US2346244A - Textile press timer - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1944 B. J. YANCHENKO l TEXTI'LE PRESS TIMER Filed April 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l FSG ATTORNEYS April 1l, A1944. B. .1. YANcHENKo 2,346,244

TEXTILE PRESS TIMER Filed April 1 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 5 e J 11o 103/ 77 75 i 70 l 52 3 1 'n i 31 65 64 zzzm 74 21 56 O I 121 X 20 k1oz 10gl INVENTOR MyWay/4m ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 11, 1944 TEXTILES PRESS TIMER Basil J. Yanchenko, New York, N. Y., assigner to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,165

(Cl. 38--40l Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines and particularly to a control instrumentality for certain of such machines which are designed Ato simultaneously pressure iron and dry the laundered work; and more particularly relates to a textile press timer.

Such a pressing machine is a conventional laundry ironing press which may be conveniently used to illustrate the invention. Laundry ironing presses used in commercial laundries and the like, as well as other types of textile presses of a variety of uses, are ordinarily of the jaw motion type, having coacting pressing jaw members, usually called the head and buck, which open and close on the Work. These presses are power driven, usually by motor means which closes the press, thus subjecting the work to a high degree of ironing or finishing pressure under heat. One or both pressing jaws are heated, usually by steam, for ironing and finishing the damp laundered Work smoothly laid upon Ythe buck.

The conditions and manner of use, with other special requirements and problems met in the textile ironing or smoothing art, comprising the laundry trade, the tailoring trade, and the clothing manufacturing industry, have come to Widely distinguish the textile and apparel presses as a general class from other pressing elds.

The upper pressing head of a conventional laundry ironing press has a metallic plated or polished surface to impart a smooth firm finish to the damp work being pressure ironed and dried. On the other hand, the upper pressing head of a conventional garment press usually has a cloth covered surface to aid in distributing a spray of steam applied to the dry woolen garment to dampen it for finishing purposes. The lower buck of each type of press has a padded surface acting as a yielding bed on which to eiectively iron the work, which is damp when it reaches the press, in the case of laundry work, and dry in the case of garment work. The ironing pad on each type of press permits the buttons, seams, and other irregularities to be depressed into the buck to equalize the pressure of the head around these parts of the work, as the head seals down and is maintained under iinal heavy ironing pressure until the work is ironed dry and nished.

At the present stage of the art, the Operation ofthe motor means of laundry and other textile presses is usually governed by a two-hand control comprising two spaced safety manuals, or buttons, which are actuated (usually depressed), by the operator for the purpose of energizing the motor means to close the press.

. means.

In operating a laundry ironing press the damp work is placed on the buck of the press and then the head brought down to engage the buck and press the work between the buck and head. The temperature of the head is maintained in the neighborhood of 350 F. and when the head touches the damp work the heat changes the moisture in the work to steam, which creates considerable pressure at the working surface of the two members and usually passes out through the more porous buck. 'Ihe heat, combined with the pressure of the head, gradually drives the moisture out of the work and dries it with a rm smooth pressure-ironed nish. Y

It is highly desirable that a textile or laundry press be immediately opened as soon as the work is completely ironed, because ifvit is opened'too soon the work may vnot be completely ironed with a firm smooth surface, and if closed too long the work is over-ironed with an impaired quality of finish or is scorched. Almost every article will have ra different drying and ironing time, depending on the size and thickness of the article and the amount of its moisture content when laid on the buck. An article having several thicknesses of cloth, or made of heavy yarn or thread, will naturally take longer to dry than one having only one thickness, or loosely woven out of light weight threads; and hence it will be necessary to keep the head of the press down much longer for some articles than for others.

Heretofore, the time required for ironing or finishing a laundered article has usually been judged by the operator, who opens the press when she believes the work to be finished, but even the most expert operator cannot make uniformly correct guesses of the pressing time necessary for a large number of articles, with the result that the work produced is not of uniform quality and finish. The same is true of presses equipped with conventional timing devices which open the presses after a predetermined time has elapsed.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a control instrumentality by means of which the press is made to open automatically when the work is ironed to the desired amount, so that the operator will not need to guess at the time required to nish the article being pressed, and the press will turn out a uniform quality of finished work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a textile press with means responding to the pressure of steam generated when the head comes into contact with the damp work, so as to open the press when the pressure of the steam is reduced by the drying out of the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control instrumentality for a textile press having a steam pressure operated contact switch which will control the power means.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevational view of a laundry ironing press embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view ofthe head of the press showing the working surface thereof, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a switch used in connection with the invention.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism of the press showing an enlarged sectional end View of the head of the press with the steam pressure compartment and switch contained therein.

