US2578928A - Portable domestic ironing machine with friction drive - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1951 I 2,578,928

F. M. FREIS PORTABLE DOMESTIC IRONING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVE Filed Feb. 12, 1945 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig]. 1.

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Dec. 18, 1951 FRElg 2,578,928

PORTABLE DOMESTIC IRONING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVE Fig- 5.

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fillgs Dec. 18, 1951 F. M. FREIS PORTABLE DOMESTIC IRONING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1945 v T MS i Z E N n F fl A A E sw WIN W \1: l w c X E m I -l mm W-F\.W 1 1w v m 8? m V mm I I w w U @m om m mm Q .vm mm @v ww ow 3 i mm mm on mm llfmm. F @m mm mm; 3

Dec. 18, 1951 F. M. FRElS PORTABLE DOMESTIC IRONING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 12, 1945 S s l luau: (4275 51 LO 8 w JUL/E17 [UP FFEUEFICI'K M- F'FEIS Min/.0

I mm 2 mm E R J 2 H E N a R P Q 9 Dec. 18, 1951 F. M. FRElS PORTABLE DOMESTIC IRONING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1945 "22m, 012 j Ame/S Patented Dec. 18, 1951 F B AB E DOMES R N N MACH N wrrn FRICTION DRIVE Frederick M. Freis, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Conlon-Moore Corporation, Cicero, 111;, a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1945, Serial No. 634,419

6 Claims. 1

lhis invention relates to ironing machines and has to do with machines intended for domestic or home use.

My invention is directed to an ironing machine of the character stated which is of exceptionally light weight and is of compact and sturdy construction, so as to be readily portable while occupying but little storage space and being long lived. Further, the machine of my invention comprises comparatively few' parts, many of which may be formed as stampings, and may be produced at low cost. The roll is driven from a suitable motor, through a driving train compris ing a terminal gear movable into and out of driving engagement with a gear fixed to the motor shaft, whereby the motor may run free of parts driven thereby in the ironing operation, when the roll is stopped in the intervals between the pas.- sage through the machine of articles being ironed. That is desirable as permitting free turning 01 the roll in either direction for positioning thereon of articles to be ironed, while also conserving electrical energy for driving the machine, when an electric motor is used. The roll driving train comprises means whereby the terminal gear and the motor shaft gear are held in pressure contact for driving the roll, and the pressure between the gears increases with increasin resistance to rotation of the roll. That is advantageous; par ticularly when friction gears are used; as preventing objectionable slippa e between the gears and thereby assuring proper drive of the roll, Prefsra lh h m c e ompr s a r ll and a operating shoe moved to and from the roll by'a pentrol' lever. This lever has an inoperative posit on. t d which it s eldin l ur d; and an operative position, means being" provided for ramma c ll l king h leverv in s ati position and readily releasing it, when desired, for movement to inoperative position. The lever, in its movement from its operative position to its inoperative position; and vice versa, movesthe terminal gear of the roll driving train out of and into driving engagement with the motor shaft gear for driving and stopping the roll, with the advantages above mentioned. Furtherobjects and advant ges Qfmy invention will appear from the detail description.

' In the drawings:

the machine of Figure l, with certain parts broken away and the shoe cover omitted, the gear housin'g cover also being omitted and the gear housing being in part broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4+6 of Figure 3, with the gear housing cover in position and certain parts shown in elevation';

Figure 5 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3', with the control lever in its upper or inoperative position, certain parts being shown in elevation and the terminal gear of the roll driving train being shown fragmentarily and in elevation;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 but with the control lever in its lower or operative position';

Figure 7' is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line l-J of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 8-.-8 of Figure 4.

The machine of my invention comprises a suitable base l0, conveniently formed as a stamping from sheet metal, of hollow construction, oblong in plan and of appropriate width and length. Base l0 carries at one end thereof an upwardly extending gear housing H of substantially U- shape in vertical lengthwise section, comprising inner and outer end walls i2 and I 3, respectively, connected by a bight or base element M. The housing ll conveniently is formed as a stamping from sheet or plate metal of suitable gauge and the edge portions of the walls i2 and l 3 are curved inward, as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4 to provide reenforcing elements is imparting desired rigidity to these walls. The base or bight portion M of gear housing H seats fiatwise on the upper face of base 10 to which it is secured in a suitable known manner, conveniently by bolting. Base Hlhas secured to its depending peripheral flange Ilia, suitably positioned angle brackets l6, spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to flange lfla, these brackets carrying rubber bumpers ll of known type for supporting the machine.

