US1896217A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1933. A B. w. BRocKETT 1,896,217 Y PRES'SING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l zw 4 lussggjl'f A n Z mvENToR p afo/P Mpoc/rfr i6 BY i 1 E i? f. fr?

` ATTORNEYS Feb- 7, .1933. B. w. BRocKETT 1,896,217 t PRESSING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1931 INVENTOR Buffa/P0 IME/P00057? y Q; ATTORNEYS a power operation.

(Patented 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLUFOBD W. BROCKETT, 0F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIG, ASBIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION ,0F

OHIO

f PRESSINQ MACHINE Application filed February 9, 1831. Serial No. 514,327.

in such manner as to be separable into different classes, one class being a hand closed press with after-power type where the operator closes the press by hand and then either automatically or optionally produces may b e termed the automatic type where the operator, through a suitable control means, initiates the closin operation after which the machine goes t rough. to final pressure 5 and stops with the article under pressure.

With the first class, the operation is such that it is not practical for one operator to operate several machines due to the length of time he must spend at each individual- 2 machine.

The second class has the advantage in speed over the first class but is more or less dangerous to the operator for the reason that the operator has no control over the operation of the machine after a given point in the closing operation. This is particularly true as regards danger to an operators hands. l

It is the object of this invention to provide a pressing machine wherein the machine closes through a gravity action, the movement of any part under the action of gravity being controlled by suitable operator-operated control mechanism which may -be of the two-hand type, and operator controlled means for bringing about a f inal pressure between the pressing members, the control means being such that the article may remain under pressure without necessitating the presence of the operator. Thus, a press.

ing machine is provided wherein the danger of injury to an operatol' due to the initial closing movement of the pressing members being accomplished by power means is eliminated.

drawings wherein similar characters of ref- Another class is what erence designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the left-hand side of a pressing machine constructed in accordance with my invention and with the pressing members 1n separated relation; Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, showing the two-hand control means for causing initial engagement of the pressing members; Fi 3 is a view similar to Fig..1 but showing t e pressing members in engagement and other .parts in operated position; Fi 4 is a view of the control means for con-` tro ling the application of final ressure between the pressin members; an Fig. 5 is a ectional view ta (en on the line 5-5` of eferring to the drawings7 particularly Figs. 1 and 3 thereof, the type of press shown comprises a frame 1 having an upwardly extending portion 2 on which a head' lever or pressure arm 3 is pivotally mounted as at 4. A# pedestal 5 on the frame 1 supports a lower pressin member or buck 6 covered by the usual pad ing and the head lever or pressure arm 3 carries an upper pressing member or head 7 to which heat may be supplied by any well known means.

In accordance with my invention, the press is so constructed that initial closing of the press or engagement of the pressing members 6 and 7 is brought about by a avity action with means providedrfor shiftmg the center of gravity of the head lever 3 from :one side of the pivot 4; to the other and means for controlling such shifting ofthe center of gravity that takes the form of two-hand control mean-s embodying mechanism so larranged that the use of both of the operators hands is required to shift the center of gravity to the right side of the pivot 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 whereby the head 7 willcounter-balanced by the end of the head n lever on the other side of the pivot 4 that the 'lever would either remain in substantially balanced position 0r in the position shown in Fig. 1 unless some agency is employed to shift the center of gravity one way or the other.

The means for shifting the center of gravity of the head lever 3 takes the form of an i energy storing device such as a movable weight comprising a pair of weights 8 and 9 mounted on arms 10 and 11 and forming a part of a hub 12 loosely pivoted upon the pivot 4 of the head lever 3. These weights 0 are adapted to be swungxliy the - suitable stops 13 and 14, the former mg in front of the pivot 4 and the latter being to the rear of the pivot and both being carried by the head lever 3. The h ub 12 is provided with an arm or lever l5 having a pin and slot connection with the upper end of an arm 16 that forms a part of a piston 17 in a cylinder 18. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a sprin 2O is disposed between the upper surface o the piston 17 and the upper end of the cylinder 18 to normally maintain the piston 17 in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 with the arm 10 against the stop 14, the weights 8 and 9' to the left of the pivot 4, and the head lever and associated parts in the position shown in Fig. 1l or, in other words, in separated relation with the pressing bed 6 or open position.

In accordance with my invention, the movement of the piston 17 and resultant movement of the weights 8 and 9 to shift the center of gravity of the. head lever 3, which brings about closing and opening of the pressing members, is under the control of a two-hand control mechanism which necessitates the use of both of the operators hands to bring about initial engagement of the pressing members. This control mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, takes the form of two valve structures 21 and 22 adapted to be moved by suitable mechanism embodying handles 23 and 24 and being so interconnected that the operation of one of the valves alone will not permit fluid pressure to be admitted to the under surface of the piston 17 to move the piston upwardl and shift the weights 8 and 9 from one si e of the head lever tothe other. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3,'

