US2364196A - Work clamp mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1944. DAVls WORK CLAMP MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1941 's Sheets-Skieet 1 awn/r01? n TfOR NE Y5 DCC. 5, 1944. E, DAVls WORK CLAMP MECHANISM Filed March 24. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 5, 1944. DAVls WORK CLAMP MECHANISM Filed March 24. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIII m f] g INVENTOR. MM BY ATTORNEYS Patentefc l Dec. 5, 1944 i I UNITED STATES PATEN O F WORK CLAMP MECHANISM Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignorto The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York i i Application March 24, 1941, Serial No 384,788 q 7 Claims. ((21. 38-12) p This invention relates to work holders or work The invention comprises an inert body or memclamps for garment and laundry pressing maber set inkmotion by an operating movement of chines, and has for its object a readily operable a work holder or clamping member and free to work. clamp including an inert or. momentum lagjbehindandrun aheadofthe clamping mem body or member set in motion by the initial closber, and hence gain momentum when lagging ing movement ofthe work holder orelamp and behind to run ahead of the clamping, member operable to impart a delayed clamping effect to and impart under the momentum an additional finally close the clamping member down on the operating impulse thereto. l work on the lower pressing element-under the The work clamp. mechanism here illustrated momentum of the inert member. 10 comprises, generally, a manually operable clamp- It further has for its object an arrangement ing member movable from an inoperative posiof the inert body or member, whereby the inert tion into and out of position to cooperate with member moves into a position bywhich it rethe work on the lower pressing element of the turns in aretrograde directionby gravity when machine, a movable inert body or member, means released, and. releasable means operable to hold 5 between the clamping member and the inert the inert member in its operated position, and member to givea starting impulse to the inert views.

. also a releasable means operable bythe operamember and set the same in motion, when the tion of the press, particularly the opening move- I clamping member is movedby theoperator from ment of the press. open toward closed position, this means being This work holder is particularly designed for constructed to permit the inert member t ga presses in which the force is applied by the op-- momentum and move ahead of the clamping erator in contradistinctionto a power press,.and member. and exert a delayed clamping effect on one of the objects of the invention is a work .the clamping member due. to the momentum holder mechanism involving an inert body or of the inert member or the energy stored theremember that is operable with a minimum effort in, when the clamping member approaches its on the part of the operator, although the work final clamping position. l

holderis equally adaptable to power presses. In Figure "6 is illustrated one form of press- The invention consists inthe novel features ing machine includingcoacting upper and lower and in the combinations and constructions herepressing elements I, 2, the lower p g eleinafter set forth and claimed ment being suitably mounted on a frame 3, and 1 In describing this invention, reference is had the upper pressing element being movable to-,. to the accompanying drawings inwhich like charward and from the lower pressing element {and acters designate corresponding parts in all the carried by a lever 4 pivoted betweenits endsat l l 5 to an upright 6 rising from the frame. Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevationlof this The press here shown is pedal operated. 1

work holder or clamping mechanism and condesignates the foot pedal pivoted at ,8 to the tiguous parts of the pressing machine, showing frame. The .motionis transmitted from the foot the said mechanism in starting position. pedal to the rear arm of the head carrying lever Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing 4 through suitable means, as toggle links 9, ID. the W p ng mechanism in finally clamped pivoted together at like ends at H and :at their p s tio I l I l I otherends at [2 andl3 to the rear arm the Figure 3 is an elevationlooking to theleft head carrying lever 4 and to the frame respecin Figure 2, and alsoillustrating a manuallyop- .tively. The motion of thefoot lever! is transerable release means. I p ferred to the link ID of the toggle through suit- Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of parts able mechanism, asa cam slot l4, provided in an seen in Figure 2, contiguous portionsof the pressarm of the link [0, and a follower or roller 15 ing machine being omitted. I carried by the lever and movable along the slot. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrat- In Figure 6, the press is shown asclosed. When ing the means for automaticall releasing the the press opens, the toggle 1inks9, [0 break or work clamping mechanismwhen the press opens. fold upwardly. The closing movement ofuthe Figure 6.is an elevation, partly in section, of press is against suitable returning means, as a one form of pressing machine embodying this counter spring IS. The lower pressing element invention and showing one means for releasing 2 is usually covered with a resilient or spring the work clamp mechanism by. anjoperating padding I1.

movement ofthe press. The work holderor clamping member usual y moves or swings from a position beyond one end of the lower pressing element 2 over the same and clamps substantially rectilinearly downwardly onto the work on the lower pressing element 2 or the padding thereof.

