US2192185A - Rotary ironer - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1940. G.'W. DUNHAM ROTARY IRONER Filed Feb. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet .2

'II/IIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII'II Inventdv GeotgeW Dunham b5" H15 Atbohneg.

March 1940- 5. w. DUNHAM 2, 85

ROTARY 'IRONER Filed Feb. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invent or George W Dunham:

Hls Attorney.

March 5, 1940. w, DUNHAM ROTARY IRONER Filed Feb. 18, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventov George W Dun ham, b 4 7 4 His AGt ovneg Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY momm George W. Dunham, Westport, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York The present invention relates to ironing machines of the type in which ironing is effected between a heated shoe and a padded roll.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in ironing machines of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ironer in section along line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is an end elevation in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig.

4 is a top plan view of the ironer housing partly broken away to show the driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation in section along line 5-5 of Fig. 2, the shoe being shown pressed against the roll; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the shoe 20 being moved away from the roll; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement for supporting the shoe; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig.'7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bracket connecting the shoe to. the shoe 25 supporting arm; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of securing the cover to the shoe; Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the ironer; Fig. 12 is a View showing the shoe moved to a position in which its work contacting 330 face can be cleaned; Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the pawl and detent connecting the shoe operating shaft to the mechanism for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll; Fig. 15 is an end elevation in section along line l5-l 5 35 of Fig. 2; Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line Iii-l6 of Fig. 15; Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the lever and the parts associated therewith controlling the driving connection to the roll; Fig. 18 is an enlarged perspective view 'of the driving 40 mechanism for the ironer; and Fig. 19 is an elevation of a mechanism for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll which may be w substituted for the eccentric and eccentricstrap illustrated in the other figures.

45 Referring to the drawing, the ironer comprises a shoe I and a roll 2 whichare carried by a housing 3 containing mechanism for rotating the roll and for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll. The housing is'secured to 50 the top 4 of a suitable table by bolts 4a threaded into lugs 417 on the housing (see Fig. 2).

The shoe comprises an arcuate metal plate 5 which is heated by suitable electric heating elements (not shown). On the upper surface of 55 the plate are secured studs 6 to which is fastened a shoe cover I. At the center of the plate 5 is secured a bracket 8 having arms 9 which are. pivotally connected to an arm Ill by means of a pin II. The arm IlL'which serves as the shoe supporting arm, is keyed to a shaft l2. When 5 the shaft I2 is oscillated, the shoe is moved toward and away from the roll. The shaft I2 is journaled in a tube l3 which is fixed in a boss M (Fig. 4) in the side walls of the ironer housing.

The roll comprises a sheet metal cylinder 15 10 having disks l6 and I! at each end secured thereto respectively by means of flanges I8 and I9 secured to the inner surface of the cylinder. On the outer surface of the cylinder I5 is a pad 28 which is held thereon by means of a pad cover 15 2|. The pad cover is held in place by means of snap rings 22 which fit in grooves 23 in the flanges l8 and IS. The disk I! is secured to the flange 24 of a sleeve 25 carrying a sleeve bearing 26 which rotatably supports the roll on a tube 21 fixed in a boss 28 in the ironer housing. The disk It is fixed to a sleeve 29 which is keyed to a shaft 30 journaled in the tube 21. The roll is rotated by the shaft 30 through the driving connection formed by the sleeve 29 and the disk I6.

The ironer is operated by an electric motor 3| which is resiliently supported from a plate 32 by means of arms 33 having openings 34 which are snapped into grooves in rubber bushings 35. The plate 32 is secured to the underside of the table top by the bolts 4a. The compression of the rubber bushings, and therefore the resilience of the mounting, is varied by means of nuts 36 which are threaded on spindles 31 secured to the plate 32. The motor shaft 38 is slotted to receive a bar 39 which fits in the slotted end of a shaft 40 and serves as a coupling between the shafts.

The shaft 40 is journaled in a boss 4| which is integral with a web 42 extending across the side walls of the ironer housing. The shaft 48 has 40 cut therein a worm 43 which meshes with a worm wheel 44 rotatably carried on the roll driving 'shaft 38. The thrust of the worm shaft 48is taken by a ball 45 which bears against the end of plug 43 threaded in the top wall of the ironer 45 housing; After adjustment, the plug 48 is prevented from turning by means of a set screw 41.

