US2085466A - Pressing machine and control - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1937. w JOHNSON ET AL 2,085,466

PRESSING MAGHINE AND CONTROL Filed Nov. 26, 1934 FIG.

INVENTOR GEORGE W. & ANGUS F.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE AND CONTROL Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,698

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type generally used in laundry and garment work and to a novel control mechanism therefor.

An object of the present invention is to pro- ,vide a pair of cooperating pressing members, power storage means for moving one of said members toward the other, means for energizing and holding energized the power storage means, means for placing the members in juxtaposition, and means for thereafter releasing the power storage means whereupon the members are placed in final pressure engagement.

More particularly our invention provides a bed mounted on spring means, a motor for placing a cooperating head close to the bed and simultaneously loading the spring means, and means for releasing the spring loading means so that the bed is urged against the head in its final pressure position.

Our invention also provides a motor and motion transmitting mechanism for closing the press, the motion transmitting mechanism being arranged to be held in press-closed position by pressure exerted between the pressing members when the power stored in the spring means is exerted to produce said final pressure.

Other objects and advantages of our invention comprise suitable structure and control mechanism for carrying out the above purposes as will more clearly appear from the accompanying specification and drawing and the essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevation of a press with the pressing members in open position, embodying our invention, certain of the parts being shown in section to more clearly disclose the structure. The control mechanism for this press is shown in diagrammatic form for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a partial View showing the pressing members of Fig. l in another position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

We have illustrated our invention as applied to a press of the well known scissors type in which the bed is supported on the frame by springs and the head is moved toward and from a safe closed position by toggle means. Simultaneously with this movement of the head to closed position the bed actuated by a motorrecedes sufficiently to load the springs. Thereafter with the head still in closed position, the motor is actuated to release the springs whereupon the bed moves into final pressure engagement with the head. We do not desire to be limited, however, tothis specific mechanism as our invention may be applied to other types of presses and the spring means or other power storage means may be mounted upon the head or bed as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the press illustrated, a bed pressing member It is mounted on a frame H for vertical movement relative thereto, the mounting comprising flanges [2 on the bed adapted to slidingly engage a member i3 on the frame. Between the member l3 and the bed Ill and supporting the bed ID are springs Hi. It is preferable that there be a plurality of such springs, four being shown, and it is obvious that these springs are so calculated that in the final position of the pressing members when the springs are urging the bed into final engagement with the head they will supply sufii cient pressure to create the ironing effect desired. Power means is provided for energizing and holding energized the power storage means or spring means It; In the form shown -a cylinder and piston motor I5 is mounted beneath the bed and the motor has a piston [6 connected by a vertically extending piston rod H with the bed member H).

A pressing head member i8 is carried by a head lever ill which is pivotally mounted at 20 on a portion of the frame and oscillatable to open and close the press by means of toggle links 2| and 22 which in turn are connected at their knuckle with the piston rod 23 of a cylinder and piston motor 24. The toggles are so arranged that they may be moved beyond their straightened position when the head is safely closed, which movement is limited by the shoulders 26 and 27 located at the toggle knuckle. A spring 28 is connected between the frame and toggle member 22 to bias the toggles toward their broken position, which opens the press.

Control mechanism is provided for the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid to motors l5 and 24 which, in the present embodiment, comprises a normally closed inlet valve 29 and a normally open exhaust valve 30 which are mounted on a common stem for operation by manual 3|. Inlet valve 29 communicates with a source of fluid supply 32 and with motor 24 by way of conduit 33 and with motor l5 by way of conduits 34 and 35. In conduit is a check valve 36 which permits flow of fluid only in the direction indicated by the arrow. Valve 3B therefore serves as an exhaust for motor 24 only. Conduit 33 leading to motor 24 is restricted as by means of needle valve 31. By-passing the needle valve 37 is a conduit 38, in which is located a check valve 39 which permits fiow only in the direction of the arrow. Conduit 35 also communicates with a normally open exhaust valve 40 and a normally closed inlet valve 4|, which in turn communicates with a source of fiuid supply 42. Valves 40 and 4 I are mounted on a common stern for simultaneous actuation by manual 43. A study of Fig. 1 will show that valve 40 provides a normally open exhaust for motor 24 through conduits 33, 38, 34, and 35.

The operation of the machine with the parts in the position of Fig. 1 is as follows: The operator arranges the lay of the work on the bed member I and actuates manuals 3| and 43. Actuation of manual 43 closes exhaust valve 4|] and opens inlet valve 4|, while actuation of manual 3| closes exhaust valve 30 and admits pressure fluid through conduit 32, valve 29, conduit 33 and needle valve 31 to motor 24. Piston 25 moves over, moving the toggles beyond their straightened position and moving the head to its safe closed position as shown in Fig. 2. Simultaneously with the above action, pressure fluid flows through valve 29, conduit 33, check valve 36, conduits 34 and 35 to motor l5 above piston l6 which moves the piston downward causing the bed ID to recede from the head to the position shown in Fig. 2, while simultaneously energizing or compressing the springs l4. Because the rate of fluid supply to motor I5 is greater than that to motor 24, the bed It! reaches the position of Fig. 2 before the head descends. This may be controlled by regulating valve 3'|. With the parts in the position of Fig. 2, the operator now releases both manuals whereupon valves 30 and 40 return to their normally open positions and valves 29 and 4| return to their normally closed positions. Fluid is then exhausted from motors l5 and 24, that from motor l5 being accomplished somewhat more quickly than that from motor 24 because of .the arrangement of the conduits and because of the reduced capacity of motor I5. Springs M are thus released and bed In is moved thereby into pressure engagement with the head I8. This movement of the bed is accomplished so quickly that the toggle members 2| and 22 are still in their position beyond straightened position, that is to say, with the knuckle of the toggles to the left of a straight line connecting the end pivots of the toggles as seen in Fig. 1, and with the shoulders 26 and 2'! in engagement. It should be noted that release of manual 43 alonewill release pressure above piston I6 sufficiently to permit springs M to act and close the press. This mode of operation is eifective although wasteful of air. It will be apparent that pressure between the pressing members It! and I8 will hold the toggles in this locked position beyond their straightened position. To open the press, manual 43 is actuated which closes valve 48 and opens valve 4|. Fluid flows from supply 42 through valve 4| and conduit 35 to motor 55. This motor again compresses sprin s l4 and causes bed H] to recede from the head, whereupon spring 28 is eifective to break the toggles toward their position in Fig. 1 and the press opens. Manual 43 is then released and the parts are ready for another pressing cycle.