The end walls l2 and I3 of gear housing H decrease in width upward and are shaped as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Aligned bearing bushings IBextend through walls [2 and I3, at the upper portions thereof, and are secured thereto in a suitable manner, conveniently by spot welding. The bushings Iii-receive the outer endportions of a tubular roll shaft 19 spanning the interior of housing H and rotatably mounted in bushings 18, this shaft projecting beyond wall i2 inward a considerable distance over base Iii. A roll 29 is mounted on the inwardly projecting portion of shaft [9 for rotation therewith. This roll is, in general, of known construction and comprises a sheet metal body or drum 2 l, which may be perforated if desired, as is known, having a cup-shaped disk 22 secured in its outer end in a suitable manner, conveniently by spot welding, there being a second cup-shaped disk 23 secured in drum or body 2| of roll 29 at about the mid-length thereof. Disk 23 is provided with two spaced slots 24 which receive flat tongues 25 formed integrally with shaft l9, these tongues being bent at an angle, as shown more clearly in Figures 7 and 8, and, in cooperation with the contiguous portions of the inner end of shaft [9, restraining the roll against relative movement lengthwise of shaft l9 while also, in cooperation with disk 23, securing the roll 29 to shaft is for rotation therewith. Roll 20 is provided with a suitable covering or pad 26, as is known. It will be understood that within the broader aspects of my invention the roll may be of any other suitable construction and may be attached to shaft l9 in any other suitable manner.

A sprocket wheel 28, comprising a disk 29, which may be stamped from sheet steel of suitable gauge and temper, and a stepped hub 33 on which disk 29 is secured, is mounted on roll shaft l9 and secured thereto in a suitable manner, conveniently by a cotter pin 3| passing through hub 39 and shaft l9. Hub 30 of sprocket wheel 28, contacts bushing l8 secured in end wall 12 of housing H and in cooperation therewith restrains roll shaft I9 against endwise movement relative to the gear housing. A yoke 32, of substantially inverted U-shape, is loosely mounted at its upper portion on shaft I9, outward beyond sprocket wheel 28, for swinging movement thereon. A spacer disk 33 is mounted loosely on shaft l9 between the inner end of hub 30 of sprocket wheel 28 and the inner arm of yoke 32 and, in conjunction with a spacing collar 34 mounted loose on shaft is between the outer arm of yoke 32 and the inner end of bushing IS in wall [3, restrains yoke 32 against relative movement lengthwise of shaft l9. The spacer disk 33 may be stamped from sheet metal of suitable gauge, as will be understood. The outer end of roll shaft l9 and of the bushing [3 in wall l3 of housing ll preferably is closed by a flanged cap 35 fitting tightly over the outer end of bushing l8, as shown, which cap conveniently is also stamped from sheet metal.

A countershaft 31 is rotatably mounted in bushings 38 and 39 secured through the lower ends of arms 49 and 4|, respectively, of yoke 32.

The inner end portion of shaft 31 is reduced in diameter and has fixed thereon, by a pin 42, a sprocket wheel 43 of small diameter relative to sprocket wheel 28. A sprocket chain 45, which may be of any suitable known type, passes about the sprocket wheels 28 and 43 establishing driving connection therebetween. It will be apparent that yoke 32 swings about the axis of roll shaft 19, which is also the axis of rotation of sprocket wheel 28, so that the distance between the sprocket wheels 28 and 43 remains constant in the swinging movement of yoke 32.

A friction transmission gear 41 is suitably secured on the outer end of countershaft 31, this gear comprising a disk 43 conveniently stamped from sheet metal and a rim secured on disk 48. Sprocket wheel 43 and disk 48 contact the bushings 39 and 38, respectively, and in cooperation therewith restrain the counter shaft 31 against endwise movement relative to yoke 32, as will be understood from Figure 4 of the drawings. The rim 59 of gear 41 may be formed of rubber, either natural or synthetic, secured to or bonded to disk 48 in a known manner. Rim 59 also may be formed of other material, as will be explained more fully later. The gear 41 constitutes the terminal gear of a drivin train for driving the roll shaft [9, this train including the counter shaft 31, sprocket wheels 43 and 28 and the sprocket chain 45, as will be readily understood.

