US2035793A - Actuating mechanism for presses - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1936. E. DAVIS 2,035,793

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Original Filed Nov. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.|

INVENTOR ERNEST D VIS March 31, 1936.. E. DAVIS I 2,035,793

AOTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Original Filed Nov. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 4e 9 so F K; 2

, Q as I 'llllllll/ //////////I////Il i 7 ll/II Patented Mar. 31, 1936 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR masses Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 17, 1928, Serial No. 320,145 Renewed December 5, 1934 23 Claims.

This invention relates to actuating mechanism particularly for machines having an opening and closing movement as garment and laundry or ironing presses and has for its object, a particularly simple and eficient booster or automatic adjustment means for adjusting the pressure between the jaws when the press is closed to compensate for compressions or'fiattening of the padding on the pressing elements, or an increase in thickness of the work being pressed, which booster means is controlled in its operation by the movement of the motor member or any part actuated'thereby.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a garment or ironing press embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view partly in section of the booster operating and controlling means as well as of the motor and its control mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the joint of the toggle and the eccentric booster member.

I have here shown my invention as embodied in a conventional type of garment and laundry pressing machines comprising cooperating pressing elements or press jaws, one of which is movable into contact with and away from the other,

and power mechanism for actuating the movable element.

The movable element or jaw is, in the press here shown, a head I which is movable toward and from a buck 2, the latter being mounted upon a bracket or goose neck 3 supported on a table 4 which in turn is supported on a suitable frame a '5. The head I is shown as carried by a yoke lever 6 pivoted between its ends-at 'I to a standard 8 rising from the frame and the yoke lever and '45 head are actuated by mechanism to be hereinafter a straight line to apply pressure between the press jaws, and the booster is associated with the toggle or preferably with one of the pivoted joints thereof to increase the pressure between the jaws. The links 9 and ID of the toggle are pivoted respectively at H and H. to the rear arm of the yoke lever B and to the base of the frame, and pivoted together at their inner or adjacent ends. The link 10 has a forwardly extending lever arm I3 to which the power or actuating force is ap- 10' plied.

Preferably, the booster is associated with the joint connecting together the toggle links 9 and ill and comprises an eccentric 14 forming the pivot of the joint of the toggle. The. eccentric 15 i4 is a pin having a journal mounted in a bearing in one link, as the link In, and having a second journal eccentric to the first, mounted in a. bearing in the lower end of the other link 9. The eccentric It is provided'with a rearwardly or 0 downwardly extending actuating arm l5.

The actuating mechanism preferably includes a pressure operated motor having a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder. The operation of the booster is controlled by the move- 25 ment of the piston or any part of the machine which is actuated thereby. The operating means for the booster is preferably also pressure operated and controlled. Hence, the invention in one aspect comprises a conduit system for a mo- 30 I a casing or cylinder, a pressure chamber, a movable member in the chamber and a booster operated 40 part connected to said member to be moved thereby and extending into the path of the arm l5 of the booster to engage said arm when the toggle approaches a straight line, open piping connecting one end of the chamber in the conduit system,

piping connecting the opposite end of the chamber in the conduit system, anormally closed booster valve in the latter piping, a second pressure chamber having a movable member therein controlled by the piston or some part operated thereby.

The cylinder l6 has a piston |1 movable therein. A piston rod I8 is pivoted at l9 to the front end of the arm I3, and the cylinder I6 is pivoted at 26 to the frame which permits it to have an oscillating movement during the movement of the piston |1, piston rod l8 and arm l3.

A feed pipe 2| is connected to a suitable source of motive fluid such as compressed air. The valve means for controlling the flow of air to and from the cylinder I6 comprises a valve casing 22 within which is mounted a normally closed intake valve 23 for connecting and disconnecting the valve casing with the feed line 2| to the source of motive fluid. A normally open exhaust valve 24 is also mounted within the valve casing 22 for opening and closing the exhaust passage 25. The valves are connected together by a stem 26 and are spring impelled to their normal positions so that to a coupling 32 communicating with an intake port 33 in the head of the cylinder 5. The pipe 3| opens into the valvecasing 22 between'the valves 23, 24 and serves as an intake and exhaust pipe for motive fluid to and from the cylinder. The piston I1 is single acting and the pressure is held in the cylinder IE to hold the press jaws closed by means which automatically hold the valves 23, 24 in their operated positions. This automatic holding means is shown as a pressure chamber 34 having a diaphragm 35 therein acting on a stem 36 which stem in turn acts on the lever 29. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 34 is connected by a pipe 31 to a coupling 38. A pipe 39 connects the coupling 38 with a casing 48 on the side of the cylinder l6, the casing 40 opening into the cylinder through a port 4| arranged to be uncovered by the piston |1 when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, Obviously, when the piston uncovers the port 4 I, air pressure will pass from the cylinder through the port 4|, casing 49, pipe 39, coupling 38, pipe 31 to the diaphragm chamber 34 and actuate the diaphragm 35v to hold the valves 23, 24 in their operated position.