For the purpose of clearly illustrating the invention a simple or elementary form of power operated laundry press is shown. Known types most generally employ the stationary lower buck and movable upper ironing head, although in some constructions both the head and bucl; are movable. In other instances, the buck moves in and out of registration with the stationary head. However, all textile Dresses are of one form or another having jaw motion, the work being pressed between two or more pressing jaw members, one or the other or both of which are power operated.

'Ihe press illustrated herein has a frame l with a work table 2 under the pressing jaws, that is under the coacting head and buck. An ironing buck or bed 3 is mounted stationary on the frame, and has the usual form of padding 4 on its ironing surface. A movable ironing head 5 is carried on the forward end of a headarrn or lever 6, pivoted at l on the frame. The heads and bucks of pressing machines are manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes best suited to particular apparel and textile materials to be pressed.

The head 5 may be hollow, as indicated in Figure 4, and may be heated by passing steam through it. For this purpose inlet and outlet connections 9 may be provided on the inner edge of the head, so that when the head is in open position, as indicated in Figure 1, any condensation in the head may pass out through the outlet connection. These connections may be positioned one on either end of the head, and, inasmuch as they may both be exactly alike, onlyone has been illustrated in the drawings. Suitable flexible tubes ll may be provided to permit the head to move without damage to the steam connections.

The buck also may be heated by steam, and for this purpose may have a hollow portion through which steam may be passed by means of the steam inlet and outlet connections l5.

The press lever 6 lifts the head 5 high above the buck to fully expose its padded surface to the operator while making her lay of the work IG, and consequently a wide opening is afforded for the convenience of the operator. This type of press, with its wide opening head, swingable up and down in relation to the buck, around the rear horizontal axis l, is sometimes called the scissors-action type of full-automatic press. It is one of the more convenient forms by which to disclose this invention.

A conventional form of power-actuating means is shown for closing and opening the press. The motor means may perform both functions of opening and closing the press, but more generally the motor means is employed to close the press and simultaneously stretch or load a spring counterbalance, whereupon the latter performs the reverse function of opening the press and holding it open. As said before, electric or other motor means may be employed, but the example shown comprises a pneumatic motor means I 8, usually operated from a compressed air supply, not shown.

The cylinder |18 is mounted to oscillate on a frame pivot i9, and its piston 23 with connecting ro-d 2l is pivotally connected at 22 to the lower end of the head arm 6. Any suitable form of head counterbalancing means may be employed, and usually this takes the form of a long coil spring 23,V having its inner end attached at 2f! to the press frame l and its outer movable end operatively connected at 25 to the head arm. With the motor means I8 idle or deenergized, the tensioned spring 23 maintains the head in wide open position.

The press is usually supplied with a two-hand control, that is a control instrumentality in which two manually operable levers or buttons are provided which must be simultaneously depressed, or otherwise operated, by the two hands of the operator in order for the press to close. This provides a safety feature, because both hands of Vthe operator are required to perform the closing operation and neither can therefore be caught between the head and buck as the press is closing.

In the present instance I have provided two pneumatic controls for this purpose. These comprise two movable buttons, or handles, 3i] and 3l (Figure 4), mounted in spaced relation in the front forward edge of the table top 2. These buttons 30 and 3l are slidably mounted in suitable guides or xtures 32 and 33 which may be attached to the edge of the table or frame.

The inner end 34 of the button 30 may be cut on an angle to the axis of the button, so as to form a cam surface 34 adapted to engage a roller 35 rotatably mounted on the end of a rocker arm or lever 36 which may be pivoted at 31 on a bracket 38 rigidly secured to the frame or table. This lever may also be provided with a surface 39 which is adapted to engage the outer end of a valve stern 4i?, mounted for reciprocation in a valve housing 4l. A spring 42 normally urges the valve stern di) outwardly against the surface 3S of the lever 3S and is strong enough to push the button SEI to its outermost position.