An electric motor 52, of suitable known type, is mounted in the lower rearward portion of gear housing II and is anchored in position therein in a suitable manner. Conveniently, through bolts 53 pass through the base or bight portion [4 of gear housing II and, at their upper end portions, through the ends of a clamp plate 54 extending across the top of motor 52, these bolts receiving nuts 55 threading on their upper ends for forcing plate 54 toward the bottom of the gear housing. Conveniently, motor 52 is provided at its upper and lower faces with projections or pads 55 and rubber cushions 51 are disposed between the vpads 56 and clamp plate 54 and bight element or base l4 of housing H, respectively. The rubber cushions 51 prevent transmission of objectionable vibration from the motor to the gear housing, as will be understood, and the through bolts 53 and associated parts anchor the motor 52 firmly in position within the housing. The top wall of base I9 of the machine is provided with suitable openings which accommodate the heads of bolts 53, at the lower ends thereof, to permit of removal of the gear housing and the parts contained therein as a unit, from the base I0, without necessity of removing the bolts 53.

Armature shaft 59 of motor 52 projects outward toward the outer end plate l3 of motor housing H. Shaft 59 is knurled for a portion of its length, at 60, to provide a friction gear. Ob-

viously, if desired, instead of knurling shaft 59 a suitable gear may be secured thereon. In either case, the motor drive or armature shaft 59 is provided with a gear secured thereon. for cooperation with gear 41.

It will be noted that countershaft 31 is parallel with and in front of the motor drive shaft 59 and, as above stated, is disposed adjacent the lower end of the yoke 32. A tension spring 62 is anchored at its rearward end to arm 4| of yoke 32 and, at its forward end, to a post 63 secured in the inner end wall l2 of gear housing H. This tension spring 62 urges yoke 32 in a forward direction about roll shaft l9, into its position shown in Figure 5, movement of yoke 32 in that direction being limited by a stop member 64 secured to yoke arm 4| and projecting forward thereof for contact with a second post 65 secured in wall 12 and in a reenforcing strip or pad 66 spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to this wall. When the roll shaft I9 is not being driven, yoke 32 is held by tension spring 52 in its forward position shown in Figure 5, gear 41 being then disposed forward of gear of the motor drive shaft 59, out of engagement therewith, as shown in Figure 5. The motor 52 is then completely disconnected from the roll driving train and may rotate freely thereof without driving any part of the mechanism, other than the motor shaft itself, for transmitting power from the motor to the roll shaft. That is advantageous in that the motor, which may be a fractional horsepower motor of comparatively small output, may continue to operate during the intervals in which the articles to be ironed are being arranged upon the roll 2i], without consuming an appreciable amount of electric current, which is conducive to conserving the electrical energy required to drive the machine, while avoiding necessity of repeatedly stopping and starting the motor with resultant comparatively large consumption of current. It will also be noted that when gear :37 is in its forward or inoperative position shown in Figure 5, the roll 2]] may readily be turned in either direction, with its shaft i9, for proper positioning thereon of articles to be ironed, which facilitates the ironing operation.

Roll as has associated therewith a cooperating shoe 5% which is, in general, of known .construc tion and a brief description of which will suffice. Shoe 158 has a face plate 69 shaped conformably to the curvature of roll 2%, and a sheet metal cover is providing, with plate 69, a housing enclosing the resistors .or heating elements. The heating elements are secured in position within the shoe, by screw studs ll welded or otherwise suitably secured to base plate 853, these studs receiving nuts 12 screwing on their .rearward ends. Two of the studs H secure a pair of angle brackets 14 (Figure 3) to the shoe inspaced relation with their arms extending rearward thereof. The brackets it receive the end portions of a pivot pin 15 suitably secured, as by rivets 16, to the upper end of a leaf spring ll of suitable strength and rigidity for supporting the shoe 63 for movement to and from roll 23, spring El being properly tempered for holding the shoe to the roll under appropriate spring pressure during the actual ironing operation. A relatively short leaf spring i8 is clamped, at its upper portion, between pin 15 and spring I! and extends at a downward and forward inclination therefrom into contact with clamp plate 190i shoe 6.8, effective for restraining the. shoe against downward movement to an objectionable extent about pin 15, when it is in its position away from the .roll, as shown in Figure 5. An electric cord 88 (Figures l and 2), provided at its free end with a plug cap 8| of known type, is lead into the gear housing ll and,has suitable. connection to the motor 52. If desired, a switch 82 of known type may be provided for controlling the motor circuit and, also, controlling the circuit of theheating elements of the shoe, as will be explained more fully presently, and the gear housing may be provided with a translucent panel or bullis eye 83 illuminated by a light within the gear housing so long as the motor circuit is closed. Under ordinary conditions, the motor 52 is intended to remain in operation so long as the machine is in use, and the switch 82 and the bulls eye 83 may be omitted if desired. The electrical connection to the switch .82 and to the light for illuminating the bulls eye 83, when provided, may be of conventional type and need not be illustrated nor further described here.