' Integral with the worm gear 44 is a hug having a pinion 48 cut. therein and having a bearing surface 48 on which is rotatably carried the hub 58 0 of internal gear 5|. The internal gear 5| meshes withgears 52 which are rotatably carried on stub shafts 53 fixed to an. arm 54 which is pinned to the roll driving shaft 30. The gears 52 also mesh with the pinion 48. The pinion 48, the internal 55 gear 5|, the gears 52 and the arm 54 comprise an epicyclic or planetary gear train which provides a speed reducing driving connection between the continuously rotating worm wheel 44 and the roll driving shaft 30. When the rotation of the internal gear 5| is not restrained, the friction in operating shaft I2.

the bearings of the roll shaft 38 is sufiicient to hold the roll shaft stationary. When the internal gear 5| is held stationary, the planetary gearing provides a speed reducing driving connection to the roll shaft. For holding the internal gear stationary, I have provided a control lever (see Figs. 2 and 17) which is pivoted on a pin 56 carried in bosses 51. The control lever 55 has an arm 58 having a hooked end 580. which is adapted to fit in depressions 59 in a flange 68 on the internal gear 5|. The lever 55 is controlled in a manner which will hereinafter be described.

The shoe is moved toward and away from the roll by means of an eccentric 8| which is rotatably supported on the tube 21 adjacent the side wall of the ironer housing. It is important that the eccentric be supported adjacent the side wall of the ironer housing since the forces exerted by the eccentric are large. If, for example, the eccentric were supported on the free or unsupported end of the shaft 30, i. e., on the part where the planetary gearing is located, the boss 28 and the tube 21 would have to be made much more rigid. On the eccentric is an eccentric strap 82 which has a ball-and-socket connection with crank arm 64. The arm 84 has spaced side walls 84a carrying a pin 64b therebetween on which is pivoted thereon a pawl 65. The pawl has a tongue 66 adapted to fit in a slot 61 in a collar 68 keyed to the shoe operating shaft |2. The pawl is biased into engagement with the slot 81 by means of a spring 89. When the tongue 66 engages the slot 61. the arm 64 is fixed to the shoe 7 The arm 64 has a socket for a ball 18 which engages the upper end of a shaft 1| slidably carried in a boss 12 in the web 42. A suitable packing 13 is provided in the boss 12 to prevent the leakage of lubricant around the shaft. The shaft 1| is biased upwardly by means of a coil spring 14 arranged between a seat 15 on the shaft and a seat 16 on a rod 11 which is threaded into a nut 18 fixed in the plate 32. The compression of the spring 14 is adjusted by threading the rod into and out of the nut 18, a handle 19 being provided on the rod for the convenience of the operator. The force of the spring 14 tends to 1 move the shoe toward the roll andthe eccentric der 84.

is therefore used only for moving the shoe away from the roll. This manner of operating the shoe provides substantially.uniform pressure between the shoe and the roll regardless of variations, in the thickness of the ironer pad and of the material being ironed. When the shoe is pressed aga'instthe roll, the parts of the ball and socket in the drawings, the key is held in its inner position by engagement with one of the ends 85 of a C-shaped trip lever 86. The trip lever is loosely mounted on pins 81 fixed in bosses 88 and is resiliently held against the faces of the bosses by means of coil springs 89 (see Fig. 16). The ends of the trip lever are moved out of the path of the key 8| by means of an arm 90 fixed to a shaft 9| journaled in a boss 9 la in the web 42. When the shaft 9| is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 16, the ends 85 of the trip lever 86 are moved toward the roll to a position out of contact with the key 8|. Thekey BI is then moved outward by the spring 82 into engagement with one of a plurality of notches 92 (Fig. 4) in av flange 93 integral with the continuously driven worm wheel 44, thereby completing a driving connection between the worm wheel and the eccentric. Once the driving connection is completed, the trip lever 88 is allowed to be returned to its normal position by the springs 89. The shaft 9| is returned to its normal position by a coil spring -9|b which tends to turn the shaft in a counter.-

clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 16. The rotation of the eccentric continues through 180 until the key 8| comes in contact with the other end 85 of the trip lever. This end moves the key inward and breaks the driving connection to the flange 80 so that it is not necessary to provide a rigid support for the spring.

The trip lever 86 is so arranged that at the en of each 180 movement of the eccentric, the eccentric occupies either the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the shoe is pressed against the roll or the position shown in Fig. 6 in which the shoe is moved away from the roll. Any tendency to overtravel of the eccentric is prevented by the friction between. the eccentric and the tube 21,

which friction is further increased by a coil spring carried in a circular opening in the eccentric and bearing on the tube 21. The spring 94 urges a ball 95a. outward and when the eccentric is in the positionsshown in Figs. 5 and 6, the ball fits in 'one of the notches 98 in theeccentric strap. The spring pressed ball 95:; serves as a detent for molding the eccentric strap in proper relation to the eccentric.

