US2917211A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1959 J. SILVERMAN PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 7,7608 5/ZVft/YIA ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1959 J. SILVERMAN PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1958 /8 A Z Q 40 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V E N TO R 7/7608 5/! VDP/VI/V QM Wa-JM ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1959 J. SILVERMAN 2,917,211

PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4

'IJ III 1 til /111111. IIIII a6 Z JM ATTORNEY United States Patent O 2,917,211 PRESS ING MACHINE Jacob Silverman, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Application March 10, 1958, Serial No. 720,350

14 Claims. (Cl. 2232) The present invention relates to a machine for pressing sheets, and particularly pouch-like composite sheets such as are used as flaps and cuffs for the pockets of coats, jackets and the like.

Pocket flaps usually comprise upper and lower sheets of material secured together at three sides to define a pouch and adapted to be secured along their fourth side to the garment with which they are used. In the past these flaps have been pressed by placing them on a die which holds them taut, then pressing the flap while it is on the die through the application thereto of heat and pressure, often accompanied by steam, and thereafter removing the flap from the die. There are certain drawbacks involved in this prior art procedure which have been tolerated because they were thought to be unavoidable. It is diflicult and time consuming to slide the pouch-like flap onto the die and to arrange it thereon in proper position to be pressed. Removal of the flap from the die involves the application of appreciable force which often leads to destruction or deterioration of the results of the pressing operation. Unless different dies are provided or the size of the die is adjusted for each different size of flap, even if the size difference is very small, the eflicacy of the pressing operation is minimized, since it is important that the flap be pressed in a tautly stretched condition, and the die is relied upon to produce thatcondition. Also, because the dies themselves are subjected to the heat of the pressing operation, which usually lasts for an appreciable period of time, they tend tobecome quite hot after a few pressings, and this makes for considerable difficulty on the part of the operator in removing pressed flaps therefrom and placing new flaps thereupon. Moreover, since the die must be present at the pressing station while pressing takes place, no pressing can occur while a flap is being placed upon or removed from the die, and thus theoutput of a givenmachine in terms of the number of pressed flaps which can be produced in a given period of time is greatly limited.

The pressing machine of the present invention avoids all of these drawbacks, and does so by means of a structure which is simple, inexpensive, and substantially foolproof.

In the machine of the present invention the die is utilized to stretch the flap taut and to convey it to the pressing station. However, once the flap has reached the pressing station the die is withdrawn therefrom, and thereafter the flap is pressed. Thus the die is not subjected to the heat involved in the pressing operation and it is, moreover, available during the time that the pressing operation takes place for the applicationthereto of a new flap. The insertion of each new flap into the pressing station ejects the previously pressed flap therefrom. Thus the removal of the flap from the die and the ejection of the flap from the pressing station are entirely automatic, and all the operator need do is apply new flaps tothe die as they areneeded, and this, it will be noted, in an extremely eflicient manner from a production time point of view.

To accomplish these results, and to facilitate theplac- See ing of the flap thereon, the die is of variable size, and will adapt itself within'limits to flaps of different sizes without requiring adjustment. A handle is provided to control the size of the die. The die is converted to its smaller size, the flap is placed thereon, this being an easy operation because the die is then smaller than the flap, and the die is then manually converted to its larger size, in which it holds the flap taut. The die, with the flap thereon, is then moved to the pressing station, where the flap is frictionally gripped. Reconversion 'of the die to its smaller size results in the die engaging the flap with much less force than does the pressing station. Accordingly, the die may be Withdrawn, the flap will remain in the pressing station, and the pressing operation can then take place, the die then being free for the application thereto of a new flap while the pressing of the preceding flap occurs.

While the conversion of the die from its large to its small size when in the pressing station may be manually accomplished, it is preferred that this be accomplished automatically, and means to that end are here specifically disclosed. It is usually desired that a steam pressing operation be carried out. To this end the movement of the die, with the flap attached, toward the pressing station automatically causes a jet of steam to be applied to the flap, thus conditioning the latter for the subsequent pressing operation; v

As here specifically disclosed the pressing operation is manually initiated, as by stepping upon a foot treadle or the like, and a timer is provided so that, when once initiated, the pressing operation will continue for a desired period of time and will then terminate.