The press is opened by exhausting theair from the diaphragm chamber and the means for soexhausting the air is here shown as a normally closed exhaust valve 42 in a valve casing 43 connected by a pipe 44 to the diaphragm chamber 34, it being shown as connected to the pipe 31. The exhaust valve 42 is spring pressed and is opened for relieving the pressure in the cylinder by a.

\ manual or lever 45 acting on the stem 46 of the exhaust valve 42.

[in the valve casing 49 connected by a pipe 58 to the coupling 32.

The connections between the push button and the valve 48 is similar to that between the push button 21 and the valve 24. The valve 48 is held in its operated or closed position by a diaphragm chamber 5| having a diaphragm 52 therein similar to the diaphragm chamber 34 and diaphragm 35. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 5| is connected by a pipe 53 to the coupling 38.

It is obvious that both push buttons must be depressed in order to permit air to flow to the cylinder l6 because if the push button 41 is not depressed, the air will exhaust out through the valve casing 49 and if the push button 21 is not depressed, the intake valve 23 will not be open. Also, the operation of the release lever 45 will exhaust air from both diaphragm chambers 34 and 5| as they are coupled together through the pipes 31, 53 and coupling 38. 7

When the pressure in the cylinder "3 is released, the press is opened up by suitable countersprings 54, 55. The construction of the countersprings and of the controlling mechanism itself forms no part of this invention excepting as it forms a part of the combination with the .booster.

A pressure chamber, such as a cylinder 56, has a movable member such as a piston 51 therein. A piston rod 58 carried with the piston 51 projects into the path of the arm l5 of the booster l4 and constitutes a booster operating part. The cylinder 56 is suitably mounted on the frame 5 with the piston rod 58 projecting rearwardly into the path of the arm l5.

A pipe 59 connects one end of the cylinder 56 to the conduit system or to the supply pipe 2|. The other end of the cylinder 56 is connected to the conduit system by a pipe 60, a valve casing 6| and the pipe 62. A normally closed spring pressed booster valve 63 is provided in the'casing 6| and normally closes communication between the pipes 62 and 60. The pipe 62 is here shown as connected to the casing 40 on one side of the cylinder IS in order to communicate with the cylinderthrough the port 4|, which port is controlled by the motor piston H.

A second pressure chamber 65, such as a piston chamber, has a movable member or piston 66 therein which is connected by a stem 61 to the booster valve 63. The pressure side of the cylinder 66 is connected by a pipe 68 in the conduit system which is connected to a casing 69 onthe motor cylinder l6, which casing opens into the cylinder througha port 10. The ports 4| and 10 are spaced from each other and arranged one in advance of the other in order to be uncovered successively under certain conditions, which will be described hereinafter, by the piston |1 when the piston is on its power stroke. The conduit system thus includes the feed pipe 2|, pipe 3|, cylinder I6, piping 60, 62 and 68.

The pressure chamber 65 is provided with a.

port 1| for preventing it from becoming air bound and, also, the cylinder 56 is provided with a check or relief valve controlled port 12 for preventing it from becoming air bound when the booster valve 63 is closed. The relief valve 12 permits a slow escape of air therethrough so that when the valve 63 is open, the air is being continually replenished from the motor cylinder and the balancing of pressures upon both sides of the booster piston 51 is maintained. When the booster valve 63 is closed, air leaks slowly through the vent 12 and theair pressure upon the left of the booster piston 51 forces the piston to the right in the. booster cylinder 56. l

In-operation, the push buttons 21 and 41 are depressed, thereby opening the intake valve 23 and closing the exhaust valves 24 and 28 and permitting air to enter the cylinder I6 and actuate the piston I1. The toggle links 9, II] are actuated from folded position toward straightened position which brings the head I towards the buck 2. During this operation,- the booster piston 51 of the booster operating member or means presses or extends the piston rod 58 to its full extent into the path of the booster arm I5 owing to the fact that pressure is applied through the pipe 59 to one or the left side only of the piston 51, as shown in Figure 2.