When the ironer is used for continuous ironing, it is desirable that the rotation of the roll be started and stopped in accordance with the position of the shoe. That is, the roll should be stationary when the shoe is away from the roll and the roll should rotate when the shoe is pressed against the roll. This is effected by means of a cam 91 (see Fig. 1'1), integral with the eccentric 7 8|, which engages an arm 98 on the control lever 55. The arm 98 is held against the cam 91 by means of a coil spring 99 arranged between a boss I90 (Fig. 3) in the ironer housing and a seat |8| in the upper side of the arm. The shape of the cam 91 is such that the hooked end 58a of the arm 58 is moved into engagement with one of the notches 59 when the shoe is pressed against the roll and is moved out of engagement with the notch when the shoe is moved away from the roll. The rotation of the roll, which is started upon engagement of the hooked end 58a with one of the notches 59, starts somewhat before the development of the full pressure between the roll and the shoe. This reduces the starting load on the roll driving mechanism.

When the ironer is used for pressing it is desirable that the roll remain stationary when the shoe is pressed against the roll. This is effected by 7 means of a hand lever I02 (see Fig. 4) fixed on a shaft I03 journaled in the front wall of the ironer housing. On the inner end of the shaft I03 is fixed a lever I04 (Fig. 1'7) which when moved to a vertical position lifts the arm 98 to a position where the hooked end 58a of arm 58 is clear of the notches 59. As long as the lever I04 is held in this position the roll remains stationary. The lever I02 is held stationary with reference to the ironer housing by means of a spring pressed ball detent I02a.

The ironer is controlled by means of a lever or knee pad I05 which is fixed to a shaft I06 by means of a set screw I0'I (Fig. 15). The shaft I06 is slidably carried in brackets I08 on the underside of the table top. The righthand end of the shaft, as viewed in Fig. 4, bears against an arm I09 fixed on the shaft 9|. Movement of the lever I05 to the right causes the shaft 9| to be turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 16, thereby moving the ends of the trip lever 86 clear of the key 8| so that the spring 82 can move the key into one of the slots 92 to complete a driving connection to the eccentric. As soon as the driving connection is completed, which requires only a very short interval due to the large number of slots 92 and the relatively high speed of rotation of the worm wheel 44, the lever I05 is released and the shaft 9| is returned to its normal position by means of the springs 89 acting on the trip lever 86 and the coil spring 9Ib turning the shaft 9|. When the eccentric is rotated through the key is moved out of the slot 92 by engagement with one of the ends 85 of the trip lever 86 as described above.

The movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll may also be controlled by means of the lever I02. When the lever I02 is moved to a vertical position projecting upward from. the shaft I03, a movement of the upper end of\ the lever toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 will cause the cam lever I04 to engage the center of the trip lever 86 and move it toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4. This causes the ends 85 of the trip lever to be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 4 to a position in which they are clear of the key 8|. The key 8| is then moved outwardly into one of the notches 92 under the action of the spring 82 to complete a driving. connection from the worm gear 44 to the eccentric 6|. As soon as this driving connection is completed the lever I02 may be released and it will be returned to the verticalposition by means of the coil spring 89 which tends to return-the trip lever 86 to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Similarly, when the lever I02 is turned to the pressing position, i. e., the position in which it projects downwardly from the shaft I03, it can likewise be used to control the driving connection to the eccentric. When .in this position movement of the lower end of the lever I02 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 causes the lever I04 to engage the trip lever 86 and move it to a position permitting the key 8| to move outward into one ofthe slots 92 and complete a driving connection from the worm gear 44 to the eccentric. Upon release of the lever I02, after completion of the driving connection, it will be returned to the vertical position by means of the springs 89 acting on the trip lever 86.

The lever I05 is also used to effect the release of the pressurebetween the roll and the shoe in case of failure of the power supply. This is effected by means of a downward movement of the'lever which causes the shaft I06 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The shaft I06 has a lever ||0 fixed thereto which bears against the lower end of a rod III slidably carried in the plate 32. and the web 42.