The lower portion of leaf spring 11 extends diametrically through a roll operating shaft 85 disposed in back of shoe 68 below and parallel therewith and rocka. ly mounted, at its outer portion, in end walls I2 and I3 of'gear housing II, this shoe operating shaft being mounted in back of mctortfi, as shown. Leaf spring H, is secured in shaft 85in any suitable manner, conveniently by means of cap screws 86. Theupp'er end of spring I fits snugly; but not tightly, between the brackets 14 and in cooperationtherewith restrains pin '15 against lengthwise movement through these brackets. angle bracket 81 is suitably secured, as by bolting, to the top wall of base it of the machine, with its vertical arm-88 fitting snugly but no-ttightly about shoe operating shaft and in contact with the outer edge of leaf spring l-"i adjaoentrthe lower end thereof. It will be that the shoe i3 8 isdisposed in back of roll 20 and may be movedto :and from the latter by turning the shoe operating shaft .85 in proper directions. To that end, I provide a shoe operating and control lever which, in addition to moving the shoe to and from the roll, also con-. trols the drive of the roll, .as will be explained.

The shoe operating and control lever 38 com-.- prises a main section SI and a handle section 52, pivoted to section-9:5 ,at .93, for relative movement about a horizontal axis. Section 9.2 is provided with an angularly disposed finger or which underlies the lower edge .of section ill and restrains handle section 92 against relative downward movement about pivot 93 beyond its normal position in alignment with section Bi, as shown in Figures 5 and v6. Main section 9.! of lever Si) .is of approximately L-shape in plan (Figure 3), with its forwardly extending arm fitting snugly, but not tightly, around shoe shaft 85 and connected, at its. rearward .end,wby an offset element 9.6., to an outwardlyextending arm s1: parallel with shaft 85 and fixed thereto, conveniently by .a bolt 98.. It will be apparent that when lever is moved downward, from its position shown in Figure 5 to its position shown in Figure 6, shoe operating shaft 85 is turned in counterclockwise .direction efiective for moving shoe 6.8 forward into cooperation relation to roll 20, leaf spring ll being then flexed and serving to holdthe shoe against the roll, or against an article passing between the roll and the shoe, under suitable spring pressure. The shoe- 63 is heated by resistorsv .of known type, as above indicated, .for which purpose an armored cable 100, of known type, is led from gear housing I I through the tubular shoe shaft 85 and thence to the shoe 88, the latter preferably being provided with an adjustable heat control thermostat HH of known type. The electrical connections to the shoe and to the thermostat will be readily understood, are not of the essence of my invention and need not be illustrated nor described in greater detail. The leaf spring H. is .quite strong and rigid and the tubular shaft 85 .is subjected "to a certain amount of twist or torsion when the shoe is in cooperating relation to the roll, thus serving, in effect, as a torsion member or spring which supplements spring H to assure adequate pressure between the shoe and articles being ironed. The brackets 14 are located at about the mid-length of shoe 68 and the disk 23 is located at about the mid-length of roll Zil, to the end of uniform distribution of pressure and proper aligning of the shoe with the roll.

Lever 9!] is urged upward by .a tension spring 1512 anchored at its lower end, by a pin I93, to the main lever section BI and, at its upper end. to a pin I04 secured to the inner end wall or plate l2 of gear housing H. In the raised or inoperative position of lever 90, spring H32 serves as a counterbalance for holding the shoe 53 in its rearward position shown in Figure 5,

upward movement of lever 90 being positively limited by means to be described presently.