The valve housing 4l may contain a passage or compartment A5 through which the valve stem 40 extends and one end of which opens into an exhaust chamber 4B, open to the atmosphere, while the other end opens into an inlet chamber 41, supplied with air under pressure from an inlet pipe 48. The pipe 48 may be connected to a source of compressed air which has not been shown. An exhaust valve head 5I! may be mounted on the valve stem 48 in the exhaust chamber 8, and is arranged to close the exhaust end of the chamber 45 when the valve stem 40 is pushed into the valve housing 4|. An inlet valve head 5| may also be mounted on the valve stem 48 in the inlet chamber 81 and may be arranged to close the inlet end of the chamber 45 when the valve stem 9 is moved outwardly by the tension of the spring 42. With this arrangement either air is admitted into the chamber 45 or permitted to exhaust therefrom, depending upon the position of the valve stem 48.

The chamber 45 may be connected by means of a pipe 52 to the inner end of the cylinder |8, the pipe 52 having a branch 53 which leads to a valve housing 54, associated with the other control button 3|. The pipe 53 may open into a chamber 55 in the valve housing 54, which is adapted to communicate with an exhaust chamber 58 open to the atmosphere. An exhaust valve head 51 may be mounted on'a valve stem 58 which protrudes from the valve housing 54 and is mounted for reciprocation therein. The valve head 51 may be adapted to close the chamber 55 to prevent air from passing from it to the exhaust chamber 56 when the valve stem 58 is pushed into the valve housing. A spring 59 tends to maintain the valve stem in its outermost position and the exhaust valve open.

A lever Gl may be pivoted at 62 on a bracket 83 attached to the frame l of the press, and may carry a roller 84 which may be adapted lto engage a cam surface 85 on the inner end of the button ii i. A surface 66 on the opposite side of the lever 5S may be adapted to engage the end of the valve stem 58. The arrangement is such that the depression of the button 3| will cause the lever 5| to rotate, as the cam surface of the button 3| moves along the roller 64 of the lever, and the movement of the lever will cause the valve stem 58 to move into the housing, as the surface 6B on the lever slides over the end of the valve stem.

When the operator simultaneously depresses of the spring 82 and opening the inlet valve head 5| and closing the exhaust valve head 58. Air under pressure is then permitted to pass from the pipe 48, through the inlet chamber 41, under the inlet valve head 5|, through the chamber 45, through pipe 52, to the lower part of the cylinder i8 to drive the piston outwardly and close the press. Air also passes through the branch pipe 53 to the valve housing 54, but cannot escape to the atmosphere, because the exhaust valve 51 is closed by the lever 6| being pressed against it, held by the button 3|, the cam surface 85 of which is pressing against the roller 84 on the lever.

As long as the operator holds the buttons depressed, in the arrangement so far described, the press will remain closed. However, itis desirable for the operator to be able to remove her hands from the controls before the pressing operation has been completed, so that she may carry on other duties during this operation. Therefore a means to lock the press in closed position is provided. According to the present invention this means is partly pneumatic and partly electric and is controlled by the pressure ofthe steam given off when the heated head comes in contact with the damp work on the buck.

The inlet valve 5| may be locked open by the pneumatic means. To this end adiaphragm 18 may be mounted in a housing 1| provided adjacent the valve housing 4| and forming a part' of it, if desired. A compartment 12 on one side of the diaphragm may communicate by means of a pipe 13 to the outer end of the cylinder I8 at a port 14 where it may be uncovered by the piston 28 when the piston approaches the end of its outer stroke. A plunger 15 may be mounted for reciprocation in the housing 1| in such a manner that an inner head 16 thereon may engage the diaphragm, while the outer end of the plunger may engage at 11 on an extended portion 18 of the lever 36. When the piston 28, moving outwardly under the air pressure, uncovers the port 14 of the pipe 13, air under pressure is conducted to the diaphragm chamber 12, which forces the diaphragm 10 and the plunger 15 outwardly. Thus the plunger may tend to rotate the lever 36 in the same direction that depressing the button 38 rotated it, and there- 'fore will maintain the inlet valve 5| open and ,ie exhaust valve 58 closed.

The means for locking the exhaust valve 51, which is associated with the button 3| in closed position, is electricand comprises a solenoid 88 adapted to be energized in a manner to be laterl described. The solenoid 88 may have an armature 8| which may be pivotally attached at 82 to an arm 88 extending outwardly at substantially right angles to the lever 6| adjacent the pivot 82 thereof. The arrangement is such that when the solenoid is deenergized, the spring 59 .in the valve housing 54 may push the valve stem 58 outwardly, which rotates the lever 6| with its extended arm 83 and pulls the armature 8| out of the solenoid coil.