The actual pressure in the cylinder I6 forcing the piston I1 downwardly until the jaws engage, or so long as the piston is moving, is materially less than the fluid pressure in the fluid supply line 2|. This is due to the movement of the piston expanding the air in the cylinder and thereby reducing its pressure and is also due to the necessary frictional drop in pressure through the fluid line 2|, valve 22, conduit 3I and port 33 under a condition of fluid flow. This low fluid pressure within the cylinder exists only when the air is flowing through the conduit system and does not exist when there is no motion of the piston, such as when the piston has reached the end of its fore, the piston I1 uncovers the port 4I and the booster control valve 63 remains closed so long as the piston continues moving. If now the piston uncovers the port 10, the air pressure within the cylinder I6 will not have reached its maximum or supply line value to overcome the spring tension holding the booster control valve 63 closed until the air has passed through port 10 to the chamber 66 so that the air pressure on the booster control valve piston therein holds the booster valve 63 closed. The booster piston 51 therefore remains at the extreme right of its stroke and the booster rod 58 is extended its maximum distance outwardly into the path of the arm I5.

If, however, the movable head I engages the buck 2 so that the piston I1 reaches the end of its stroke somewhere between the ports 4| and 10, maximum full line pressure is then built up within the motor cylinder I6 which exerts its pressure on the valve 63 and there is no counteracting pressure 'upon the booster control valve piston in thepressure chamber 66 to hold the valve 63 closed. The air pressure in the cylinder I6 thereupon opens the booster valve 63 and the air flows through the pipe 60 to the other end of the booster cylinder 56 and presses against the opposite or right-hand side of the booster piston 51. The pressure upon opposite sides of the booster piston 51 is thereby equalized. The pressure between the jaws creates a pressure upon every part of the motion transmitting connections am particularly upon the booster. eccentric I4. This pressure tends to rotate the eccentric in a direction to shorten the toggle 9, I0 so that the 58 and move the latter and piston 51 into the booster cylinder 56 or to the left so long as the valve 63 is open and the pressures upon both sides of the piston 51 are equalized. Shortening of the length of the toggle decreases the pressure between the jaws so that the piston I1 must take up this shortening of the toggle by further downward movement until the piston passes the port 10, in which position the valve 63 is closed so that the balancing air pressure upon the right-hand side of the booster piston 51 is cut off, thereby preventing further shortening of the toggle through the booster I4. The toggle 9, I0 will al ways be brought, therefore, into straightened position where it delivers its maximum pressure at all times irrespective of the mashing of the pad upon the buck and irresmctive of the thickness of the work placed thereupon.

The buck 2 is usually covered with a spring padding and when the padding is thick or unweakened. so that it is compressed to a comparatively small extent when engaged by the head I, the resistance to the piston I1 will stop the piston after it uncovers the ports 4I and 10 and no boosting efiect is necessary to obtain heavy pressure with the toggle, but the booster must yield somewhat in order to bring the toggle in a straight line where it delivers maximum pressure. When however, the padding becomes weak or permanently compressed as it does through continued use so that the piston I1 can travel far enough to uncover the port 10 or is not-stopped by the pressure between the jaws before it uncovers the port, the booster valve 53 does not open and conse- 'quently the booster rod 58 remains fully extended to the right, in which position maximum boosting occurs. Any loss in pressure delivered to the head I that would otherwise occur is compensated for by the booster lengthening the toggle when the motor piston I1 uncovers the port 10.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the configuration, composition and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole, as well as in the selective combination or application of the respective elements, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings.

What I claim is:

1. A garment or laundry pressing machine in-. cluding, in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; fluid operated motor means for operating the movable;

pressing element to initially close the press and having a normal extent of movement; booster means to automatically control the actuating mechanism so that the pressure is uniform.

between the pressing elements for each closing movement of the press; means to control the supply of working fluid to the motor means; and automatic means controlling the actuation of the booster means, including fluid controlled mechanism and means for supplying working fluid from the motor means to said fluid controlled mechanism upon the motor means stopping short of its normal extent of movement when operating the movable pressing element into position to initially close the press.