A downwardly and forwardly inclined leaf spring I05, having an angularly disposed arm I06, is suitably secured, conveniently by bolting, to a finger I! projecting outward from the lower end of arm 4| of yoke 32. A pin I09 is secured to lever section 9|, in position to contact spring I05 in the downward movement of lever 90 and to be moved clear of spring I05 in the upward movement of the lever. Duringdown ward movement of lever 90, from its inoperative position shown in Figure 5 to its operative position shown in Figure 6, pin I09 contacts spring I05 and displaces it rearward, thereby swinging the yoke 32 in counterclockwise direction, from its position of Figure 5 into its positon of Figure 6. That brings the relatively soft face of the terminal or transmission gear 41 into contact with the gear 50 of motor shaft 59, as lever 99 approaches the limit of its downward movement, and in the further downward movement of lever 90 spring I05 is flexed so that gear 41 is then held in pressure contact with gear 60, as shown in Figure 6. Downward movement of lever 90 is limited by a rubber bumper II2 mounted on bight portion or base element I4 of the gear housing II, the top wall of base I0 being provided with a suitable opening to accommodate the usual stem or stud of bumper II2, as will be understood. When lever 90 is in its lower or operative position, roll is driven by motor 52, as will be understood, and is rotated in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, for feeding the articles being ironed between the roll and the shoe. Since the countershaft 3'! is in front of motor shaft 59 and adjacent the lower end of yoke 32, it will be clear that when roll 20 is driven the rearward strand or run of sprocket chain 45 is the tension strand. Accordingly, countershaft 37, and with it gear 41, is urged toward motor shaft 59 by the pull of the rearward strand of the sprocket chain, and that pull increases with resistance to rotation of roll 20. In that manner I assure driving pressure contact between the gears 31 and 60 such that the pressure between these gears increases with increasing resistance to rotation of roll 20. That is of importance, since articles ironed by the machine of my invention may vary widely with respect to the resistance to rotation of roll 20 offered by such articles, and where a friction drive is employed there would be likelihood of objectionable slippage between the friction members, during ironing of articles offering relatively high resistance to rotation of the roll, unless that were guarded against. Since the pressure between the friction gears 41 and 60 increases with increasing resistance to rotation of roll 20, no objectionable slippage occurs and, by using a constant speed motor, which is preferred, I assure that roll 20 is driven at proper ironing speed regardless of the article being ironed. While I have referred to the facing of gear 41 as being formed of rubber or like resilient or elastic material, such facing may be of a relatively soft metal, or other material, such as to assure a firm grip therewith of the serrated gear element 60 of motor shaft 59. As above indicated, if desired a separate gear may be secured on the motor shaft 59 and this gear may be a friction gear or a tooth gear, in which latter case the gear 41 would likewise be a tooth gear thus providing a positive drive as distinguished from a friction drive. In the case of a positive drive, the pull of the rearward strand of sprocket chain 45 is effective for holding the gear 4'! to the gear of the motor shaft. It will be clear that my invention comprehends, in its broader aspects, the use of either positive gears or friction gears, though possessing definite advantages with respect to the latter, as above pointed out. When the lever is moved from its lower operative position of Figure 6 to its upper inoperative position of Figure 5, pin I09 is moved upward clear of spring I05 and yoke 32 is returned to its forward position by tension spring 62, moving gear 4'! forward out of contact or engagement with gear 60. That completely disconnects the motor 52 from the driving train of roll 20, with the advantages above stated.