. To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a pressing machine as defined in the appended claims and asdescribed in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. ,1 is a three-quarter perspective view of the machine of the present invention with the die shown in standby position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig.-

.1, taken from the direction of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan-view of the machine of Fig. 2 but with the die in the pressing station;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the die withdrawn from the pressing station and on its way to its normal standby position, the flap previously carried by the die being shown in the pressing station;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the die'showing the manner in which the die is converted from large to small size; and

Fig. 7 is a three-quarter perspective view on a reduced scale of the die with a flap applied thereto.

The machine comprises a support generally designated 2 and carrying a table 4 on which a pressing station 6 is provided, that pressing station being defined between a fixed plate 8 which overlies the table 4 and a pressure plate 10 thereunder which is adapted to move upwardly through an aperture 12 in the table 4. Any suitable heating means, preferably electrical, is active on the pressure plate to maintain it at an elevated temperature. The die, generally designated 14, is mounted on a carriage 16 slidable along arm 18, which is pivotally mounted at 20 adjacent that end of the table 4 opposite the pressing station 6, the die 14 being movable from its standby or loading position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which it is abovethe table 4 and beyond the pressing station 6, to

3 an intermediate position (see Fig. 5) on the table 4 and beyond the pressing station 6, and then to a final delivery position (see Figs. 3 and 4) in which it enters the pressing station 6. V

In order to bias the die 14 to its standby position ,a pair of stretched springs 22 are connected between the carriage 16 and an arm 24 secured to and extending rearwardiy from the arm 18, these springs therefore urging the carriage 16 to a rearward position along :the arm 18 as viewed in Fig. 1. Extending downwardly from the rearwardly projecting end of the arm 24 is a hook 26, and a tension spring 28 is connected between that hook 26 and a portion of the support 2,-the-.s pring 28 being active to urge the arm 18 to pivoti upvvardly,;as best shown in Fig. 2. The carriage 16 is provided with a handle 30 to facilitate its manual manipulation.

The carriage 16 has a mounting part 3 2;to whichGa plate 33 is fixedly secured at one side thereof, that plate having an elongated slot 34 extending therethrough. A plate 35, also provided with an elongated slot ;34,,is pivotally mounted on the underside of the plate 32 at 44. The die 14, in the form here specifically disclosed, comprises a pair of side plates 36 and 38. The plate 36 is secured to the plate 33, and is adjustably positionable relative thereto, by means of a clamping screw .40 which passes through the slot 34 in the plate'33-and which, when screwed down, clamps the plate 36, to the plate 33. The-position of the plate 36 may be adjusted to correspond to flaps of different sizes by virtue ofthe position of the clamping screw 40 along therslot 3.4 through which it passes. The plate 38 is secured to "the plate 35by the clamping screw 46 in a manner comparable tothat of plate 36. An ear 48 extends 'rearwardly from plate 35 and is connected by means of tensionsspring 50 to an ear 52 forming. a part of the plate 33. The spring 50 biases the plate 38 to pivot in acounter-cloekwise directionas viewed in Figs. 1, 6-and7. The plate 32 ;has-a' laterally projecting portion 54. Cam 56 isipositioned therebelow in engagement with the side edge of the plate 35, is pivotally mounted about pin 58, and has an outwardly projecting portion 60 to Whichhandle 62 is connected by means of pin 64, the handle 62 and cam 56piv0ting as a unit about thepin 58. The shapeof the cam 56 is such that when it is moved to its forward position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 it will permit the plate 38 to pivot outwardly to a predetermined degree, and when 'the'cam 56 and handle 62 are moved rear- Wardly, to their positions shown in Figsrl and 3 and in the broken lines in Fig.6, the plate 38 will be forced inwardly thereby, pivoting in a-clo ckwise direction against the action of the spring 50. The cam 56 isfurther so designed as to function in an over-center manner so" that, when in either of its limiting positions described'ab ove, the pressure of the plate 38 thereon derived 'from the spring 50, will tend to'cause the cam 56 to remain in'that position. It will therefore be seen that when the handle 62 is in its forward position the plate 38 will move laterally away from the plate 36,-thus causing the die 14 to have a predetermined width, and when the handle 46 is moved to its rear position the plate 38 will be moved laterally toward the plate 36, thus causing the overall Width of the .die 14 to-decrease, the dietherefore assuming; a smaller size. I