2. A garment or laundry pressing machine including in combinationcooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating mechanism for the movable pressing element including a fluid operated motor having a movable member, the movable member having a normal predetermined extent of movement, andmotion transmitting means between the movable member and the movable pressing element; booster means to control the actuating mechanism so that-the pressure between the pressing elements is substantially uniform for each closing movement of the press; power controlled mechanism operating the booster means, and fluid operated means controlling said power controlled mechanism, said fluid operated means being controlled by the movement of said movable member short of a predetermined point and thereby supplying working fluid from the motor to said fluid operated means which controls the power controlled mechanism and causing automatic operation of the booster means.

3. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and actuating mechanism for the movable element including a motor having a movable member, and motion transmitting means between the movable member and the movable pressing element comprising a toggle, a booster member associated with the toggle and including means to change the length of the toggle, and power controlled means automatically controlled by the extent of movement of the actuating mechanism for automatically effecting the operation of the booster member.

4. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating mechanism for the movable element including a motor having a movable member, the movable member having a normal extent of movement; motion transmitting means between the movable member and the movable pressing element comprising a toggle; a booster member associated with the toggle and including means to change the length of the toggle, and booster actuating means controlled by the movement of the motor member other than its normal extent of movement for automatically effecting the operation of the booster member.

5. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and mechanism for the movable element including a motor having a movable member, the movable member having a normal extent of movement, and motion transmitting means between the movable member and the movable pressing element including a toggle; a booster member operatively connected with the toggle; said booster member having an arm, and booster actuating means for automatically controlling the operation of the booster member including an operating member extending into the path of said booster member arm to be engaged thereby as the toggle moves towards straightened position, and means controlled by the movement of the motormember other than its normal extent of movement to cause the operating member to efiect movement of said arm.

6. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating mechanism for the movable element including amotor having a movable member; transmitting means between the motor member and the movable pressing element including a toggle, booster means for extending the length of the toggle, means controlled by the extent of movement of the motor member for automatically operating the booster means to extend or motion movement.

'7. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element including a motor having a movable member, and motion transmitting means between the movable member and the movable press element including a toggle, means automatically controlled by the movement of the motor member less than to the predetermined point in its path of movement for lengthening or shortening the toggle as the toggle approaches straightened position including means operated by the movement of the motor member controlling the automatic action when the motor member approaches the end of its movement, and the toggle is approximately in a straight line.

8. An actuating mechanism comprising, a mo tor casing for receiving motive fiuid,, motion transmitting means comprising a motor member in the casing, mechanism connected to said member to be actuated thereby including a.

chamber and a booster operating part connected to said member and extending into the path of the booster, piping connecting one end of the chamber to the conduit system, piping connecting the opposite end of said chamber in the system and a normally closed booster valve in the latter piping, and means automatically operated by said motion transmitting means for opening the booster valve when the motion transmitting means is short of a predetermined position.

9. An actuating mechanism comprising, a conduit system for motive fluid including a motor casing, a movable motor member in the casing, mechanism connected to said member to be actuated thereby including a booster, manually operable valve means in the conduit system controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor casing, a pressure chamber, a movable member in the chamber, a booster operating part connected to said member and extending into the path of the booster during the movement of said mechanism in one direction, piping connecting one end of the chamber to the conduit system, piping connected to the opposite end of the chamber and having a normally open port opening into the conduit system and also having a normally closed booster valve therein, a second pressure chamber connected to the booster valve, a movable member within the second pressure chamber, piping connected to the second pressure chamber on one side of the movable member therein to close the booster val/e when it is in communication with the system, said piping having a port opening into the system, and said ports being arranged with the first port in advance of the second and arranged to be opened to the pressure of the conduit system in succession by said motion transmitting means during the pressure delivering movement thereof.

10. An actuating mechanism comprising, a conduit system for motive fluid including a motor casing, a movable-motor member in the easing, mechanism connected to said member to be' actuated thereby including a booster, manually operable valve means in the conduit system for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor casing, a pressure chamber, a movable member in the chamber, a booster operating part connected to said .member and extending into the path of the booster during the movement of said mechanism in one direction, piping connecting one end of the chamber to the conduit system, piping connected to the opposite end of the chamber and having a normally open port opening into the system and also having a normally closed booster valve therein, a second pressure chamber having a movable member connected to the booster valve, piping connected to the second pressure chamber on one side of the movable member therein to close the booster valve, said piping having a. port opening into the system, the two ports opening into the casing with the first named port in advance of the second whereby the ports are passed in order by the movable motor member.