It is desirable that the operator have her hands free for smoothing on the roll 20 articles to be ironed, before they reach the area of the shoe. To that end I provide means for locking the lever 99 in its lowered or operative position, this means being automatic and readily releasable as desired for moving the shoe away from the roll. A locking pawl H5 is freely mounted at its upper end on pin or post 65 for swinging movement forward and rearward of the gear housing II. Pawl H5 is provided at its lower end with a V-shaped element II6 and, adjacent thereto; with a forwardly extending finger II'I having an outturned lip H8. A wire torsion spring II9 is suitably mounted on post 85, this spring having a downwardly extending arm E20 bearing against the rearward face of lip H8, and an upwardly extending arm I2I which is hooked about post 63. Torsion spring Ii9 urges pawl H5 in clockwise direction about post 65, as will be clear. Movement of pawl H5 in that direction is limited by a finger I22 of lever handle section 92 extending upward therefrom. When lever 90 is in its lowered or operative position shown in Figure 6, the point at the lower end of pawl H5 is in contact with the upper edge of main section 9| of lever 90, pawl II5 being then substantially in vertical position effective for locking lever 90 in its operative position. In order to release lever 90, handle section 92 thereof is moved upward a slight distance, substantially into its position indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 6. In this upward movement of handle section 92, finger I22 thereof displaces the pawl II5 rearward to substantially its position indicated in dot and dash lines, and further upward movement of handle section 92 displaces pawl II5 a further distance rearward, this rearward movement of pawl II5 releasing the main lever section 9i for upward movement by tension spring I02. As lever section 9| moves upward pawl H5 is swung rearward and upward thereby into its position shown in Figure 5. At that time, the upper edge of main lever section SM is in contact with the lower edge of pawl II5 adjacent post 65, thus providing a stop positively limiting upward movement of lever section 9I. Thereafter the lever is held in its raised or inoperative position by tension spring I02, as will be clear from Figure 5, until the lever 90 is again returned to its lowered or operative position and locked therein by pawl II5, as has been explained. I thus provide simple and highly efficient means whereby lever 90 may be locked automatically in its operative position, leaving both hands of the operator free for smoothing articles on the roll 20, and this lever may as 9 readily be released, for movement of shoe 68 away from roll 20.

The end walls or plates I2 and I3.of gear housing II are connected by cross braces I25 bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Angle brackets I25 are spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to bight element Id of gear housing II midway between the end walls thereof. The cross braces I25 and the brackets I28 are suitably bored and tapped for reception of screws securing a sheet metal cover IZ'I, shaped as shown in Figures 5 and 6, thereto between the end plates of the gear housing. Cover 52? is provided at each side edge thereof with a suitably shaped rubber beading I28 extending about the edge portions of end plates I2 and I3 of gear housing II, providing cushioning means effective to prevent objectionable vibration or metallic contact between the parts. Preferably, rubber pads I29 are provided at each lower corner'of gear housing II and at each of the brackets I25, the lower edges of cover I28 seating on the pads I29, the latter serving to prevent metallic contact and objectionable vibration of the parts.

It will be seen that the ironing machine of my invention is of simple and inexpensive construction and is of exceptionally light weight, such that it may conveniently and safely be lifted by a housewife, or woman or girl, of ordinary or average physical strength. Since the shoe operating and control lever 90 is of considerable length, the shoe may be moved in cooperating relation to the roll without objectionable effort, and the tension spring I02 is effective for moving the shoe away from the roll, so that but little effort is required in the use of themachine. It will be understood, as above indicated, that changes in construction and arrangement of parts of the ironing machine of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In an ironing machine, a roll, a rockably mounted shoe shaft in back of said roll, a shoe carried by said shaft movable thereby to and from said roll, a lever fixed to said shaft extending forwardly therefrom having an upper inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and movable downward to a lower operative position in which said shoe is moved to said roll, yielding means urging said lever toward its upper position, a motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon, a swinging support yieldingly urged away from said motor shaft, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said motor and said roll comprising a transmission gear in front of said motor shaft carried by said support movable therewith rearward and forward into and out of driving engagement with said motor shaft gear, and a downwardly and forwardly inclined resilient cam member secured to said support, said lever having a cam member disposed to contact said support cam member and thereby move said transmission gear into driving engagement with said motor shaft gear in the downward movement of said lever and to clear said support cam member and thereby free said support member for forward movement thereof into position with said transmission gear disengaged from said mo- 10 tor shaft gear in the upward movement of said lever.

2. In an ironing machine having a roll, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll and a shoe movable by said shaft to and from said roll; a motor, a control lever comprising a main section fixed to said shaft extending forward therefrom and a handle section pivoted to said main section for relative upward movement from a normal lower position and restrained against downward movement relative to said main section from such normal lower position, said lever being yieldingly urged upward into an inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and being movable downward into an operative position in which said shoe is in cooperating relation to said roll, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said roll and said motor responsive to movement of said lever from its inoperative position to its operative position and vice versa, a fixed support and a locking pawl pivoted thereon above said lever yieldingly urged forward, said pawl and said handle section having cooperating means positioning said pawl in contact with said lever effective for looking it in operative position, when said lever is lowered and said handle section is in its said normal position relative to said main section, and effective for displacing said pawl rearward thereby releasing said lever for upward movement upon upward movement of said handle section relative to said main section.