According to the foregoing, when the solenoid 88 is energized, the armature 8| is pulled into the solenoid coil, thus rotating the lever 8| in the other direction (clockwise) and pushing the valve stem 58 into the valve housing 54 to close the exhaust valve 51. Therefore, in order for the press to lock in its closed position, the solenoid 89 must be energized, as otherwise, the exhaust valve 51 would be open which would permit air to rush out of the cylinder I8 and relieve the pressure on the pneumatic diaphragm 10 so that it would permit the inlet valve 5| to remain closed, under the tension of the spring 42, and the exhaust valve 58 to open.

In order to energize the solenoid, I'may provide two switches, one operated by the movement of the press arm and the other by the pressure of steam generated at the working surface. Thus a switch 84 may be mounted on the frame of the press in a suitable' housing 85, and may comprise a fixed contact 86 and a movable contact 81, the latter mounted on a spring arm 88. A member 89 on the spring arm 88 may be engaged by a spring arm 98 which may be provided with a cam 9|. The cam 9| may be arranged to be engaged by a latch dog 92, rotatably mounted on a shaft 93 supported in the housing 85. A levez` 94, also rotatably mounted on the shaft 93, may be provided for rotating the latch dog 92, the arrangement being such that the dog 92 must move in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in the drawings, with the lever 94, but may rotate slightly in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the lever 94, against the tension of a spring 96 which may be secured to an arm or hub 95a. by means of a screw 91 and which normally urges the dog in a. clockwise direction,

until the portion 95 strikes against the upper side of the arm or hub. The lever 94 is mounted on the outside of the housing 85 and the dog or ratchet 92 in the housing, both being mounted on the shaft 93. The dog 92 is mounted, however, on the shaft by a stop joint which permits the ratcheting movement of the dog 92 during retrograde movement thereof. This stop joint may be provided in any suitable manner and is here shown as permitted by a portion or arm 95 on the dog bearing against the upper side of a hub or lever 95a on the shaft 93.

The outer end of the lever 94 may be pivoted at 98 to the lower end of a connecting link 88, the upper end of which may be pivoted at |88 to an arm |8| attached to the head arm 8 adjacent the pivot 1 thereof. When the head arm, as shown in Figure l, rotates in a counter-clockwise direction to close the press, the link 99 rotates the lever 94 about the shaft 93 also in a counterclockwise direction. The latch dog 92 then approaches the cam 9|, and when the head is almost touching the buck surface 4, the latch dog pushes against the cam surface (Figure 4) causing the electrical contact 81 to move into engagement with the contact 86, thus closing the switch 84. The latch dog 92 continues to ride over the cam 9| as the press head continues to close and seals down onto the buck 4, but just as the press finally closes, the latch dog 92 passes off the edge of the cam, thus permitting the switch S4 to open again, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The time of opening and closing of the switch 84, with respect to the movement of the head 5, may be regulated by adjusting the length of the link 99 by means of the adjusting nuts 98a and |08a at the ends of the link after the fashion of a turn buckle.

The solenoid 88 has one end connected by a wire |82 to one side |83 of a power supply main, while the other end of the solenoid is connected by a wire |84 to the contact 85 of the switch 84. The other contact 81 of the switch is connected by a wire |85 to a wire |88 which forms the other power supply main. It will thus be seen that when the switch 84 is closed, a circuit is completed through the solenoid 88 to energize it. Thus the solenoid is energized by the switch 84 for a period beginning just as the head approaches the buck and ending when the head is completely seated thereon.

Another switch |81 is connected in parallel with switch 84 and is responsive to the pressure of steam emitted from the damp work I6 being ironed. This switch |81 is provided to continue or maintain the energization of the solenoid 38 after the switch 84 opens. This switch is mounted in a compartment |88 providedv in the ironing head 5, a circular-extension |89 at the center of the head being provided to form suilicient space for the compartment. The compartment is pro'- vided with a diaphragm I8 which is held in place against a shoulder by a threaded ring H2. The diaphragm I|8 has a central button ||3 which is adapted to engage a button member ||4 attached to a spring contact ||5. Deflection of the diaphragm H8 upwardly will cause the contact to move into engagement with another xed contact 6, thus closing the switch |81. 'Ihe contact |5 is connected by means of a wire ||1 with the power supply main |88, while the contact IIB is connected by means of a wire H8 to the wire |84 connected with the solenoid. This closed switch |81 is thus-shunted across the open switch 84 and performs the same function as the latter switch, that is, to energize the solenoid 88 to maintain the press closed under heavy ironing pressure.