' The rod III is biased downward to the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a coil spring II2. A was-her 3 which engages the upper side of the table top serves as a stop which limits the downward movement of the rod. When the shaft I06 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the rod III is moved upward, its upper end striking the pawl 65 and moving the tongue 66 out of the notch 61. The shoe will then move away from the roll due to the energy stored by the flexing of the shoe and roll supporting parts. The rearward movement of the shoe will stopwhen a spring-pressed detent ||4 carried in the. web 42 engages a notch H5 in the collar 68. In this position the tongue 66 is adjacent a shoulder II6 on the collar 68. The eccentric, eccentric strap, and the arm 64 remain stationary during this movement.

Upon movement of the control lever I05 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the eccentric is turned I80 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. During this movement the detent I I4 holds the collar 68 stationary and the eccentric moves the arm 64 to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the. arm' 64 reaches this position the tongue 66 is moved into the slot 61 by thelspring 69, thus re-establishing the connection between the shoe operating shaft and. the eccentric.

The same mechanism which serves as an emergency .release, also serves to permit the movement of the shoe to a position in which the work contacting face of the shoe can be cleaned.

the completion of the cleaning of the shoe, the I I driving connection between the shoe and the eccentric can be automatically reestablished by operating the control lever I05 to cause the turning of the eccentric. At the start, the eccentric is in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 12. Upon turning of the eccentric through 180, the tongue 66' co-operates with the shoulder M6 to move the collar 68 to the'position' shown in Fig. 6, where it is held by the detent H4. The shoe operating shaft is now in the position shown in Fig. 6, and the eccentric, the eccentric strap, and the arm 64 are in the position shown in Fig. 5. During the next 180 movement of the eccentric the collar 68 is held stationary by the detent H4 and the arm 64 is moved from the'position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position the tongue 66 is moved into the notch 61 by the spring 69. It is, therefore, apparent that upon release of the connection between the eccentric and the shoe the connection is automatically re-established by successive operation of the eccentric.

In the use of the ironer, the material to be ironed is first arranged on the roll, the roll being stationary and the shoe away from the roll. The knee pad I05 is then moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby moving the shaft I against the arm I09 and turning the shaft 9| in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 16. The arm 90 which is fixed to the shaft 9| engages the trip lever 86 and pivots it about the studs 81 until the ends thereof are clear of the key 8|. The key is then moved outward by the spring 82 into one'of the slots 92 in the worm wheel 44, completing a driving connection from the worm wheel to the eccentric. As soon as this driving connection is completed, the knee pad is released and is returned to its normal position by the springs 09 acting on the trip lever 86 and by the coil spring 9Ib acting on the shaft 9|. The driving connection to the eccentric remains completed until the eccentric has turned through 180 degrees at which time the key 8| is moved out of the slot 92 by engagement with one of the ends 85 of the trip lever. After being moved out of the slot 92, the key is moved further inward by engagement with the C-shaped spring 94. This prevents any clicking of the key against the edges of the slots 92.

The 180 degree rotation of the eccentric moves the eccentric from the position shown in Fig. 6 in which the shoe is separated from the roll to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the shoe is pressed against the roll. The pressure between. the shoe and the roll is developed by the spring 14, which acts through the rod II and the bracket 64 to turn the shoe supporting shaft I2 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. When the shoe is pressed against the roll, the parts of the ball and socket joint 63 are separated, the amount of separation depending upon the thickness of the pad and the thickness of the material being ironed.

When the eccentric is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the cam surface 91 which is integral with the eccentric occupies'the position shown in Fig. '7. In this position the control lever 55 is moved to the.position illustrated in which the hooked end 5811: of the arm 58 is moved into one of the depressions 59 in the flange 60 on the internal gear 'I. This holds the internal gear 5| stationary so that a driving connection is completed to the roll driving shaft 30 from the worm wheel 44 through the planetary gearing which comprises the pinion &8, the internal gear SI and the gears 52. The shape of the cam 91 is such that the driving connectiorrto 131161011 is completed before full ironing pressure is built up between the roll and the shoe. When the roll is rotating, the ironer is adapted for ironing flat work which is fed under the shoe by the rotation of the roll.

Under some circumstances it is desirable that the roll remain stationary. This is effected by turning the lever I02 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position in which it projects vertically downward. This causes the lever I04 to be moved in a clockwise direction to a position extending upward from the shaft I03. In this position, the upper end of the lever I04 engages the arm 98 of the lever 55 and holds it in a position in which the hooked end 50a is clear of the depression 59. While in this position,

the roll remains stationary due to the fact that v moving the knee pad I05 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. This causes the eccentric to be turned through another 180 degrees in the manner de-' scribed above. During this movement the eccentrio strap 62 acts through the ball and socket joint 63 to move the shoe from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. During this movement, the spring 14 is compressed. When the eccentric is in this position the cam 91 has turned 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 17 and has lifted the hooked end 58a clear of the depression 59, thus breaking the driving connection to the roll. The roll therefore remains stationary when the shoe is moved away from the roll and material to be ironed can be conveniently arranged on the roll.