Both hands of the operator are kept occupied in the actuation of manuals 3| and 43 until the parts reach the safe-closed position shown in Fig. 2. As the head l8 comes down, the bed I0 recedes so that final pressure engagement between the members does not take place until the manuals are released after the members are in the safe-closed position of Fig. 2. We have thus provided a safe press and one which is held in final pressure engagement by spring means, while all fluid pressure is exhausted from the press when the members are in their closed position.

What we claim is:

i. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge one of said members toward the other member, means for energizing and holding energized said power storage means, means for relatively moving said members into juxtaposition, means for coincidently causing actuation of the two last-named .means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storage means to place said members under final pressure.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge one of said members toward the other member, means for moving one of said members to a position adjacent the other member, means operatively connected with said moving means for energizing and holding energized said power storage means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storage means to place said members under final pressure.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating pressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge the first of said members toward the second member, means for moving the second of said members to a position adjacent the first member, means operatively connected with said moving means for energizing and holding energized said power storage means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storage means to place said members under final pressure.

4. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating pressing members, each relatively movable with respect to the other, spring means biasing one member to its press-closed position, power means for causing said one member to recede from its press-closed position whereby said spring means is stressed, power means for moving said other member substantially to press-closed position, means for coincidently energizing both of said power means, and means for releasing said first-named power means.

5. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, spring means adapted to urge one of said members toward the other member, means for moving one of said members to a position adjacent the other member, means operatively connected with said moving means for energizing and holding energized said spring means, and means for thereafter releasing said spring means to place said members under final pressure.

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable head and bed pressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge said bed member toward the head member, means for moving said head member to a position adjacent the bed member, means operatively connected with said head member moving means for energizing and holding energized said power storage means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storage means to place said members under final pressure.

'7. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge the first of said members toward the second member, means for moving said second member to a position adjacent the first member including mechanism adapted to be held in press-closed position by final pressure between said members, means for energizing and holding energized said power storage means, means for coincidently causing actuation of the two last-named means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storage means to, place said members under final pressure.

8. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with said bed, means biasing said head toward open position, means for moving said head to safeclosed position adjacent said bed including mechanism for holding said head in said position by pressure between said head and bed, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge said bed into pressure engagement with said head when the latter is in its safeclosed position, power means for loading said spring means, control means actuable by two hands of an operator for coincidently actuating said head moving means in head-closing direction and said power means in spring-loading direction, and said control means being arranged to release said power means upon removal of one hand.

9. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with said bed, means for moving said head to safeclosed position adjacent said bed including a fluid motor, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge said bed into contact with said head in its safe-closed position, a second fluid actuated motor having an operative connection for loading said spring means, control means for coincidently actuating said first-named motor in head-closing direction and said second motor in spring-loading direction and for thereafter releasing said second motor.

10. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with said bed, means for moving said head toward said bed including toggle links and a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said links to a locked position, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge said bed into contact with said head when said links are in locked position, a second fluid actuated motor having an operative connection for loading said spring means, and control means for actuating said first-named motor in head-closing direction and said second motor in spring-loading direction and for thereafter releasing said second motor.

11. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon for vertical movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with said bed, means for moving said head toward said bed including toggle links and a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said links past straightened position to a locked position,

spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge said bed into contact with said head when said links are in locked position, a second fluid actuated motor having an operative connection for loading said spring means, control means requiring two hands of an operator for coincidently actuating said first-named motor in head-closing direction and said second motor in spring-loading direction, and said control means being arranged to release said second motor upon removal of one hand.

12. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon for vertical movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with said bed, means for moving said head toward said bed including toggle links and a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said links past straightened position to a locked position, the connection between said links and said head being arranged to hold said links locked by pressure between said head and bed, means tending to break said toggle and open the press, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge said bed into contact with said head when said links are in locked position, a second fluid actuated motor having an opera tive connection for loading said spring means,

control means for actuating said first-named motor in head-closing direction and said second motor in spring-loading direction and for thereafter releasing said second motor whereupon said press is held closed by said spring means, and means for thereafter actuating said second motor in spring-loading direction whereby said toggle breaking means opens the press.

13. A pressing machine, comprising relatively movable pressing members, yieldable means tending to produce relative movement of said members toward each other to produce pressure upon the work, power actuated opposing means operating against the effect of said yieldable, means and when energized arranged to preponderate over the same and cause relative movement of said members away from each other, and power cut-cit means for deenergizing said opposing means for rendering the same ineffective to thereby permit said yieldable means to become effective upon the work.

14. A pressing machine, comprising relatively movable pressing members, yieldable means tending to produce relative movement of said members toward each other to produce pressure upon the work, fluid actuated opposing means operating against the effect of said yieldable means and arranged to preponderate over the same and cause relative movement of said members away from each other, and means for progressively releasing motive fluid from said opposing means to thereby permit progressive application to the work of the effect of said yieldable means.

I GEORGE W. JOHNSON.

ANGUS F. HANNEY.

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