US2956356A - Ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

x.. E. scHRADER :TAL 2,956,356

IRONING MACHINE Oct. 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 18, 1958 Oct. 18, 1960 1 E. scHRADER ETAL 2,956,356

IRONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1958 Oct. 18, 1960 L. E. SCHRADER ETAL 2,955,356

IRONING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 18, 1960 l.. E. scHRADER Erm. 2,956,356

IRONING 4nlmcmtrna Filed June 18, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 armi/s1 Oct. 18, 1960 l.. E. SCHRADER x-:TAL 2,956,356

IRONING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I VENTO 6. 07677 276e fd e7.

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United States Patent Oice 2,956,356 Patented Oct. 1S, 1960 IRONIN G MCHINE Loren E. Schrader, Mount Clemens, and Le Roy C. Campbell, Goodells, Mich., assignors to Ironrite, Inc., Mount Clemens, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 18, 1958, Ser. No. 742,897

15 Claims. (Cl. 3859) This invention .relates generally to ironers and more particularly to -an ironer having a hand operable control for the ironer roll so that the ironer is `adapted to be constructed in a small portable form.

Conventional ironers include an integral supporting frame proportioned so that the ironer operator can sit on a chair while operating the ironer. These ironers include a knee control for the roll so that the operators hands are free to manipulate .the Varticles being ironed. By actuating the knee control, the operator controls the position of the roll so that it is either against the stationary ironer shoe or spaced from the shoe as desired lduring 'the ironing operation. The small portable ironer of this invention is adapted to be positioned on any suitable support, such as -a table, a top of an automatic washer, or the like when it is used, and is provided with a hand control for the roll which is accessible in any supported position of the ironer.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved ironer.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ironer with a hand operable control for the ironer roll which is positioned adjacent the feedboard on the ironer so that it is readily operable by the operato-r when feed- .ing articles to be ironed across the feedboard.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical clutch assembly for an ironer.

Further objects, Ifea-tures and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims `and the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the ironing machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the ironing machine of this invention, with some parts broken away and other parts shown in section ffor the purpose of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View looking substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views looking substantially along the lines 4 4, 5--5, and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an ironing machine provided with a modified clutch control mechanism, with some parts broken away and other parts shown n section -for the purpose of clarity;

Figs. 8, 9 and lO are fragmentary side elevational views, illustrated similarly to Figs. 2 and 7, of other modified forms of the clutch control mechanism in the ironing machine of this invention;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the feedboard in an ironing machine having another modified form of clutch control mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view looking along the line 12-12 in Fig. 11; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are fragmentary side views of portions of ironing machines provided with two other modified forms of the clutch control mechanism of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the ironer of this invention, indicated generally at 16, is illustrated in Fig. l as including a supporting frame 12 having a front side 16 and la rear side 18 and provided with a reinforcing channel 14 (Fig. 2) which extends between the sides 16 and 18. An upright shoe support bracket 20, which forms part of the frame 12, is mounted on the front end of the channel 14 and at its upper end carries an irregularly shaped shoe supporting plate 22. An ironing shoe 24 is secured to the plate 22 and is heated by means of heating elements (not shown) disposed between the shoe 24 and .the plate 22.

An ironer roll 26 supported on the upper ends of a pair of upwardly inclined `arms 28 lis movable into engagement with the shoe 24 during ironing and is movable to a position spaced from the shoe during manipulation and removal of an article being ironed. The arms 28 are connected at their lower ends .by -a tube 30 which is rotatably supported in an Iupstanding gear housing 32 mounted on rthe frame 12 at the rear end of the channel 14. A shaft 34 :rotatably supported inthe tube 30 drives a gear train 36 -in one of the arms 28 which drives the roll 26.

A motor 38 is secured to one side of the housing 32 and has a horizontal drive shaft 40 forme-d at its terminal end as a gear 42. Speed reducing gears 44 and 46 mesh with .the gear 42 and -a gear 4S, respectively, which is splined on a `tubular gear member 50 supported on `a shaft 52 that extends across the gear housing 32. The tubular gear member 50 has teeth 54 on one end which mesh with Va rst idler gear 56 which in turn meshes with a second idlerV gear 58 that `drives a gear 60 secured lto the shaft 34 in the tube 30. Consequently, on rotation of the tubular gear member 50, the shaft 34 is driven to drive the gear train 36 and provide for rotation of the roll 26.