The aperture 12in the table 4 is'of appreciablev width, and is located partially under the plate 8 and partially therebeyond toward the rear of the table 4. The die'14 .is so positioned on the arm 18 when in its normal withdrawnposition as urged by the springs-22, that when the arm 18'is pivoted downwardly at least the leading portion of, the plate 36 and 38 assume-a position the reabove,.and consequently above the pressure plate whichsubstantiallyfills the opening 12 but is'freelymovable vertically therethrough. Springs 66 carried by cross bars 68 beneath the table 4 urge the'pressureplate "10 to a raised; position, bestshown in-Fig. -4,- toward but,

spaced from the plate 8. The pressing station 6 is defined between the plate 8 and that portion of the pressure plate 10 thereunder, and it will be noted particularly from Figs. 4 and 5 that this pressing station is provided with an open end 70 facing the rear portion of the table 4 and an opposite open end 72 facing the front end of the table 4 and communicating with a table extension 74 from which a shelf 76 may be suspended.

The pressure platelt), is provided, on that portion thereof over which the die 14 is positioned, with a hole 78 to which a stream duct 80 is connected, that duct in turn communicating with a suitable source of steam via normally closed valve 82 adapted to be actuated by solenoid 84. The solenoid is in turn electrically connected to microswitch 86 the actuating button 88 of which extends up through a hole 90 in the tab-1e 4 to one side of the die 14. A bracket 92 carries a pivotally mounted arm .;94 the end of whichispositioned over the button iSB a ndTWhich'is provided withan extension 96. Thedie carriage 1 6 has an arm 98 extending therefrom and carrying a roller 100 so positioned that when the die 14 ,is moved downwardly from its position shown in Figs.) and 3 to its position shownin Fig. 5 the roller .1100 will engage the extension '96, and force the lever 94 down thereby depressing button 88, energizing solenoid :84Qopeningvalve 82, and causing a jet of steam to issue upwardly through the hole 78. When the ,die 14 reaches its lowermost-position, the roller 100'willhave passed ofifrom the extension 96, the arm .94 will no longer depress thebutton 88, the valve 82 will close, and the jetofjsteam will stop. Thusit will be seen that each time that the die'14 is depressed a. jet of. steam of limited duration will emerge from thehole 78.

Means are providedfor urging the pressure plate 10 up jwardly with considerable force in'order to produce a pnessingoperation. ,-As:here disclosed, that means coniprisessagpressure-pin'I02 adapted to engage the'under- 'isider-of -the pressure plate -10-and carried-by arm 104 pivotally 'mounted at 106 beneath'the table 4-and provided with spring 108 active between it and the table 4 to tendto urge the arm 104 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5,- therebyto withdraw the pin..102 from thepressure plate 10. A second arm 110.is-pivotally mounted beneath the table 4 at 112, is operatively connected to the arm 104 at 114, and is pro vided with:a-spring-116tending to urge it topivot in a counter-clockwise direction. A portion of the arm extends out beyond 'the front of the support 2, and is there connectedtoa chain-118 the other end of which is secured t'oa foot treadle or-hand lever 120 (see Fig. 2). Depending-from the"arm':110'is an arm 122 carrying a roller 124 at its lower end and urged by means of spring -126 towardjthe frontof the support 2, thatfront being provided'with a cutout 128 into which the roller 124 may be received when the foot treadle 120 has been depressed.

A solenoid130 is'located opposite the cutout 128 and is raised standby position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

handle 62 is'rearwardly positioned, thus causingthe width of the die 14'to'contract. The sheet to be pressed, generally "designated 141, and'here specifically disclosed in pouch 'frorn and comprising an upper. sheet 142 and a lowersheet 144 connected together along one long side and two short. sides. is then fslinped vover the protruding portion "ofthe 'die 14,. is very easy to accomplish because with the width of the die contracted it issmaller than the interior of the sheet 141. After the sheet 141 is in proper position the handle 62is moved forwardly,.the die plate 38 moves away from the die plate 36,the-width of the die increases, and the sheet 141 is thus held tautly on the die, the plates 36 and 38 having been previously positioned on the mounting part 32 in order that this result is obtained. It may be noted atthis point that because of the resilient mounting of the plate 38 the die 14 will accommodate itself to variations in the size of individual sheets 141, within limits, without requiring any readjustment on the carriage 16.

Next the handle 30 is grasped and depressed. This brings the sheet 141 directly over the steam hole 78 in the pressure plate and engagement between the roller 100 and the extension 96 on the arm 94 causes a jet of steam to be applied to the sheet 141.

