings, said plate having notches permitting movement of the pin out of said openings upon a predetermined rotation of the crank.

9. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members comprising a roll and a shoe, power driving means including a driven shaft, 2. disk fixed to the shaft connected to one of said ironing members having a series of openings therein, a crank loose on the shaft, a connecting rod for effecting engagement and separation of said ironing members uponreciprocation thereof, a pin extending through the crank and providing a pivotal connection between the crank and the connecting rod, means for moving one end of said pin into one of the openings in the disk for connecting the crank to the shaft, means for holding the pin in said opening during a predetermined rotation of the crank, and automatic means for disengaging the pin from said opening upon completion of said predetermined rotation of the crank.

GEORGE W. WARDWELL, J R.

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