In Fig. 19 is shown an alternative arrangement for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll. In this construction, the eccentric 0| is replaced by a gear II! which is driven in the same manner as the eccentric. The gear I I I is integral with the casting which includes the cam 91, the flange 80-, and the slots carrying the driving key 8|. As in the previous construction, it is rotatably mounted on the boss 21. The gear II'I meshes with a gear I I8 which is rotatably carried on a stub shaft II9 fixed in the side walls of the ironer housing. Integral with the gear H8 is a cam I20 which co-cperates with an arm I 2I fixed to the shoe operating shaft I2. The arm I2I is held against the cam I 20 by a spring I22 arranged between a cup I23 in the ironer housing and a seat I24 on the arm -I 2I. When the parts are in the position illustrated, the shoe is pressed against the roll. When the gears II! and H8 have been turned 180 degrees from the position illustrated, the shoe is moved away from the roll. The cam I20 is provided with fiat surfaces I25 which engage the flat surface I26 on the arm I2I in these positions. The flat surface on the long radius of the cam shown in Fig. 19 acts as a detent, prevents over-travel, and also positions the cam when spring I22 is compressed and consequently exerting its greatest force. This is desirable, for in this construction the friction is greatly reduced, and if 'without the fiat, the cam did notstop at exactly the right position, the spring load might cause cam I 20 to coast forward or backward, depending on which side of the center it stopped.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In an ironer of the type having a roll, a shoe, power means for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and the shoe, and means independent of said first means for releasing the pressure between the roll and the shoe, a shaft mounted for sliding and rotating movement, a lever for selectively sliding and rotating the shaft,

and connections between said-shaft and both of i said means whereby operation of one .of said means is efiected by sliding movement of the shaft and operation of the other of said means is effected by rotation of said shaft.

In an ironer of the type having a roll, a shoe, power means for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and the shoe, and means means whereby operation of one of said means is effected by movement of the lever in one plane and operation of the other of said means is efplane. I

In an ironer of the type having a roll, a shoe, power means for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and the shoe, and means independent of said first means for releasing the pressure between the roll and the shoe, a control lever for selectively effecting operation of each of said means.

' 4. In an ironer of the type having a roll, a'shoe, power means for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and the shoe, and means independent of said first means for releasing the pressure between the roll and the shoe, a control lever 5. In an ironer, a tube, a roll rotatably support-ed on the tube, a shaft extending through the tube for rotating the roll, a shoe, means including eccentric means for moving the shoe to- Ward and away from the roll, and reduction gearing for rotating the roll and operating said eccentric means, said gearing and eccentric means surrounding said shaft.

6. In an ironer, aframe having a tubular sleeve, a roll rotatably supported on the sleeve, a shaft extending through the sleeve for rotating the roll, a shoe, eccentric means mounted on the sleeve, means including said eccentric means for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll, and reduction gearing for rotating the shaft and the eccentric means, said reduction gearing being mounted on said shaft.

'7. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a gear, means including eccentric means connectable to said gear for effecting relative movement of the roll and the shoe toward and away from each other, a shaft for rotating the roll extending through said gear and said eccentric means, and epicyclic gearing mounted on said shaft for effecting a driving connection from said gear to said shaft.

8. Inan ironer, a casing, a tube extending from a wall of said casing, a roll rotatably supported on said tube, a shaft extending through the tube for rotating the roll, eccentric means surrounding said tube adjacent said wall, reduction gearing concentric with and surrounding said shaft for rotating said shaft and said eccentric means, a shoe, and means including said eccentric means for moving said shoe toward and away from the roll.

9. In an ironer, a casing, a tube carried by a wall of said casing and having an unsupported end within the casing, a roll rotatably supported on said tube, eccentric means rotatably supported on said tube adjacent said wall, a shoe, means for effecting movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll including means operated by rotation of said eccentric means, and means for rotating the eccentric means.

10. In an ironer, a casing, a tube carried by a wall of the casing, a roll rotatably supported on the tube, a shaft extending through the tube for rotating the roll, said. shaft having an unsupported end within said casing, reduction gearing on said unsupported end for rotating said shaft, eccentric means within said casing between said gearing and said wall, said eccentric means surrounding said shaft, a shoe, and means including connections between said shoe and said eccentric means to move the shoe toward and away from the roll.