The opposite end of the tubular member 51) has teeth 62 and functions as `a sun gear in a planetary gear mechanism, as will more clearly appear hereinafter. The sun ygear meshes with three planet gears 64 which in turn mesh with teeth 67 formed on the inner side of a ring gear 68. The ring gear 68 is concentric with the shaft 52 and is lformed on its `outer side with teeth 70. The gears 64 are rotatably supported on shafts 66 secured to a planet carrier 72 which is rotatably supported on the shaft 52 and carries an eccentric cam 74 for a purpose to appear .presentlyA As shown in Fig. 2, the cam 74 engages the underside of one end of a pressure spring -assembly 76, the opposite end of which extends diametrically through and is secured to the tube 36. A coil spring 78 (Fig. 3) extends between one side of the gear housing 32 `and a pin 80 on the tube 30 for urging the tube 30 in a direction such that the pressure spring assembly 76 is continually urged into resilient engagement with the cam 74 which is shaped so 4that when the high side thereof engages the pressure` spring assembly 76, as shown in lFig. 2, the roll 26 is resiliently engaged with the ironing shoe 24. When the spring assembly 76 is moved into engagement with the lowside of the cam 74, .the roll 26 is spaced from the shoe 24.

The sun gear, the planet gears 64, the ring gear 68, and the planet carrier 72 constitute a clutch assembly, designated generally by the numeral 82, for selectively transmitting power from the motor 38 to the carrier 72 for rotating the cam 74. An actuating fork or yoke 84 for the Vclutch assembly 82 is secured to one end of a shaft 86 journaled in the housing 32. The opposite end of the shaft 86 is positioned in a recess 88 in the outer side of the housing 32 and is secured to the upper end of a depending clutch operating arm 90. The actuating fork 84 has a pair of diverging legs or holding members 92 and 100 which extend upwardly on opposite sides of the carrier 72. The leg 92 is formed at its terminal end with an inwardly directed tooth or projection 94 which is adapted to tit into either one of a pair of complementary shaped notches 96 formed in diametrically opposite portions of the carrier 72. The periphery of the carrier 72 is attened adjacent one side of each notch 96, as indicatedV at 98 so that the notchis of a reduced depth at that side for a purpose to appear later.

The other leg 100 of the actuating fork 84 has a laterally offset terminal end portion 102 formed with a pair of inwardly directed teeth 104 positioned so that they are movable into meshing engagement with the teeth 70 on the outer side of the ring gear 68. Y

A spring 106 extends between the lower end of the arm 90 Vand the frame 12 for resiliently urging the fork 84 into `a position in which the tooth 94 on the um 92 extends into anotch 96 in the carrier 72. Consequently, the carrier 72 is normally held in one of two stationary positions by the'fork 84. The notches 96 are located so that positions of the carrier 72 corresponding to positions of the tooth 94 in the notches 96 correspond to positions of the roll V26 in engagement with and spaced from the shoe 24. Since the gear member Si? is being constantly rotated by the motor 38 when the ironer is in use, the planet gears 64 are normally rotating the ring gear 68. When the actuating fork 84 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and v5, the tooth 94 is withdrawn from a notch 96 so that the carrier 72 is released and the teeth 104 are moved into meshing engagement with the teeth 7G on the ring gear 68 so that the ring gear 68 is held in a stationary position.

As-soon as movement of the ring gear 68 is restrained, the tubular gear member 50 drives the planet gears 64 around the ring gear 68 so that the planet carrier 72 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. During rotation of the planet carrier 72 through an angle of approximately 180, the tooth 94 rides on the periphery of the carrier 72 which is of a diameter such that the leg 100 is maintained in a position in which the teeth 104 engage the teeth 70 on the ring gear 68. Consequently, restraining of the ring gear 68 is insured until the carrier 72 is rotated to a position in which the other notch 96 is opposite the tooth 94, at which time the tooth 94 is moved into the notch 96 by the spring 106.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clutch operating arm 90 is actuated by a control pad 110, is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on pins 112 carried by a bracket 114 secured to the shoe-supporting plate 22. The bracket 114 also supports a conventional feed board 116 positioned adjacent the shoe 24 for guiding articles to be ironed into a position between the shoe 24 and the roll 26. The ironing machine operator normally positions her hands at opposite ends of the feedboard 116 and from these positions manipulates the articles being ironed as they are fed across the feedboard 116 onto the shoe 24.