When the die 14 has been depressed sufiiciently so that the sheet 141 is resting on the pressure plate 10, the handle 30 is then pulled forwardly, causing the carriage 16 to slide along the arm 18. The leading portion of the die 14, on which is carried the sheet 141, thus enters the pressing station 6 through the open end 70 thereof. Just before the die 14 reaches its final position in this direction, a pin 1-46 projecting up from the table '4 engages the outwardly protruding portion 60 of the cam 56 and swings the cam 56, and with it the handle 62, to its rear position, thus causing the plate 38 to move toward the plate 36 (see Fig. 3). As a result the sheet 141 is no longer taut on the die 14. However, the springs 66 urge the pressure plate 10 upwardly with suflicient force so that the sheet 141 is frictionally grasped between the pressure plate 10 and the plate 8. The sheet 141 will therefore retain its shape even though the die 14 has contracted in size.

Next the handle 30 is pulled to the rear, withdrawing the die 14 from the pressing station 6. Because the sheet 141 is no longer tautly stretched thereon, and because the sheet 141 is frictionally gripped between the plate 8 and 10 by reason of the action of the springs 66, the

die 14 is retracted from the sheet 141, and that sheet 141' remains in the pressing station 6. The springs 22 and 28 cause an automatic return of the die14 to its standby position, and the die 14 is in its condition of contracted size, ready to have another sheet 141 applied thereto.

The operator then depresses the foot treadle or hand lever 120 until the roller 124 enters the cutout 128, being urged there by spring 126. When this happens the pressure pin 102 will urge the pressure plate 10 upwardly with considerable force, and the sheet 141 will be pressed. When the arm 110 which aetuates the pressure pin 102 has been moved down to its position in Fig. 5 it will automatically engage button 138 of switch 136, closing the latter, and this will in turn close a circuit to the solenoid 130 through the timer 140 which has been previously set for the desired duration of the pressing operation. The circuit through the timer 140 is normally open, the solenoid 130 therefore normally being de-energized. Thus all that is necessary is for the operator to initiate the pressing operation and then release pressure from the treadle or lever 120. The spring 126 will ensure that the pressing operation will continue for the desired period of time. When that time has elapsed the circuit through the timer 140 will close, the solenoid 130 will be energized, its armature 132 will be retracted, the roller 124 will be pulled out from the cutout 128 against the action of the spring 126, and the action of the springs 108 nad 116, which have been tensioned during the pressing operation, will cause the arms 104 and 110 to resume their positions shown in Fig. 4, thus withdrawing the pressure pin 102 from the pressure plate 10 and terminating the pressing operation.

It will be appreciated that once the pressing operation has been initiated the operator can thereafter turn his undivided attention to the application of a new sheet 141 onto the die 14, followed by manipulation of the handle 62 to expand the die 14 and hold the new sheet 141 taut.

As soon as the pressing operation has terminated the sequence of operations above described is repeated. As the new sheet 141, carried by the 'die 14, is inserted into the pressing station 6 it will engage the previously pressed sheet 141 and force it out of the pressing station through the opening 72 thereof and onto the table part 74, where it is available for inspection. If it appears to be in proper condition nothing further need be done, and upon the next succeeding operation the sheet 141 next ejected from the pressing station 6 will force the first pressed sheet 141 beyond the table portion 74 and onto the shelf 76, where completed and properly pressed sheets will stack up in condition for removal. If inspection of the sheet 141 on the table portion 74 indicates improper pressing, the sheet 141 may be manually taken therefrom and re-pressed.

It will be seen from the above that the machine of the present invention is not only sturdy and simple, but also automatic and substantially foolproof. It produces better pressing than machines previously used for this purpose because the flaps or sheets are pressed with the dies removed therefrom, and in addition permits more rapid production, because the die is available for the application thereto of a new sheet while the pressing operation on the preceding sheet is taking place, and rnore eonvenient production, because the die is not subjected to heat during the pressing operation and because its size may be varied to facilitate the application of sheets thereto.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention is here disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made therein, all within the scope of the instant invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pressing device for a sheet comprising a support, a pair of spaced overlying plates thereon defining therebetween a pressing station, a member articulately mounted on said support having a portion adapted to carry said sheet, said member being movable between a first position beyond said pressing station and a second position in which said portion is received between said plates at said pressing station, said member portion being variable in size between a large size efiective to hold said sheet taut and a smaller size, means carried by said member and operatively connected to said portion to controllably vary the size thereof, and means operatively connected to said member portion, sensitive to the position of said member relative to said support, and effective to cause said member portion to assume its smaller size when said member is in its second position.