3. In an ironing machine, a roll, a rockably mounted shoe shaft in back of saidroll, a shoe carried by said shaft movable thereby to and from said roll, a lever fixed to said shaft extending forwardly therefrom having an upper inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and movable downward to a lower operative position in which said shoe is moved to said roll, a motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon, a swinging support yieldingly urged away from said motor shaft, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said motor .and said roll comprising a transmission gear in front of said motor shaft carried by said support movable therewith rearward and forward into and out of driving engagement with said motor shaft gear, a downwardly and forwardly inclined resilient cam member secured to said support, and a cam member carried by said lever disposed to contact said support cam member and thereby move said transmission gear into driving engagement with said motor shaft gear in the downward movement of said lever and to clear said support cam member and thereby free said support for forward movement thereof into position with said transmission gear disengaged from said motor shaft gear in the upward movement of said lever.

4. In an ironing machine, a roll, a rockably mounted shoe shaft in back of said roll, a shoe carried by said shaft movable thereby to and from said roll, a lever fixed to said shaft extending forwardly therefrom having an upper inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and movable downward to a lower operative position in which said shoe is moved to said roll, a motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon, a swinging support yieldingly urged away from said motor shaft, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said motor and said roll comprising a transmission gear in front of said motor shaft carried by said support movable therewith rearward and forward into and out of driving en gagement with said motor shaft gear, a downwardly and forwardly inclined cam member secured to said support, and a cam member carried by said lever disposed to contact said support cam member and thereby move said transmission gear into driving engagement with said motor shaft gear in the downward movement of said lever and to clear said support cam member and thereby free said support for forward movement thereof into position with said transmission gear disengaged from said motor shaft gear in the upward movement of said lever.

5. In an ironing machine, a roll, a rockably mounted shoe shaft in back of said roll, a shoe carried by said shaft movable thereby to and from said roll, a lever fixed to said shaft extending forwardly therefrom having an upper inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and movable downward to a lower operative position in which said shoe is moved to said roll, a motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon, a swinging support yieldingly urged away from said motor shaft, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said motor and said roller comprising a transmission gear in front of said motor shaft carried by said support movable therewith rearward and forward into and out of driving engagement with said motor shaft gear, a cam member carried by said support, and a second cam member carried by said lever disposed to contact said support cam member in the downward movement of said lever and to clear said support cam member and thereby free said support for forward movement thereof into position with said transmission gear disengaged from said motor shaft gear in the upward movement of said lever, one of said cam members being inclined downwardly and forwardly effective for moving said transmission gear into driving engagement with said motor shaft gear in the downward movement of said lever. I

6. In an ironing machine, a roll, a rockably mounted shoe shaft in back of said roll, a shoe carried by said shaft movable thereby to and from said roll, a lever fixed to said shaft extending forwardly therefrom and movable about the axis of said shaft to an inoperative position in which said shoe is away from said roll and an operative position in which said shoe is moved to said roll, a motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon, a swinging support yieldingly urged away from said motor shaft, means for establishing and disestablishing driving connection between said motor and said roll comprising a transmission gear in front of said motor shaft carried by said support movable therewith rearward and forward into and out of driving engagement with said motor shaft gear, a cam member carried by said support, and a second cam member carried by said lever disposed to contact said support cam member in the movement of said lever to operative position and to clear said support cam member and thereby free said support for forward movement thereof into position with said transmission gear disengaged from said motor shaft gear in the movement of said lever to inoperative position, one of said cam members being inclined effective for moving said transmission gear into driving engagement with said motor shaft gear in the movement of said lever to operative position.

FREDERICK M. FREIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 223,232 Kohler Jan. 6, 1880 1,339,917 Bond May 11, 1920 1,468,414 Pope Sept. 18, 1923 1,559,104 Jensen Oct. 27, 1925 1,618,400 York Feb. 22, 1927 1,632,094 Newsham et a1 June 14, 1927 1,795,023 Gordon Mar. 3, 1931 1,889,947 Carlson Dec. 6, 1932 1,930,800 Gordon Oct. 17, 1933 1,979,561 Lewis Nov. 6, 1934 2,071,888 McCabe Feb. 23, 1937 2,149,057 Kohl Feb. 28, 1939 2,341,701 Dudley et a1 Feb. 15, 1944

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