US2320961A - Laundry table - Google Patents

Description

June 1, 1943.

P. E. WHITCQMB EI'AL 2,320,961

LAUNDRY TABLE Filed May 12. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1943. P, E, WHITCOMB ETAL LAUNDRY TABLE Filed May 12, 1939* -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1,1943

LAUNDRY TABLE Percy E. Whitcomb, Elgin, and Oran T. Mcllvaine,

St. Charles, Ill.

Application May 12, 1939, Serial No. 273,326

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in ironing tables, and more particularly to tables which receive ironed flat work from an ironing machine.

The object of the invention is to separate automatically individual bundles of clothes as delivered from a flat work ironer onto an ironing table where they may be assembled or piled by the operator. This object is carried out by the use of photo-electric or light sensitive means responsive to a separator which is passed through the ironer between the bundles of clothes and which will not only indicate the end of,one bundle but will also move the clothes of that bundle for bodily separation from the succeeding clothes for assembly and folding by the operator. This photo-electric or light sensitive means actuates mechanism which moves a pusher or board transversely of the table for separation of the clothes and to a position where they may be folded and assembled by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of an ironing table that is designed for receiving clothes from a flat work ironer for separation and assembly into bundles, to provide positive separation of the clothes thereby in a simple and effective manner without substantial vibration, and to simplify the construction of such a table.

We have illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism of the table;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof, showing a portion of the ironer diagrammatically with relation thereto Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view through the transfer board thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view there of, longitudinally of the table; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention.

In the normal operation of a fiat work ironer, the various pieces of clothes of each person are fed successively through the ironer to accumulate a bundle and in order to separate the clothes of one person from those of another, a marker usually is passed through the ironer between successive bundles, so as to indicate to sorters that one bundle has been finished and the following clothes belong in another bundle. With ironing tables used heretofore for receiving the clothes from a fiat work ironer, no adequate provision has been made for practically and automatically separating the bundles of clothes as they are fed from the ironer.

Our improved ironing table has a table top designated generally by the numeral I, which is supported by brackets 2 at intervals therealong, which in turn are supported upon legs 3 and 3', the legs 3 being located at opposite ends of the table while legs 3' are located intermediate the ends- Each of the legs 3 has a brace bar 6, extending from the lower end thereof upwardly to the under side of the table top I, to which it is secured, for bracing the forward edge of thetable top. The lower ends of the legs 3 and 3' have adjusting screws 5 extending therethrough and capable of attachment so as to adjust the level of the ironin'g table so as to get it properly positioned with respect to the fiat work ironer which is designated generally by the numeral 6 in Fig. 4. The ironer 6 has a discharge conveyor belt I that is arranged in overlapping relation above the table top I to direct the clothes thereto, substantially in the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The clothes are delivered to the table top I, substantially at the position designated C in Fig. 2, and in order to move the clothes out of this position, a transfer board or pusher member 8- extends lengthwise of the table normally in the position shown in the drawings, but capable of sliding movement transversely of the table top to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The

lower edge of the transfer board 8 is received in a channel 9 which rides directly on the upper surface of the table top I, and to insure intimate contact of said channelwith the table top, coiled springs I 0 are interposed between the lower edge portion of the transfer board 8 and said channel at intervals along the length thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. A strip of cushioning material II, such as soft rubber, is inserted in at least one side of the channel 9, between the same and the adjacent side of the transfer board 8, so as to take the shock at the back of the board.

The transfer board 8 has angle brackets I! connected therewith at intervals, extending through slots I3 in the table top I, which brackets have their lower ends secured to slides I4, underlying the table top. Each slide I4 is received in a guideway I5, as shown in Fig. 6, for sliding movement transversely of the table top in moving the transfer board 8 and channel 9 therealong. Secured to the underside of each bracket I 2 is a bracket clip I5, to which is pivotally conthe levers I! being ,at opposite ends of the table while the levers. II are intermediate said ends. The levers I1 and II are mountedfor rockin j movement on a shaft l8, extending lengthwise of the table and ioumaled in bearings l3 secured ,to the bracket supports 2. Tie rods 2!! connect each of the levers II with its adjacent lever I'l', while the levers ll' are connected together by angle bars 2|, for unitary swinging of the levers I1 and I1 transversly of the table to move the transfer board 8 and channel 3 over the surface thereof. A coiled spring 22 connects the angle bar 2| with a connecting bar 23 which extends between the intermediate bracket supports 2, so as to be tensioned by the forward movement of the levers and relieve the transfer board of shock at the end of the sliding movement thereof.