11. An actuating mechanism comprising, a conduit system for a motive fluid including a cylinder for receiving a motive fluid, motion transmitting means comprising a piston movable in the cylinder, and mechanism connected to the rod of the piston to be actuated thereby including a booster, manually operable valve means in the conduit system for controlling the flow of motive fluid-to and from the cylinder, a pressure chamber, a movable member therein, a. booster operating part connected to said member, piping connecting one end of said chamber to the conduit system, piping connecting the opposite end of the chamber to the cylinder and having a port opening into the cylinder and arranged to be uncovered by the piston during its out stroke, the latter piping having a normally closed booster valve therein, a second pressure chamber having a movable member therein connected to the booster valve, piping connecting the second pressure chamber to the cylinder and having a port opening into the cylinder, the two ports being arranged one in advance of the other whereby the port connected in the piping controlled by the booster valve is uncovered in advance of theport of the piping connected to'the pressure chamber operating to close the booster valve during the out stroke of the piston.

12. An actuating mechanism comprising, a conduit system for a motive fluid including a motor casing for receiving a motive fluid, motion transmitting means comprising a motor member in the casing, mechanism connected to said member to be actuated thereby including a toggle, and a booster associated with the toggle, a conduit system for a motive fluid connected to the casing, manually operable valve means in the conduit system.for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the casing, a pressure chamber, a member movable'in the chamber and a booster operating part connected to said member and extending into the path of the booster during the straightening of the toggle. piping connecting one end of the chamber to the conduit system, piping connected with the opposite end of the chamber in the conduit system, and a manually operable valve in the latter piping, and means controlled by said motion transmitting means for opening-the booster valve whenmotor casing, a movable motor member in the casing, mechanism connected to said member to be actuated thereby including a toggle, and a booster associated with the toggle, manually operable valve means in the conduit system for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor casing, a pressure chamber, a movable member in the chamber, and a booster operating part connected to said member and extending into the path of the booster during the movement of the toggle toward extended position, piping connecting one end of the chamber to the conduit system and having a port opening into said system, piping connected to the opposite end of said chamber and having a port opening into the system and also having a normally closed booster valve therein, a second pressure chamber having a movable member connected to the booster valve, piping connected to the pressure chamber on one side of the movable member therein to close the booster valve, the last mentioned piping having a port opening into the conduit system, said ports being arranged with the first port in advance of the second and arranged to be opened to the pressure of the conduit system in succession by the movement of said motion transmitting means.

14. An actuating mechanism comprising, a conduit system for a motive fluid including a cylinder, motion transmitting means comprising a piston movable in the cylinder, mechanism connected to the piston rod to be actuated thereby including a toggle, and a booster associated with the toggle, manually operable valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder, a pressure chamber, a movable member therein, a booster operating part connected to said member and extending into the path of the booster, piping connecting one end of said chamber to the conduit system, piping connecting the opposite end of the chamber to the cylinder and having a port opening into the cylinder and also having a normally closed booster valve therein, a second pressure chamber having a movable member therein connected 'to the booster valve to close it, piping connecting the second pressure chamber to the cylinder tion and movable therewith, and operating means carried by the eccentric means to rotate the latterand movable with the eccentric means; booster actuating means projected into the path of and engageable by the movable operating means and movable thereby, and means retaining the booster actuating means in extended position when in engagement with the operating means upon the actuating mechanism moving less than its normal extent of movement thereby rotating the eccentric means.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising, in

combination, cooperating pressing jaws, one oi! which is movable towards and from the other: actuating mechanism having a normal extent or movable pivoted connection between the links of 'thef toggle, booster means including eccentric means at the movable pivoted connection of the toggle and movable therewith, and operating means carried by the eccentric means to rotate the latter and movable with the eccentric means, booster actuating'means projected into the path of and engageable by the movable operating means and normally movable thereby and means retaining the booster actuating means in' fixed position when in engagement with the operating means upon the actuating mechanism moving less than its normal extent of movement thereby rotating the eccentric means.

1'7. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, cooperating pressing jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other; press actuating mechanism including motor means having a cylinder and piston, the piston having a normal extent of movement, and including motion transmitting means operatively connecting the piston with the movable pressing jaw, the motion transmitting means including a toggle having a movable pivoted connection between the links f the toggle; booster means including eccentric means at the movable pivoted connection of the toggle and movable therewith, and operating means carried by the eccentric means to rotate thelatter and movable with the eccentric means, booster actuating means projected into the path of and engageable by the movable operating means and normally movable thereby, and means retaining the booster actuating means in fixed position when in engagement with the operating means upon the press actuating mechanism moving less than its normal extent of movement thereby rotating the eccentric means.