.the valve structure 22 that is normally locat ed on the right-hand side of the machine is the main control valve for admitting fluid pressure to the cyclinder 18. For instance, when the valve 25 is moved away from its seat by operation of the handle 24, fluid pressure flows from a source of supply through the pipe 26, past the valve 215 and through the pipe. 27 tothe valve structure 21 which is a double valve structure embodying two valves 28 and 29. Operation of the handle 23 will move the valve 28 away from its seat and the valve 29 to a position to close the port 30 whereby the fluid pressure from the p1 e 27 will flow past the valve 28 and throug the pipes 31 and 32 to the under side of the piston 05 17 and such piston will be moved upwardly against the resistance of the sprin 20. Suitable spring means are provided or returning the handles 23 and 24 and. v valves 25, 28 and 29 to their normal position shown in Fig. 2 wherein fluid pressure from the supply pipe 26 will be shut off, and the port 30 opened which will permit. the fluid pressure beneath the surface of the piston 17 to exhaust through the pipe 32, pipe 33, port 30, and exhaust pipe 34 to the atmosphere. Exhaust of fluid pressure from beneath the under surface of the piston 17 will permit the iston to be moved downwardly by the action of the spring 20 and the weights 8 and 9 move to the position showii in Fig. l with the arm l0 against the stop 14 which will cause the head 7 to be moved to open position. With this construction, it will be seen that both handles 23 and 24 must be operated simulf taneously to cause initial engagement of the:i815

pressing members whereby both of the operators hands will be in use.

1 Any suitable power mechanism for causing final pressure between the pressing members 6 and 7 may be used provided it can operate of the spring by fluid pressure through aline 38 and under control of a valve 39 that will be hereinafter described. The piston rod 40 is connected to the long arm of a lever 41 pivoted to the frame-as at 42 and having a lever-arm ratio that is relatively high, for instance, ten to one. A push rod 43 that, under normal conditions, slides through an opening provided therefor in the rearward end of the head lever 3 is connected to the short arm of the lever 41 as at 44.

In order to make an operative connection between the rearward end of the head lever 3 and the uppermost end of the push rod 43 so vthat final pressure between the pressing members 6 and 7 may be brought about by operation of the power unit 35, the upper extremity of the push rod 43 carries a head 45 that, under certain conditions, bears against the under surface of a yoke shaped cap 46 pivotally mounted as at 47 on the head lever 3 andadapted to be moved from the inoperative position shown inFig. 1 to the operative position shown in F ig. 3 wherein the under surface of the -yoke shaped cap will bear against the upper surface of the head 45 by means of a power unit embodying a piston and cylinder construction 48. The cylinder and piston construction 48 includes, besides a cylinder, a piston 49 adapted to be vll y moved in one direction by a s ring 5() and in the opposite direction by fiui pressure from a line 51 and under the control of the valve 39 that controls the flow of fiuid pressure to the power unit35. As shown, the piston rod 52 that forms a part of the piston 49 is connected to the portion of the yoke shaped cap 46 below the pivot 47 in such manner that movement of the piston against the resistance of the spring 50 by means of fluid pressure will swing the yoke shaped cap to the operative position shown in Fie. 3 wherein operation ofthe power unit 35 will cause final pressure to be exerted between the pressing members 6 and 7 and the movement of the pistou 49 in the opposite direction will move the yoke shaped cap to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the push rod 43 is free to slide through the opening provided therefor in the head lever` 3 so that the pressing members may be brought into separated relation by gravity.

As hereinbefore stated, the operation of both the power unit 35, embodying the short stroke piston and the piston 49 in the piston and cylinder construction 48, is controlled by the valve mechanism 39 which is operable by means of a treadle 53, a rack 54 and a pinion held in mesh therewith by a spring 55. The pinion 55 is loosely mounted on the valve closure operating shaft 56, being held thereon against outward endwise movement by a washer and pin or the likef57, and rigidl connected to a cam gear 57 adapted to mes 1 with acam gear 58 rigidly mounted on the valve closure operating shaft 56, the cam gears being resiliently held in mesh by a spring 56 that moves the shaft 56 longitudinally whereby rotation of the pinion 55 in one direction by downward movement of the rack 54 will cause the valve closure operating shaft 56 to be rotated-while rotation ofthe pinion in the opposite direction by upward movement of the treadle and rack which normally takes place through the action of a suitable spring means 53 will not operatively mesh the cam gears to rotate the closure operating shaft whereby the closure will remain stationary.

Referring to Fig. 5, a valve proper embodies a casing 59 having an inlet pipe 60 connected thereto and leading from a source of fluid pressure supply and an exhaust pipe 61 leading therefrom. A conduit 62 also leads from the valve casing 59, and the fluid pressure pipes 38 leading to the power unit 35 and the fluid pressure pipe 51 leading to the c linder and piston construction 48 branch t erefrom (see Fig. 4). The casing 59 also contains a rotating valve closure 63 that is normally held against its seat by a spring 64 and embodies a single port 65 which, on each half rvele of movement of the valve closure due to rotation of the closure operating shaft in the manner hereiubefore described, will bring the.

port into successive registration with the inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe 6l whereby fluid pressure will either be. supplied to or exhausted from the pipe 62, the power unit 35 and the cylinder and piston construction 48 through pipes 38, 51, and 62 respectively. Thus, a means vis provided for operating the power unit'and the 'piston in the cyllnder and piston construction 48 substantially simultaneously through the same control means. The valve closure 63 is so connected to the shaft 56 as to permit endwise movement of the shaft 56 hereinbefore described without breaking the connection between the valve closure and the shaft.