The actuating pad 110 extends longitudinally of the feedboard 116 (Fig. l) and is positioned adjacent the underside of the feedboard 116 so that it is readily operable by the operator with either hand. On upward swinging movement of the outer end of the pad 110, or in other words, on squeezing of the pad 110 and the feedboard 116, an upright rod 118 pivotally connected to the inner end of the pad 110 is moved downwardly so that it rotates a bellcrank 120 pivotally supported on the channel 14 and connected to the lower end of the rod 118. Rotation ofthe bellcrank 120 results in movement of a second rod 122 connected thereto towardy the left as viewed in Fig. 2 to thereby rotate the arm 90, which is connected to the opposite end of the rod 122, in a direction opposite to the pull of the spring 106.

In the operation of the ironing machine 10, assume that `the cam 74 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the roll Y26 is rotating and is positioned against the stationary shoe 24. Further assume that the operator is feeding an article to be ironed between the roll 26 and the shoe 24. When the operator Wants to remove the article, or for any other reason wants to raise the roll 26, she manually lifts the outer end of the actuating pad 1'10 and then immediately releases the pad.

In response to lifting of the pad 110, the arm 90 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, against the action of the Spring 106, to in turn provide for a clockwise rotation of the actuating fork 84 as Viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. The tooth 94 is withdrawn from a notch 96 in the carrier 72 and the teeth 104 are moved into engagement with the teeth 70 on the ring gear 68 so that rotation of the ring gear is immediately stopped and rotation of the carrier 72 in a counterclockwise direction -as viewed in Fig. 4 begins immediately. The tooth 94 rides on the periphery of the carrier 72, during rotation of the carrier, to thereby/'maintain the teeth 104 in engagement with the ring gear teeth 70 to insure continued rotation of the carrier 72.

The formation of the carrier 72 with the Hat surfaces 98 makes actuation of the clutch assembly 82 possible in response to only slight movement of pad 110. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, only slight movement of the fork 84 is required to lift the tooth 94 out of the notch 96 to the level of the adjacent surface 98 and to engage the teeth 104 and 70. The surface 98 then functions like a cam and moves the fork 84 further in a clockwise direction to fully engage the teeth 104 and 7 0.

When the carrier 72 has rotated through an angle of approximately 180, the cam 74 secured thereto has also been rotated through an angle of 180 so that the pressure springs 76 have been moved into engagement with the low side of the carn 74 and the roll 26 is raised off the shoe 24. At such time, the tooth 94 is moved into the other notch 96 by the spring 106, so that further rotation of the carrier 72 and the cam 74 is positively restrained. At such time the ring gear 68 is released for further rotation.

When the operator wants to move the roll 26 against the shoe 24, she merely repeats the operation of moving the outer end of the pad "110 toward the feedboard 116V and immediately releasing the pad 110 so that the carrier 72 and the cam 74 are rotated through another angle of 180.

It is seen, therefore, that whenever movement of the roll 26 is desired, it is only necessary to actuate the pad which is convenientlyrlocated with respect to the op erators hands. Since the feedboard 116 is of a relatively short length, by virtue of the portable construction of the ironer 10, the pad 110 is readily formed so that it extends nearly the full length of the feedboard 116 so that the operators hands are always iu a convenient location for operating the pad 110. In one embodiment of the invention, the roll 26 is only 12 inches long.

In a modified form of the clutch operating mechanism of this invention illustrated in Fig. 7, an actuating pad 110a,like the pad 110, is pivotally supported at its inner end on pins carried by a bracket 132 connected to the shoe-supporting plate 22. Intermediate its ends, the pad 110:1 is connected to one end or" a cable which is trained about a pair of spacedV pulleys 136 on the channel 14 and is clamped to the shaft 86 by a bolt 138. The cable 134 is attached at itsl opposite end 140 to a spring I142 secured to theframe 12. The spring 142 acts to urge the shaft 86 in a countercloekwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 so that it performs the same function as the spring 106 in the preferred form of the inventionshown in Fig. 2.

' To operate the clutch operating mechanism shown in Fig.,7, the operator liftsupwardly on the outer end of the; pad 110a to thus rotate the shaft 86 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 to in turn rotate the clutch actuating fork 84 in a clockwise direction. On release of the pad 111m, the spring 14@ returns the pad to a stop position in engagement with ears 144 on the bracket 132. In this position of the pad 11041, the spring 142 also urges the tooth 94 in a direction toward the carrier 72 so that it will be moved into the next notch 96 which is moved to a position opposite the tooth 94.