11. In an ironer, a casing, a tube carried by a wall of the casing, a roll rotatably supported on the tube, a shaft extending through the tube for rotating the roll, said ,shaft having a freeend within said casing, gearing for rotating the shaft comprising a common drive gear and epicyclic gearing driven thereby and having a connection with the shaft, a shoe, eccentric means, means for effecting movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll including means operated by rotation of said eccentric means, and clutch means between said common drive gear and the eccentric means for selectively rotating the eccentric means, said eccentric means being arranged between said gearing and said wall, and said eccentric means and said gearing all surrounding said shaft.

12. In an ironer, a casing, a roll, a shoe, a roll driving shaft journaled in the casing having a driving connection to the roll and having a free end within the casing, eccentric means, means for effecting movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll including means operated by rotation of said eccentric means, reduction gearing for rotating the roll, and clutch means between said gearing and the cocentric 'means for selectively rotating the eccentric means, said eccentric means and said gearing surrounding the free end of said shaft.

13. In an iro'ner, a roll, a shoe, a shaft for rotating the roll, a common drive gear loose on said shaft, epicyclic gearing carried on said shaft, said epicyclic gearing having a part driven by said gear, a part connected to said shaft, and an intermediate part, means including eccentric means connectable to said gear for effecting relative movement of the roll and the shoe toward and away from each other, and means controlled by said eccentric means for holding said intermediate part of the epicyclic gear stationary wherebya driving connection is effected to the shaft.

14. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a casing, a shaft carried by a wall of said casing and having a driving connection to the roll, said shaft having an unsupported end within the casing, reduction gearing on said unsupported end for rotating said shaft, eccentric means between said gearing and said wall, said eccentric means rotatably surrounding said shaft, and means for tive movement of the roll and .the shoe toward and away from each other including means operated by rotation of said eccentric means, and clutch means between said common drive gear and said eccentric means.

16. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a shaft for rotating the roll, epicyclic gearing for rotating the shaft, and means including a rotatable member having connections with the shoe for effecting movement of the shoe toward and away from effecting relative movement of the roll and the the roll, said rotatable member and said gearing being spaced apart along and surrounding said sh 17. In an ironer, a roll,'a shoe, a shaft for rotating the'roll, a. common drive gear, epicyclic gearing for rotating the shaft, a rotatable member connectable to said gear, and means operable by rotation of said member for eflecting movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll, said common drive gear, epicyclic gearing and member being spaced apart along and surrounding said shaft.

18. In an ironer of the type having a roll, a shoe} and means for rotating the roll and for effecting relative movement of the roll and shoe toward and away from each other, a personally operablecontrol means for controlling the relative movement of the roll and shoe, control means for stopping and starting the rotation of the roll in accordance with the relative position of the roll and shoe, a manually operable lever movable to stable positions rendering said roll control means respectively effective and ineffective, and means operable by said lever while in said stable positions for operating said first control means to cause relative movement of the roll and shoe.

19. In an ironer of the type having a roll, a shoe, means for rotatingthe roll, and means including a personally operable control for efiecting relative movement of the roll and shoe toward and away from each other.

20. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, means including an oscillatable shaft for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll upon oscillation of the shaft, power means for rotating the roll, a crank, mechanism connectable to said power means for oscillating saidcrank, means for establishing a connection between the crank and the shaft for oscillating the shaft to move the shoe toward and away from the roll upon oscillation of the crank,

said connecting means beingbreakable to permit permits the shaft to remain stationary while the gearing is driven, a breakableconnection between said gear and eccentric for rotating the eccentric,

and a lever having a part responsive to the posi-v tion of the eccentric for releasing or holding stationary said rotatable part of the gearing in accordance with the position of the eccentric.

22. In an ironer, cooperating ironing members including a roll, means including a rotatable member for effecting relative movement of the ironing members toward and away from each other, a roll driving shaft, a driving gear, epicyclic gearing for rotating said shaft, said rotatable member, said gear, and said epicyclic gearing all spaced apart along and surrounding said shaft, said epicyclic gearing having a rotatable part which when held stationary establishes a driving connection to the shaft through the gear ing and which when released permits the shaft to remain stationary while the gearing is driven, a breakable connection between said gear and said rotatable member, and a lever having a. part responsive to the position of said rotatable member for releasing or holding stationary said rotatable part of the epicyclic gearing in accordance with the position of said rotatable member.

GEORGE W. DUNHAM.

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