For actuating the transfer board, acylindrical power device is shown at 24 having itspiston 25 connected by a rod 26 with the angle bar 2!. The cylindrical power device 24 has its opposite ends connected through flexible tubesjl with opposite sides of a valve device 28, having a valve 29 therein (Fig. 3) for movement to diflerent positions for connecting a fluid inlet pipe 30 with one or the other of the tubes 21, according to the position of the valve 29. The cylinder may be vented by any suitable means. An electro-magnet 3| is operatively connected with the valve 29 for moving the same to one position, it being returned normally to an inoperative position by a spring or other suitable means. The fluid supply nected at I6the upper end of a lever L1 or H, allows the control relay to become 'decnergized and release the control contacts of the magnet 3|, allowing these contacts toclose and thereby to close an electric circuit to the electro-magnet 3| energizing the latter and moving the valve 29' to its opposite position. This opens the fluid pressure pipe with the tube 21 leading to the back end of the power device 24, moving the piston 25 forward therein and causing swinging movement of the levers I1 and II to slide the transfer board 8 and its channel 9 forwardly across the table top I, substantially to the dotted line position in Fig. 2. This moves the clothes from the position C to the position C in Fig. 2, where they may be taken by the operator for folding and assembly substantially as indicated at C. This moves the black cloth marker out from under the photo-electric cell 34, so that it receives light from the lamp and therefore energizes the control relay to, open the contacts of, and thereby to open the circuit to the electro-magnet 3|, deenergizing the latter and returning the valve 28 to its initial position, which forces the piston 25 forward in the power device 24 and acts through the frame and levers to move the board a back to its initial position.

-If desired, the device may be used for transferring the clothes from the table top onto a moving conveyor belt 40, as shown in Fig. 7, for transfer to a desired point of assembly or folding.

We claim:

1. In a table, the combination. of a surface adapted to receive articles'at a point thereon and having a marker receiving portion thereon spaced from said point, means: extending along said surface overlapping said point and I marker portion for moving articles along said surface, means for directing a beam of light onto said marker receiving portion of said surface,

40. and photo-electric means in position to receive a reflection of said beam of light from an article marker on said marker receiving portion and for causing operation of said moving means reflected therefrom to the photo-electric cell 34.

The cell 34 and lamp 35 are supported on a stand 36 on the table top I adjacent the point where the blank cloth marker will'be deposited thereon by the ironer. This marker is manually placed by the ironer operator in a position on the ironer that will cause the marker to be deposited by th ironer onto the, table top in position to fall within the beam of light from the lamp 35 that would normally be reflected to the cell 34.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the conveyor 1 of the ironer will discharge the flat work therefrom onto the table top I substantially in the position C in Fig. 2, and it will also discharge. the black cloth marker substantially in the position designated B in Fig. 2, when the feeding of the bundle of clothes through the ironer has been completed. When the black cloth marker passes into thebeam of light from the lamp 35, it will cut off a reflection of this light to the photoelectric cell 34, that would otherwise be caused by th polished surface of the table or clean white laundry.

Normally the transfer board 8 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, where it is maintained by reason of the forward position of the piston 25 in the power device 24. However, when to move the articles and the marker relative to the surface.

2. In a table, the combination of a surface having an area adapted to receive articles thereon and having a marker receiving portion, a

thereof at said marker receiving portion for causa ing actuation of said operating means. I

3. In a laundry folding table adapted to .receive articles from an ironing machine, the combination of a surface for receiving said articles thereon and having a separate marker movable from the ironing machine and distinctive from said articles, a pusher member extending along said surface, means for operating said pusher member to move the same transversely of said surface, and photo-electric means'arranged in position to be actuated only by the presence'ol' said marker in front thereof on said surface for causing actuation of said operating means.

4. In a laundry folding table, the combination 7 of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon,

a channel having the closed side thereof .resting on said surface and the open sideupwardly,

a board having an edge thereof within the open side of the channel and extending upwardly therefrom, and means for moving said channel and board along said surface.