In the modified form of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Fig. 8, a lever member 150 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a horizontal pivot member 152 carried by the shoe-supporting bracket 20 which forms a part of the main frame 12. The lower end of the lever 150 is connected to one end of a rod 154 which is connected at its opposite end to the lower end of the arm 90. At its upper end, the lever 150 is formed with a forwardly extending portion 156 which is disposed adjacent the underside of the eedboard 116. The terminal end 158 of the portion 156 functions as an operating pad and extends longitudinally of the feedboard 116 in addition to projecting forwardly of the feedboard 116 so that it is readily operable by the ironing machine operator. On movement of the end 158 of the lever 1513 in the direction indicated by the arrow 166, the arm 90 is rotated in a clockwise direction to in turn operate the clutch actuating fork 84. On release of the lever 150, the spring 1436 provides for its automatic return to the position shown in Fig. 8.

In the modied form of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Fig. 9, the feedboard, indicated at 116a, is pivotally supported at its inner end on pivots 162 carried by a bracket 164 secured to the shoe-supporting plate 22. A rod 166 is connected at its upper end to an intermediate portion of the feedboard 116a and at its lower end is connected at its lower end to one leg of a bellcrank 168, the opposite leg of which is connected to a rod 170 which is in turn connected to the arm 98. On upward swinging movement of the feedboard 116a, the bellcrank 168 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9 to in turn move the rod 178 so that the arm 99 is rotated in a clockwise direction to provide for the desired movement of the actuating fork 84. The spring 106 provides for return ofthe arm 96.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10, a bellcrank operating rod 118a, like the rod 118 shown in Fig. 2, is connected at its upper end to a pad 120 which extends longitudinally of the feedboard 116 and projects upwardly through a slot 122 in the feedboard 116. The pad 12@ is pivotally supported on pins 124 carried by the eedboard 116. To operate the clutch operating mechanism shown in Fig. l0, it is only necessary to manually depress the pad 120 which, by virtue of the fact that it extends through a slot 122 in the eedboard 116 is readily accessible to the ironing machine operator.

In the modied form of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Figs. ll and l2, the ironing machine feedboard 116b is formed of a molded plastic and is provided with depending bosses 170 in which a pair of horizontal pins 172, provided with heads 182, are slidably supported. At its inner end, each pin 172 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 174, the opposite end of which is guidably supported in a slot 176 formed in a plate 178 which is rotatably supported on a pin 180 carried by the shoe-supporting plate 22. At a position spaced from the pin 185, the plate 178 is pivotally connected to a bellcrank operating rod 166a which is connected at its lower end to a bellcrank like the one shown at 168 in Fig. 9. To operate the mechanism shown in Figs. 1l and l2, the operator moves one of the pins 172 inwardly of the feedboard 116i). This movement of a pin 172 moves the corresponding link 174 in a direction to rotate the plate 17 8 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 to in turn lift the rod 166:1 and rotate the bellcrank 168 in a direction to rotate the arm 90.

In the modified form of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Fig. 13, a bellcrank operating rod 118b,

like the rod 1.18 shown in Fig. 2, is connected at its upper end to one leg of a bellcrank 190 rotatably supported on the shoe-supporting bracket 2i). The other leg of the bellcrank 19d is pivotally connected to the inner end of an operating pad 192 which is slidably supported intermediate its ends on a downturned flange 194 at the outer side of the eedboard 116. On movement of the pad 192 inwardly of the feedboard 116, in the direction of the arrow 196, the bellcrank 190 is rotated to move the lrod 11811 downwardly to rotate the arm in a clockwise direction.

In the modied form of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 14, the feedboard 116C is pivotally supported at its inner end on the bracket 164 as in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9. A rod 198 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to an intermediate portion of the feedboard 116C is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bellcrank like the one shown at in Fig. 2. Consequently, on downward movement of the eedboard 116C, the arm 90 is rotated in the desired direction for actuating the clutch assembly 82.