' 2| designates the clamping member, this including an arm 22 pivoted at 23 to a suitable support or bracket 24, attachable to the frame 3 of the pressing machine, a yoke 25 carried by said arm and a tape or bow 26 connected at its ends to the arms of the yoke. the pivot 23 are arranged below one end of the pressing element 2 in such position that the clamping member normally stands in the position shown in Figure 1 beyond one end of the lower pressing element 2, and moves into a position in which the yoke is located under the pressing element 2 and the bow or tape extends transversely over the surface of the pressing element 2 in the position shown in Figure 2. or in dash lines (Figure, 1). The ends of the bow or tape 26 are connected to the ends of the yoke by universaljoints, as ball and socket joints 21. The yoke is also provided with a suitable handle 28.

29 designates the inert body or member, here shown as in the form of a quadrant or segment of a fiy wheel. It is pivoted on a horizontal axis at 30 to the support or bracket 24 and is here shown as pivotedbelow the pivot 23 of the arm 22 and movable from a depending static position (Figure l) upwardly into the position shown in Figures 2 and 5 under a starting impulse given to it by the clamping member 2|.

The means between the clamping member and the inert member to set the latter in motion and permit it first to lag behind, second to gain momentum, and finally overtake the clamping memembodiment of the invention, motion transmitting connections including a reducing leverage, when the motionis being transferred from the clamping member to the inert body or member and an increasing leverage when the motion of the inert body or member is being transferred to the clamping member to give the latter a final impulse. These connections comprise a lever 3| pivoted to the support or bracket 24 and here shown as pivoted coaxially with the arm 22 on the pivot 23, one arm of the lever 3| coacting with the clamping member or the arm 22 thereof through yielding meansor springs 32, 33 and the other arm being connected to the inert member 29 eccentric tothe axis 30 of the inert member, as through a link 34 pivoted at 35 to the other arm of the lever 3| and at 36 to a rock arm 31 mounted on the pivot or shaft 30 of the inert member 29. One arm, as the arm below the pivot 23 of the lever 3|, and the link 34 are in an acute angle folded position (Figure 1) when the clamping member 29 is in its open position and move to a more open or obtuse angle relation, as the clamping member 26 closes and the inert member or weight 29 has moved into its operated position (Figure 2). The spring 32 is located on a stud 38 projecting from the arm 22 between the head 39 of the stud and a head 40 on the lever 3|, and the spring 33 is interposed between the head 40 and the arm 22. A suitable stop 4| on the bracket 24 limits the opening movement of the clamping member 2|. A stop 41!] on the inert member coac s, with The arm 22 and a stop 4 on the bracket 24 to limit the overthrow of the inert member under its momentum.

in operation, the operator by means of the handle 28 swings-the clamping member 2| from the position shown in Figure 1 toward that shown in Figure 2. This through the spring 32 imparts a starting impulse to the inert member 29 through reducing leverage including the lever 3|, link 34, and rock arm 31, starting the same in motion from the position shown in Figure 1. The inert member first, because of the spring 32, lags behind, then gains momentum and runs ahead of the arm 2|, and in so doing, through the rock arm 31, link 34, lever 3|, which now acts in the reverse direction, as an increasing leverage, compresses the spring 33 and applies final pressure to the arm 22 and the bow 26 causing the bow to move substantially rectilinearly onto the work 'on the lower pressing element 2. The action of the inert member under the energy stored therein is a delayed action between the starting of the inert member in motion and the time the momentum overtakes the clamping member 2 i, this being when the bow 23 is opposed to or down on the work on the lower pressing element 2.' The delayed clamping action causes the bow to tightly clamp on the Work.

The lever 3|, link 34 and rock arm 31 are so relatively arranged that during the final or delayed action of the inert member 29 an increasing leverage is provided to transmit the momentum of the inert member 29'to the clamping member 26 through the rock arm 31, link 34, lever 3| and the clamping member 2|. During the movement of the clamping member from open position (Figure 1) to closed position (Figure 5), the link 34 moves into position where it/ approaches the radius of the arm 31. During the movement from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 5, the pivot 36 connecting the link 34 and the (rock arm 3! moves through a small are relative to the are of movement of the periphery of the member 29. However, as the link 34 approaches the radius of the arm 31, the arc of movement of the pivot 35 becomes large relative to the arc of movement of the pivot 35 between, one arm of the lever 3| and the link 34 and thereby provides an increasingleverage to transmit the momentum of the inert member 29 to the clamping member.