5. In a laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon, a channel having the closed side thereof resting on said surface and the open side upwardly, a board having an edge thereof within the open side of the channel and extending upwardly therefrom, resilient means interposed between the edge portion of the board and the base of the channel tending to press the channel against the surface, and means connected with said board for moving the board and channel along the surface.

6. In a laundry folding table, the'combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon,

a channel having the closed side thereof resting on said surface and the open side upwardly, a board having an edge thereof within the open side of the channel and extending upwardly therefrom, resilient means interposed between the edge portion of the board and the base of the channel tending to press the channel against the surface, said surface having transverse slots therein, brackets fixed to the board and extending through said slots, and power means connected with said brackets for moving the board and brackets along said surface.

'7. In a laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon,

a channel having the closed side thereof resting on said surface and the open side upwardly, a board having an edge thereof within the open side of the channel and extending upwardly therefrom, said surface having transverse slots therein, brackets connected with said board and extending through the slots, a swinging frame connected with brackets, and power means connected with the frame for moving the board and channel transversely of the surface.

8. In a laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon, a pusher member resting on said surface and extending therealong, said surface having trans verse slots therein, means including levers and extending through said slots and operatively connected with the pusher member for moving the same transversely of the surface, means connecting said levers together forming a swinging frame connected with said pusher member, and a power device connected with said swinging frame for moving the pusher member along-the surface.

9. In a laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon, a pusher member resting on said surface and extending therealong, said surface having transverse slots therein, means including levers and extending through said slots and operatively connected with the pusher member for moving the same transversely of the surface, means connecting said levers togetherforming a swinging frame connected with said pusher member, a

fluid power device connected with said swinging frame for moving the same, electrically operated means for controlling said power device, and photo-electric means in position to be energized by the presence of an article in front thereof on said surface for causing an energizing of said electrically operated means.

10. In a laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon, a pusher member resting on said surface and extending therealong, said surface having transverse slots therein, means including levers and extending through said slots and operatively connected with the pusher member for moving the same transversely of the surface, power means connected with said levers for operating the same, and photo-electric means in position to be actuated by the presence of an article in front thereof on said surface for causing an actuation of said power means.

11. Ina laundry folding table, the combination of a surface adapted to receive articles thereon, a pusher member extending along said surface, said surface having. transverse slots therein, levers operatively connected with the pusher member for moving the same along the surface, means connecting said levers together forming a swinging frame, a fluid power device connected with said swinging frame for moving the same, electrically operated valve means for controlling said power device, and photo-electric means in position to be actuated by the presence of an article in front thereof on said surface for causing an actuation of said electrically operated valve means.

12. In laundry folding apparatus, the combination of means for advancing a plurality of ar ticles to be'assembled and having a distinctive marker for advance with the articles, means having receiving surfaces for said articles and marker, a source of radiant energy associated with the receiving surface for the marker, and means including means responsive to material variations in the radiations from said source as controlled by the presence of the marker for jointly moving 13. In laundry folding apparatus, the combination of means for advancing a plurality of articles to be assembled and having a distinctive .marker for advance with the articles, means having receiving surfaces for said articles and marker, a source of radiant energy associated with the receiving surface for the marker, means including means responsive to material variations in the radiations from said source as controlled by the presence of the marker for Jointly moving the articles and the marker from the respective surfaces and means for returning said moving' means to its initial position upon movement of the marker out of said control position.

14. In ironing and assembling mechanism, the combination with ironing' means for successive- 1y advancing groups of articles with a marker between said groups, of a folding table having a surface in position to receive the articles from the ironing means for assembly on said surface, means for directing a source of light to said surface in position to be absorbed by the marker, and means operativein response to the absorption of said light by the marker for moving the assembled articles from the receiving surface.

15. A laundry foldingtable comprising a flat face area being adapted to receivefla distinctive marker thereon following the accumulation of laundry articles on the first-mentioned surface area, means for moving the laundry articles from said first-mentioned area. and light-responsive means actuated in response to the presence of the marker on the second surface area for actuating the moving means.

- PERCY E. WHII'CQMIB.

ORAN '1'. MCILVAINE.

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