In all of the above described forms of the operating mechanism for the clutch assembly 82, the operating pad is either disposed adjacent the eedboard for the ironer or the feedboard itself is movably mounted for operating the clutch assembly 82. Consequently, the clutch assembly can at all times be quickly operated by the ironing machine operator who has her hands located adjacent the ironing machine eedboard for manipulating the articles to be ironed. By virtue of the construction of the clutch assembly 82 with the control ring gear 68 and the planet carrier 72, it is produced economically and is adapted for operation by merely actuating the operating pad.

it will be understood that the specic constructions of the improved ironing machine herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting material to be fed between the roll and shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said cam to provide for rotation of the cam from one position to the other only in response to actuation of the clutch means; clutch actuating means mounted on and accessible from a side edge of said feedboard for movement relative thereto, and means connecting said clutch actuating means to said clutch means.

2. in an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting material to be fed between the roll and shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said cam to provide for rotation of the cam from one position to the other only in response to actuation of the clutch means; clutch actuating means pivotally mounted on and accessible from a side edge of said feed-board for movement relative thereto, and means connecting said clutch actuating means to said clutch means.

3. In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting material to be fed between the roll and shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said earn to provide for rotation of the cam from'one position to the other on actuation of the clutch means; lever means mounted on said frame andV having one end thereof located adjacent and accessible from a side edge of said feedboard for manual operation to rotate said lever means, and means connecting said lever means to said clutch means to provide for actuation of the clutch means in response to rotation of the lever means.

4. ln an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, Va rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting the material to be fed between the roll and the shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with the cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, continuously rotatable gear means mounted on said frame, and means including a gear train connecting said roll and gear means for rotating the roll; clutch means interposed between said gear means and said cam to provide for selective rotation of the cam between said positions, said clutch means comprising a sun gear driven by said gear means a planet gear arranged in meshing engagement with said sun gear, a planet carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and connected to said cam for rotating the cam, a ring gear concentric with said sun gear and positioned in mesh with said planet gear, and means for selectively restraining said ring gear and said carrier so that said cam is selectively rotatable.

5. In an ironer, a clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a continuously rotatable sun gear mounted on said shaft, a planet gear positioned in mesh with said sun gear, a ring gear concentric with said sun gear and meshing with said planet gear, a carrier for the planet gear mounted on said shaft, and means movable in one direction to a position restraining the ring gear against movement so that said planet gear drives said carrier and in an opposite direction to a position restraining the carrier to prevent rotation thereof.

6. In an ironer having a shoe, a roll movable between a position in engagement with said shoe and a position spaced from said shoe, cam means operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll between said positions, and a `drive shaft for rotating the roll; a shaft, gear means on said` shaft, idler gearsV extending between said gear means and said drive shaft for driving the drive shaft, means for continuously rotating said gear means, and clutch means including a planet gear positioned in mesh with said gear means, a ring gear concentric with said gear means and meshing with said planet gear and a carrier for said planet gear connected to said cam means for driving the cam means, and means for selectively restraining the carrier or the ring gear to provide for selective rotation of the cam means.

'In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting material to be fed between the roll and shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said cam to provide for rotation of the cam from one position tothe other only in response to actuation of the clutch means; clutch actuating means pivotally mounted on said feedboard for movement relative thereto, and cable and pulley means connecting said clutch actuating means to said clutch means.

8. In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engage* ment with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, `a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving Vthe roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said cam to provide for rotation of the cam rom one position to the other on actuation of the clutch means; a feedboard member movably mounted on said frame and positioned adjacent said shoe, and means connecting said feedboard member and said clutch means so that the clutch means is actuated in response to movement of said feedboard member.

9. In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting material to be fed between the roll and shoe `for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with said cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, power means for rotating said cam and clutch means interposed between said power means and said cam to provide for rotation of the cam from one position to the other only in response to actuation of the clutch means; clutch actuating means pivotally mounted on and extending through said feedboard for movement relative thereto, and means connecting said clutch actuating means to said clutch means.

l0. In an ironer having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, a clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a continuously rotatable sun gear mounted on said shaft, a planet gear positioned in mesh with said sun gear, a ring gear concentric with said sun gear and meshing with said planet gear, a carrier for the planet gear mounted on said shaft, and -means movable in one direction to a position restraining the ring gear against movement so that said planet gear drives said carrier and in an opposite direction to a position restraining the carrier to prevent rotation thereof and maintain the carrier in a predetermined position corresponding to predetermined relative positions of said roll and shoe.