For the sake of compactness, or in order to locate the bracket 24, and the work clamping mechanism within the vertical plane of the end edge of the overhanging end of the lower pressing element 2, the inert member 29 extends inwardly or in the same general radial direction as the clamping member 2|, when the clamping member is in closed or operative position. As seen in Figures 3 and i, the arm 22 is formed with a yoke 42, the arms of which are mounted on the pivot 23. The stud 38 is secured to a laterally extending lug 43 outside of the yoke 42 and the pivot 30 of the inert member 29 is a rock shaft on one end of which the inert member 29 is mounted, and on the other end of which the rock arm 37 is mounted. The stop 4| is 10-.

Means is provided for latching the inert memher in its operated position. This means is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as a latch 45 pivoted between its ends at 46 to the bracket 24 and ,co-

acting at one end with the notch 4! in the inert 1 member 29, the latch being urged toward its latch- 1 mg position by a spring 49. When the inert member is moving upwardly from its position shown in Figurel to that shown 'inFigure 2, the a peripheral surface 50 ofthe inert member 29, this being a cam surface engages a roller 48 onthe latch 45 and presses the latch to the left (Figure 2) against the actionof its spring 49. Whenthe inert member 2'! swings under its momentum into the position shown in dotted lines (Figure 1), i o the roller 48 enters thenotch 4'! and ho-lds the inert member in its operated position and from rebounding. A suitable guide 5|,is provided for 1 enacting with the, latch 45 to prevent it fromdisplacement under the action of its. returning spring Hwhen the inert body ormember 29is in starting position and before it engages the roller 48 i on the latch 45. This guide forms part of'the {release mechanism in the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The guide 5| is here shown as an angle lever pivoted at 52 to the bracket 25 and having an arm coacting with aroller 53 on the pin or stud on which the roller' lt is also mounted,

the lever 51 also having an angle arm 55 coacting witha releaselever 56 and located to limit the pivotal movement of the lever 5| insuoh 1 position that the latch 45 can not pass out of l juxtaposition to the periphery of i the inert body ormember 29. lhe release lever 56 is located in itsstarting position by a stop 56?.

lnFilgure 3, the manually operated latch lever '56 is pivoted at 51 and shown as extending forward with its outer or handle end Within reach of the operator. However, the latch 45 may be clamp the tape'or bow '25 onthe workon the l pressing element 2. During the movementof the inertmember into the position shown inb'roken lines (Figure 1), the latch 45 moves into latch,-

in-g position to hold the inert member in itsoperated position. When the press is opened the latch 45 is released, and the inert member drops by gravity toward startingposition and imparts an opening impulse to the rock arm 31, link 34, lever 3|v and spring 32 to the clamping mem- What I claim is: i i 1. A work clamping mechanism for pressing machines which includes an element on which the work islaid, said mechanism including a support, a manually shiftable work clamping member shiftably carried bythe support, a normally bar 2!, thisbeirrg also facilitated by the spring 33.

inert'member shiftably carried by the support,

released automatically by the operation of the press, as the opening movement of the press.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the means shown forreleasingthe latch l5 is operated by the of the machine, a piston 59 workable therein actuating mechanism of the press and comprises? acylinder 58 suitably carriedbythe frame 3 andhaving its rod BI] pivoted at 5| to one of ;1

to the link ll]. The cylinderis connected through onthe frame 3 and having a diaphragm 54 there" inthrusting against a plunger 85 which in turn thrusts against the tail of the latch 45. The

cylinder is provided with a restricted inlet port 66 whichalso constitutes the outlet port. restricted to obstruct too rapid exhaust during the power stroke of the piston 59. Whenthe press is being closed, the toggle links 8 and 9 straightenand retract the piston 59, drawingair into the cylinder 58 through the port 66. When the press opens, the toggle link I 0 moves upwardly and moves the piston to the right (Figures 2 and 6) and owing to the restricted outlet 66, forces air through thepipe 52 to the diaphragmchamber, actuating the diaphragm 54 therein and through the plunger 65 moves the latch out of its latching the links of the toggle, here shown as pivoted a a pipe 62 to a diaphragm chamber 63suppo-rted motion transmitting {connections between the clamping member and the inertmember to set the inert member in motion upon the operating movement of the clamping member, said motion transmitting connections including a 10st motion means permitting the inert member to initially lag behind the clampinamember and build up ,momentum andvfinally overtake the clamping member and impart under its momentum an additional operating impulse to the clamping member.