The lower end of the compartment |88, below the diaphragm H8 may be provided with a plurality of small openings ||9 which are preferably small enough so that they will not interfere with the smoothness of the finished work I8 which is being ironed. If desired, these perforations |I9 may be distributed over the working surface of the head 5 from end to end thereof, as shown in Figure 2, a suitably extended channel |28 being provided as a part of the lower portion of the compartment |88. With this arrangement, steam generated at any portion of the head will find its way into the space below the diaphragm ||8 and act on it to maintain the press closed, for the duration of the ironing period, after the operator lets go of the two-hand control 38, 3|.

When the ironing period is completed, and the press is to be opened, the latch dog 92 will again strike the cam 9| on its return movement, but this time the latch dog will move in relation to the lever 94 against the tension of the leaf spring 96, and hence ratchet past the cam 9|. In doing so, it closes the switch arm 98 against the contact 89 but as the press is opening, such closing of the switch will be of no effect.

In the operation of the press, the operator makes a lay of a damp garment I8 on the buck of the press. She then depresses the control buttons 38 and 3|, with the result that the press begins to close, as already explained. lVhen the head 5 has reached a predetermined position with respect to the buck 4 (which is usually determined by the position at which it will be impossible for the operator to get her hand between the head and buck), the pneumatic and electric locking arrangement takes effect, the former by the operation of the pneumatic diaphragm 18 to hold the inlet valve 5| open and the exhaust valve 58 closed, and the latter by the energization of the solenoid 88 Aby the closing of the switch 84 to hold the exhaust valve 51 closed.

As the head comes into contact with the damp garment I5 the temperature of the head is suficient to generate steam at the working surface. The pressure of the steam at the working surface readily forces steam into the openings ||9 in the head, and a pressure is built up against the diaphragm H8. This fiexes the diaphragm upwardly and causes the switch |81 to close, which continues the energization of the solenoid 88, as by this time the switch 84 has opened. The locking arrangement is therefore continued in effect as long as steam pressure acts on the diaphragrn.

As the work I8 dries out under the continued effect of pressure and heat of the head, the steam pressure becomes less and less and the diaphragm is lowered more and more. Eventually -the pressure is reduced to such an extent that the diaphragm is lowered enough to open the switch |81. This breaks the circuit through the solenoid 88 and permits the spring 59 in the valve housing 54, together with the air pressure, to open the exhaust valve 51, which releases the pressure in the cylinder |8 and also the pressure against the pneumatic diaphragm 18. This in turn permits the spring 23 to open the press.

The operator holds the push buttons 38, 3| depressed until the press head closes to a position close to the pressing table or buck 4, so that the heat fromthe heated head converts the moisture in the work into steam, causing the switch |01 to be closed by the steam pressure while the press is going under flnal pressure or before it is completely under final pressure. In othery words, when the press closes to what might be called a safety position, the steam generates and closes the switch |01, so that it is safe for the operator to remove her hands from the buttons 30, 3|, and the operator does not have to wait until `the press flnally closes before removing her hands from the push buttons.. When the press head reaches such safe position, the arm 92 closes the switch 84, thus energizing the coil for the armature 8| to close the release valve 51. During this period, steam is generated to close the switch |01 which continues to hold the coil for the armature 8| energized and the release valve 51 closed, when the arm 92 ratchets past the cam 9| on the switch arm 90 of the switch 84 and permits the switch arm 90 to open. When the press opens, the latch dog 92 ratchets past the cam 9|, although in so doing, it may momentarily close the switch 84. However, such closing is of no effect during the opening operation.

The contacts of the switch |01 may be adjusted so that the press will open when the work I6 has reached a predetermined degree of dryness. This time will be determined by the stiffness of the diaphragm and the spring contact I5, as well as the spacing of the contacts from each other and of the contact l |5 from the diaphragm.

Means is preferably provided so that the operator can open the press at any time, regardless of whether or not the work is dry. For this purpose, a third arm or handle |2| may be provided on the lever 6|, associated with the control button 3|. This arm may extend outwardly beneath the button 3| where it can be conveniently reached by the operator, who merely depresses it when she desires to open the press. This pulls the armature out of the solenoid against the magnetic force tending to pull it in, and permits the exhaust valve 51 to be opened by the spring 59 and the pressure of the air in the chamber 55.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a textile press with a novel and highly desirable control instrumentality which will permit the press to be `closed in the normal manner, but will then maintain the press closed to continue the pressing operation until the work has been completely finished and dried to the desired degree. By means of the invention the guess work of the operator in determining the time required to properly finish the work is eliminated, with the result that faster operation of the press may be obtained with a more uniform quality of nished work.