In the operation of this device, assuming that the garment or other work'has been given the proper lay on the pressing bed 6v both handles 23 and 24 are operated slmultaneously to operate the valves 25, 28 and 29 as hereinbefore described whereby'fiuid pressure will be admitted to the cylinder 18'beneath the piston 17'to move the piston upwardly against the resistance of the spring 20. Such upward movement ofthe piston will throw the weights 8 and 9 from the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the arm 10 is against the stop 14 and the center of gravity of the head lever is to the left of the pivot 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the arm 11 bears against the stop 13 and the center of ravity is to the right of the pivot 4. This s ifting of the center of gravity of the head lever 3 will cause the pressing head 7 to move downwardly into engagement with the pressing bed 6 under gravity force.

Then, the treadle 53 is moved downwardly which will move the valve closure from the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the pipe 62 is connected to the exhaust pipe 61 to a position such that the fluid pressure inlet pipe 60 will be connected with the pipe 62 through the port and valve casing 59, access to the exhaust pipe 61 being closed off by a valve closure 63. Fluid pressure flowing through the pipe 62 and branch pipes 38 and 51 w1 l, after the pressure in the cylinders 35 and 48 becomes equalized in proportion to the size of the cylinders, cause substantially simultaneous movement of the piston 49 against the resistance of the spring 50 to swing the yoke shaped cap to the position shown inF ig. 3 as hereinbefore described wherein operative connection will be made between the push rod 43 and the head lever 3 and the piston 36 of the power unit will be moved downwardly against the resistance of the spring 37 to bring about a final pressure between the pressing members 6 and 7. It will be understood that immediately upon the means for bringing about the nal pressure becoming edective, the operator may release the handles 23 and 24 whereby the valves 25, 28 and 29 will assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 fluid pressure beneath the piston ,17 will exhaust, the piston will be moved downwardly by the action of the spring 20, and the center of gravity of the head lever 3 will be shifted to the left of the pivot 4 of the head lever by reason of the weights 8 and 9 being moved to the left of the pivot 4 ofthe head lever which is the position shown in Fig` 1. Then, upon operation of the valve structure 3 5 to bring the valve closure to the position shown in Fig, wherein the pipe 62 has connection with the exhaust pipe 61 and the fluid pressure inlet is closed orf, the pressing members will assume separated relation due to the parts of the apparatus being returned to their normal unoperated position, the head lever b gravity, and the remainder of the parts of t e apparatus through the expansion of the springs 50 and 37 to bring the pistons 49 and 36 'to their normal unoperated position.

With scribed, a pressing machine is provided wherein both of the operators hands areq of necessity employed on the control means before the pressing members may be brou ht into initial engagement and must be furt er employed with such control means until the beginning of the final pressure movement between the pressing members. Itwill be apparent that the control means is such that release of one of the control means by one hand of theoper'ator will result in stopping of the downward movement of the pressing head towards the pressing bed and the return of the pressing head to its normal unoperated position. Thus, a safety means is provided that eliminates the possibility of an operators hand or hands being injured between the pressing members.

Another feature of the construction resides in the fact that the pressing machine is so constructed that the only power means necessary for bringing about pressing or lroning pressure between the pressing members is a short stroke motor or piston and in the fact that means are provided for permitting a relatively great pressure to be obtained between the pressing members with relatively small power from the power unit. This primarily -results from the connection between the push rod and the head lever, the ratio of the arms of the lever connection between the push rod and power unit, and the type of power unit.`

Still another feature resides in the fact that the control mechanism is such that the pressing members will remain in pressing engagement without necessitating the presence of an operator at the controls. Various other features will be readily apparent.

What I claim is:

l. A pressing machine comprising a 'sta-V the construction hereinbefore dea capable of energization independently of head movementto be effective on the head forclosingi the press, power means for energizlng sai motor means,a two hand control means for controlling the operation of said power means, power means normally out of operative engagement with said head for eecti'ng pressing pressure between said head and bed, means for making an operative connection between said head and said power means after said head is moved to closed position, motor means for rendering said last named means effective, and a single control means or causing actuation of said last named rmotor means and said power means for effecting pressing pressure between said head and bed. y

2. A pressing machine comprising a stationary work support, a head and head lever structure counter-balanced to be free of any normal tendency to move to closed or open position, motor means including a weight capable of energization independently of head movement to be effective on the head for closin the press, power means for energizing sai motor means, a two hand control means for controlling the operation of said power means, power means normally out of operative engagement with said head for effecting pressing pressure between said head and bed, means including a pivoted cap for making an operative connection between said head and said power means after said head is moved to closed position, motor means for rendering said last named means eective,

. and a sin le control means for causing actuation of sald last named motor means and said power means for effecting pressing pressure between said head and bed.

In testimony4 whereof I hereby aiiix my signature.

BLUFORD W. BRGCKETT.

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