2. The pressing device of claim 1, in which said pressing station is open at opposite ends, said member entering said pressing station through one end thereof, the other end thereof serving as an ejection opening for a pressed sheet.

3. The pressing device of claim 1, the space between said plates being so related to the thickness of said member portion as to adapt said plates to frictionally engage the sheet carried by said member portion.

4. The pressing device of claim 3, in which said pressing station is open at opposite ends, said member entering said pressing station through one end thereof, the

other end thereof serving as an ejection opening for a pressed sheet.

5. In the pressing device of claim 1, means for admitting steam adjacent said pressing station, control means for stopping and starting the admission of steam thereto, and an interlock between said member and said control means effective to start and then stop said admission of steam as said member moves to its second position.

6. The pressing device of claim 5, in which said control means comprises a valve, a solenoid operatively connected thereto, and a switch operatively connected to -7 said solenoid and controlling the-energization thereof, andin which said interlock-comprises an element carried by said member and operatively engageable with said switch.

7. The pressing device ofclaim l,-in which said pressing station has an open end,-said member being mounted on said supportbeyond said open 'end so ias,'inits '-first position, to be above said plates, said member -;being movable downwardly from its first position to an intermediate position opposite said 'open end and then being movable substantiallyhorizoirtdlly'to itsse-eond position. 8. In the pressing device of claim 7, r'neans operatively connected to' said member and biasing it to its position above said plates, and means operatively connected to said member'andbiasing it away from said open end of :said' pressing station.

' 9; A pressing device for a sheet-comprising a'support, a carrier member articulately mounted thereon over which said sheet is adapted to be placed, pressing means on said support having a first open end facing Saidme'mber and a 'second open end opposite said-first-open-end and communicating therewith via a passage through which said sheets can pass, said carrier rnemoer'be'ing movable from a first position remote from said pressingm'eans to a second position passing through saidffirst open end and into'said pressing means, said pressing means-being eifective to frictionally engage the sheet carried by said carrier member, whereby when said carrier memb'eris withdrawn from said pressingmeans .the shectcarried thereby will remain Within said pressing means, -subsequent introduction of sheets into said pressing means causingthe ejection of previously introduced sheets via said passage and said second open end.

10. The pressing device of claim'9,--in which the size of said'carrier'rnember is variable between a larger size eifective to hold said sheet taut thereon and a-smaller size.

"11. The pressing device of claim 9, in which the size of said carrier memberis variable between a larger size effective to hold said sheet taut thereon and a smaller size, and means for causing said carrier member to assume said smaller size whenit is in its second position.

12. A pressing device for a sheet comprising a support, 'a pair of spaced overlying plates thereon defining therebetween a pressing station, a member articulately mounted .on said supportrhaving a portion adapted tocarry said sheet, said member beingimovablegbetween a first position beyond said pres'sing'station and a second position :in which said portion is received between said plates at said pressing station, said member portion being variable in sizebetwcenalarge size effective to hold said .sh'eettaut andla'smaller size, means for admitting steam adjacent said pressing station, control means for stopping'and starting .theadmission of steam thereto, and an interlockbetween saidmember and said control means effective to start and then stop said admission of steam as said member moves Ito ,its second position.

13. A pressing device for .a sheet comprising asupport, apair .of spaced overlying plates thereon defining therebetween a pressing station, a .member articulately mounted on said supporthavin-g a portion adaptedto carry said sheet,:said;member being movablehbetween a first position beyond saidpressing station and a second position in which said portion is received between said plates at said pressing station, said member portion. being variablein sizebetweena large size eifective to hold said sheet tautand .a smaller size, means carried by said memberandope'ratively connected to said portion to controllably'vary;the size thereof, said pressing station having an opencnd said'member being: mounted onsaid support beyond" said' open 'end'so as, in its first position, to,be,above saidplates, said .memberbeing movable downwardly :fromxitsfirstJ osition to an intermediate. position opposite said open end and then being movable substantially;horizontallyto its second position.

14, ,.In :the pressing device of-claim' 13, means 'operativelyc'onnectedto said me'mberand biasing it to itspositionabove.saidplates and means operatively connected to said member and biasing it away frornsaid open end of said pressing; station.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1,975,674 -Woodward et al Oct. 2,1934 2,619,267 Voigt' Nov. 25, 1952 2,673,666 Silverni'an Mar. 30, 1954 2,804,244 -Hunt Aug. 27, 1957

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