The invention is presented to ll a need for a new, faster, and more ecient pressing machine, and for a control instrumentality for such a machine which will respond to the pressure of steam evolved from the work. It is understood that various modifications in the structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefitting from the teachings of an invention. Hence, it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative of the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form by explaining the con` struction, operation, and advantages thereof- What is claimed is:

1. A textile pressing machine including a pair of cooperating pressing members mounted for opening and closing movement, one with respect Yto the other, at least one of said members having means to maintain the temperature thereof above that of boiling water, means forV actuating one of said members to bring the same into co- 4action with the other and for holding said members intheir work coacting position, means operable to release the holding means including a compartment in one of said members having an vinlet opening in close proximity lto engaging surfaces of said members to receive and accumulate steam generated from the work being operated upon between said members, a movable member iin said compartment, and a control member for the holding means operated by the movable member, said control member .being operated by the movable member into position to maintain the holding means operative, the movable member being located in said compartment in position to be actuated under the pressure of steam in the compartment and to release the holding means uncler lack of steam pressure in said compartment.

2. A textile press comprising a pair of cooperating pressing members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, power operated means to cause relative movement of said members into and out of .engagement with each other, means to maintain one of' said members at a temperature above the temperature of' boillng water, a compartment in one of said members having an opening in close proximity to the engaging surfaces of said members, a diaphragm in said compartment, a switch operatively associated with said diaphragm and adapted to close when said diaphragm is deflected, manually operated means tov cause said power operated means to effect relative movement of said members, means controlled by the relative movement of said members to cause said power operated means to continue to effect relative movement of said members towards each other for a predetermined period of time, means to cause said power operated means to continue to effect relative movement of said members towards each other when said switch is closed and to cause relative movement of said members away from each other when said switch is opened.

3. A textile press comprising a buck and a head mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, power operated means to `cause relative movement of said buck andhead into and out of engagement with each other, means to heat said headjto a temperature above the temperature of boiling water, a compartment in said head having an opening in the working surface thereof, a diaphragm in said compartment adapted to be deflected by the pressure of steam passing into said opening, afswitch operatively associated with said diaphragm and adapted to be normally open but to be closed when said diaphragm is deflected, means to cause said power operated means to effect relative movement of said head and buck into engagement with each other, and means to cause said power operated means to hold said head and buck together when said switch is closed and to separate said head and buck when said switch 1s open.

4. A textile press comprising a head and buck mounted for relative movement with respect tov each other, power operated means to cause relative movement of said head and buck into and out of engagement with each other, means to heat said head to a temperature above the temperature of boiling water, a compartment in said head having .a plurality of small openings `inthe working surface of said head, a diaphragm in said compartment, means to cause said power operated means to effect relative movement of said Yhead and Ibuck into engagement with each other whereby the contact of said head with damp work laid uponsaid buck will cause the evolution of steam which will enter said openings in said compartment and deflect said diaphragm, and means to cause said power operated means to maintain said head and buck in engagement with each other when said diaphragm is deflected and to separate said headv and buck whenk said diaphragm returns to its normal position.

5. A textile press comprising a head anda, buck mounted for relative movement, onetoward and from the other, power operated means to cause relative movement of said head and bucls'.Y into and out of icoaction with each other to close the press, means to heat said head to a temperature above the temperature of the boiling water, a compartment in said head having a plurality of openings distributed along the length of the head onthe working face thereof, whereby when said head engages damp work on the, buck steam willbe generated which will pass. through said. openings and enter said compartment, operatorcontrolled opens automatically.

meansfto cause said power operated means to eiectsaid relative movement of the head and buck toward each other, a switch, meansv operatively associated with the head and adapted to close said switch when said head is in close proximity to said buck and to open said'sw'itch again when said head and buck come into full pressing coaction, a second switch in parallel with the first switch and closed by the pressure of steam in said compartment and opened by the reduction of steam pressure in said compartment below a predetermined point, electrically operated means in. circuit` with both of said switches operable to hold the power operated means under power,

Awhen energized, the circuit therethrough being initially closed by the first switch, when closed, and held closed bythe second switch, the means for closing the rst switch operating to open the first switch as the press goes under final pressure and steam has been generated to close the second switch, al1 whereby, when the press is nally closed, the rst switch is open and the second switch is closed, while the work is moist and steam being generated therefrom, and opened upon theabsence of steam, so that the press BASIL J. YANCHENKO.

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