l1. ln an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a lrotatable roll mounted on said frame for moveA lent between a positionV in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting the material to be fed between the roll and the shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with the cam for moving the roll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, continuously rotatable gear means mounted on said frame, and means including a gear train connecting said roll and gear means for rotating -the roll; clutch m-z'ins interposed between said gear means and said cam to provide for selective rotation of the cam between said positions, said clutch means comprising a sun `gear driven by said gear means, a planet gear arranged in meshing engagement with said sun gear, a planet carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and connected to said cam for rotating the cam, a ring gear concentric with said sun gear and positioned in mesh with said planet gear, and a clutch actuating fork rotatably mounted adjacent said clutch means and provided with a pair of ldiverging legs, one of said legs being movable into restraining engagement with said carrier on rotation of the fork in one direction and the other one of said legs being movable into restraining engagement with said ring gear on rotation of the fork in an opposite direction.

12. In an ironing machine having a frame, a stationary shoe mounted on said frame, a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for movement between a position in engagement with the shoe and a position spaced from the shoe, a feedboard positioned adjacent the shoe for supporting the material to be fed between the roll and the shoe for ironing, a rotatable cam mounted on said frame, pressure springs connected to the roll and positioned in engagement with the cam for moving the yroll between said positions in response to rotation of said cam between a pair of corresponding positions, continuously rotatable gear means mounted on said frame, and means including a `gear train connecting said roll and gear means for rotating the roll; clutch means interposed between said gear means and said cam to provide for selective 4rotation of the cam between said positions, said clutch means comprising a sun gear driven by said gear means, a planet gear arranged in meshing enga-gement with said sun gear, a planet carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and connected to said cam for rotating the cam, -said carrier being formed with notches in diametrically opposite portions thereof and having cam surfaces extending from said notches in the direction of rotation of said carrier, a ring gear concentric with said sun gear and positioned in mesh with said planet gear, a clutch actuating fork rotatably mounted adjacent said clutch means and provided with a pair of diverging legs, one of said legs having a tooth movable into one of said notches on rotation of said fork in one direction, said tooth being engageable with the cam surface adjacent said notch on rotation of the fork in the opposite direction to initially engage the other leg thereof with said ring gear, said cam surface being shaped to further rotate said fork in said opposite direction for fully engaging said other leg with said ring gear.

13. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a rst position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a rotatable member mounted on said frame and a holding member mounted adjacent said rotatable member for movement toward and away from the rotatable member and into engagement therewith for effecting movement of said roll and shoe between said positions, coacting means on said holding member and on angularly spaced portions of said rotatable member defining stop positions of said rotatable member corresponding to said first land second roll and shoe positions, and means for rotating said rotatable member.

14. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from eac-h other, means for rotating said roll, means including a rotatable member mounted on said frame and a holding member mounted adjacent said rotatable member for movement toward and away from the rotatable member and into engagement -therewith for effecting movement of said roll and shoe Ibetween said positions, said rotatable member being arranged so that it is drivable by said roll rotating means, and coacting means on said holding member and on angularly spaced portions of said rotatable member defining stop positions of said rotatable member corresponding to said .first and second roll and shoe positions.

15. An ironing device comprising in combination a rotatable roll member and a shoe member, at least one of said roll member and said shoe member being movable relative to t-he other to positions in which said roll and said shoe are engaged and disengaged, actuatable means attached to said movable member for -moving said movable member toward and away from said other member and for resiliently biasing said members together during engagement, actuating means movably connected to said actuatable means eiective to cause said actuatable means to move said movable member relative to said other member, said actuating means comprising cam means attached to said actuatable means, a planet gear attached to said cam means for rotating same, a sun gear and a ring gear concentric therewith drivingly connected by said planet gear, means for driving said sun gear, control means -associated with said cam means and said ring gear operable to restrain rotation of said ring gear to thereby effect rotation of said cam means during the period of said ring gear restraint and operable to restrain rotation of said cam means to thereby drive said ring gear during the period of said cam means restraint.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,109 Dodge Mar. 19, 1929 1,815,345 Colman July 21, 1931 2,192,186 Dunham Mar. 5, 1940 2,260,799 Bush Oct. 28, 1941 2,349,014 Sperlich May 16, 1944 2,583,685 Davis Ian. 29, 1952 2,711,600 Sperlich June 28, 1955

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