2. A work clamping mechanism for pressing machines which includes an element on which the work is laid; said mechanism including a support, a manually shiftable work clamping member shiftably carried by the support, a normally, inert member shiftably carried by the support, motion transmitting connections: between the clamping member and the inert member to set the inert member in motionupon the operating movement of the clamping member, said motion transmitting connections including a lost motion means permitting the inert member to initially lag behind the clamping mmberand build up momentum and finally overtake the clamping member and impact under its momentum an additional operating impulse to the clamping member, said lost motion connection includ ng yielding resilient means for transmitting the initial starting movement to the inert member and for translating the additional im 1 pulse from the inert member to the clamping member. j

3. A work clamping mechanism for pressing machines which includes an element on which the Work is laid, said mechanism including asupiport, a manually operable work clamping member shiftably carried by thesupport and movable 3 into and out of coaction with said element, a nori mally inert member shiftably carried by the support, motion transmitting connections between position. When the pressis open and the latch released, the inert member Zllfalls by gravity, and

thus moves the clamping member 2! toward open its momentum. i

4. A work clamping mechanismvfor pressing the clamping member and the inert member to set the inert member in motion when the clamping member is initially operated, said connections including means to permit the inertmember to initially lag behind the clamping member in its closing movement, then gain lmomentum' and finally overtake the clamping member and impart under its momentum an additional delayed operating impulse to the clamping member when the clamping member approaches final clamping position, the inert member beingmovable under its momentum into atposition in which it tends to return by gravity to starting position, and 4 releasable means for holding the inert member o in the position to which it has been moved by machines which includes an element on which the work is laid, said mechanism including a support, a manually operable work clamping member shiftably carried by the support andmovable into and out of coaction with said element, and an inert weight member pivoted to the support and normally hanging downward from its pivot, motion transmitting connections between the clam-ping member and the inert member to set the inert member in motion about its pivot in an upward arc, when the clamping member is initially operated, said connections including means to permit the inert member to initially lag behind the clamping member in its closing movement and then gain momentum and finally overtake the clamping member and impart under its momentum an additional delayed operatirrg impulse to the clamping member when the clamping member approaches final clamping position,

the inert member being movable under its'momentum intoa position in which it tends to return by gravity to starting position. I

5. A work clamp mechanism for pressing machines comprising a suitable support, a manually operable clamping member including an arm pivoted to the support, an inert member pivoted to the support, a lever pivoted between its ends to the support, a link connectingone arm of the lever and the inert member, eccentric to the axis of the inert member, and yielding means between the other armlof the lever and said arm, all so arranged that the clamping member when actuated sets the inert member in motion and permits the same to gain momentum andexert additional delayed clamping efieot on the clamping member when the clamping member approaches final clamping position.

6. A work clamp mechanism for pressing machines comprising a suitable support, a manually operable clamping member including an arm pivoted to the support, an inert member pivoted to the support, a lever pivoted between its ends to the support, a link pivoted to one arm of the lever and to the inert member eccentric to the axis of the inert member, and yielding means between the other arm of the lever and said arm, all so arranged that the clamping member when actuated sets the inert member in motion and permits the same to gain momentum and exert additional delayed clamping effect on the clamping member when the clamping member ap- 2,864,196 r l a proaches final clamping position, the pivotal connection between the link and the inert member being so located that said pivotal connection has a small arc of movement relative to the periphery of the inert member during the closing movement of the clamping member, and the link approaches the radius of said pivotal connection as the clamping member closes, whereby the pivotal connection between the inert member and the link then moves in a. comparatively great arc relative to the arc of movement of the pivotal connection between the link and said one arm of the lever, thereby providing an increasing leverage to transmit the momentum of the inert member to the clamping member.

7. A- work clamp mechanism for pressing machines comprising a suitable spport, a manually operable clamping member including an arm pivoted to the support, an inert member pivoted to the support, a lever pivoted between its ends to the support, a link pivoted to one arm of the lever and to the inert member eccentric to the axis of the inert member, and yielding means between the other arm of the lever and said arm, all so arranged that the clamping member when actuated sets the inert member in motion and permits the same to gain momentum and exert additional delayed clamping efiect on the clamping member when the clamping member approaches final clamping posit on, the pivotal connection between the link and the inert member being so located that said pivotal connection has a small arc of movement relative to the periphery of the'inert member during the closing movement of the clamping member, and

the link approaches theradius of said pivotal connection as the clamping member closes, whereby the pivotal connection between the inert member and the link then moves in a comparatively great are relative to the arc of movement of the pivotal connection between the link'an-d said one arm of the lever, thereby providing an increasing leverage to transmit the momentum of the inert member to the clamping member, the inert member being arranged to move under its momentum into a position by which it returns by gravity in a retrograde direction, and releasable means for holding the inert member in its operated position. i

ERNEST DAVIS.

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