18. A garment or ironing press comprising, cooperating pressing jaws, one of which is movable towards and from the other, a fluid motor having a normal extent of movement to actuate the press, manual means controlling a fluid to the motor to operate the press, and motion transmitting means connecting the fluid motor with the movable pressing jaw including a toggle, an eccentric booster means connecting the toggle links together, an arm carried by the eccentric booster means and movable with the eccentric,'a pressure chamber having a movable piston therein, booster operating means carried by the piston and projected thereby into the path of movement of the arm, the pressure chamber upon one side of the piston adapted to be connected with a fluid supply having a pressure to balance the pressure on the opposite side of the piston, the pressure chamber upon the other side of the piston being connected to the fluid motor and having a control valve in the connection, a second pressure chameber having a pressure member operatively connected to'the control valve, and a fluid connection between the second pressure chamber and the fluid motor at a point at the normal extent nected with the movable pressing jaw to close and open the press including fluid motor means to close the press, booster means operable under the pressure between the jaws to effectively shorten the actuating mechanism to release the pressure between the jaws; booster actuating means normally preventing the operation of the booster means to shorten the actuating mechanism, and means controlled by the actuating mechanism when it moves less than the normal extent of movement to render the booster operating means inoperable so that the pressure upon the booster means operates the same to shorten the actuating mechanism until one part thereof moves its normal movement.

20. A fabric press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, actuating mechanism having a normal extent of movement operatively connected with the movable pressing jaw to close and open the press including fluid motor means to close the press, booster means operable under the pressure between the jaws to efiectively shorten the actuating mechanism to release the pressure between the jawsrbooster actuating means normally operating the booster means to lengthen the actuating mechanism to its maximum extent thereby preventing the operation of the booster means to shorten the actuating mechanism, and means-controlled by the extent of movement of the actuating mechanism and controlling the booster operating means including means operable when the actuating mechanism moves less than the normal extent of movement to render the booster operating means inoperable so that the pressure upon the booster means operates the same to shorten the actuating mechanism, and means operable when the actuating mechanism moves its normal extent of movement to maintain the aforesaid means inoperable.

21. A fabric press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, actuating mechanism having a normal extent ofmovement operatively connected with the movable pressing jaw to close and open the press including fluid motor means to close the press, booster means operable under the pressure between the jaws to effectively shorten the actuating mechanism to release the pressure movement 'of the motor means and controlling the booster operating means including a valve operable at substantially supply line pressure and connected with the booster operating means, means connecting the valve with the motor means upon a predetermined movement thereof so that upon the actuating mechanism moving less than the normal extent of movement the booster operating means is inoperable and the booster means shortens the actuating mechanism, and means preventing operation of the valve upon the actuating mechanism moving its normal extent of movement.

22. A fabric press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other; actuating mechanism operatively connected with the movable pressing jaw to close and open the press including a toggle having a normal extent of movement, and fluid motor means to close the press; booster means operable under the pressure between the jaws to effectively shorten the actuating mechanism to enable the toggle to move its normal extent of movement;' booster actuating means normally preventing the operation of the booster means to effectively shorten the actuating mechanism,

means controlled by the actuating mechanism when it moves less than the normal extent of movement to render the booster operating means inoperable so that the booster means shortens the actuating mechanism and the toggle moves its normal movement, and means controlled by the actuating mechanism when it has moved its normal extent of movement to maintain the booster operating means inoperable to prevent shortening of the actuating mechanism.

23. A "fabric press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other; actuating mechanism having a normal extent of movement operatively connected with the movable pressing jaw to close and open the press including a toggle, and fluid motor means to close the press; booster means at the knee of the toggle operable under the pressure between the jaws to effectively shorten the toggle; booster actuating means normally preventing the operation of the booster means to shorten the toggle, means controlled by the actuating mechanism when it moves less than the normal extent of movement to render the booster operating means inoperable so that the booster means shortens the toggle and it moves its normal movement, and means controlled by the actuating mechanism when it has moved its normal extent of movement to maintain the booster operating means inoperable to prevent shortening, of the actuating mechanism.

ERNEST DAVIS.

Images