US2372852A - Press opening device - Google Patents

Description

April 9 R. J. RANDALL 7 2,372,852

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April 1945. R. J. RANDALL 1 2,372,852

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PRES S OPENING DEVICE p F o 60 2' ca m Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNiTED STATES wiiNTh OFFICE PRESS OPENING DEVICE Application March 13, 1942, Serial No. 434,555

17 Glaims.

The present invention relates to means for controlling the opening movements of the heads of garment presses and the like. The invention may be considered to be an improvement on the power-operated press head releasing means shown in my copending application, Serial No. 402,251, filed July 12, 1941, for Timing apparatus for garment presses and the like, now Patent No. 2,306,566, dated December 29, 194 l An object of the invention is to provide an improved power-actuated device for unlocking a garment press and for permitting the press head to move to open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind which requires only a minimum amount of electrical or mechanical power to unlock and release the press head. To this end, the invention provides an arrangement of parts wherein a relatively small, low-power solenoid may be employed to shift a latch, which releases a more powerful instrumentality to positively unlock and open the press head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a press head opening device which may be controlled by a small, low-power solenoid having the same electrical characteristics as other solenoids employed in an automatic garment press for actuating the steam valve and the cooling air or vacuum control valve, whereby all of the solenoids may be readily controlled by an automatic timer, without using step-up relay circuits and without damaging the circuit makers and breakers associated with the timer, as might be the case, if a heavy, relatively high-power solenoid were used to actuate the press head opening device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein power for releasing the head lock is stored during a portion of the head closing movement and wherein the release of the stored power is controlled by a relatively light, solenoid-operated'latch, or the equivalent. It is well understood in the garment press art that the press head is usually closed upon a stationary buck by an operator exerting considerable force upon a foot pedal, for instance, by standing on the pedal. The present invention provides means whereby the final portion of the downward movement of the pedal serves to stress a spring, which is held in'that condition when the head is closed by a novel form of latch. The invention further provides connections actuated by the spring, upon the release of the latch for forcefully lifting the pedal, thereby releasing the head-lock and permitting the head to open.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power-actuated press head opening mechanism which will not interfere with the operation of the usual operator-actuated press head opening device, conventionally built into the press by the manufacturer. I I

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for controlling one or more switches in an automatic press timing circuit, y opening and closing movements of the press head.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the specific embodiment of the invention shown, for purposes of illustration, in the accompanying drawings and described below. I

In the accompanying drawings, only so much of a garment press and its actuating means are shown as will be required for an understanding of the invention. Reference is hereby made to.

the aforementioned copending application for a complete disclosure of the press, the power means for operating the valves, and a number of specific forms of automatic timers and electrical circuits.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa side view, partially in elevation and partially in section; of a press with the improvement of the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a similar, fragmentary view of the lower portion of Figure 1, showing the parts in a different position and with certain parts omitted;

Figure 3 is a front elevation, taken from the left of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an elevation of certain parts shown in Figure 3, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a side elevation looking from the right of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of certain parts shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a horizontal section on line 9-9 of Figure '7.

The apparatus of the present invention has been designed for use with garment presses of the Hofiman type, model V. manufactured by U. S. Hoffman Machinery Corporation and, although not confined, to use on presses of this type, in the accompanying drawings and in the following description, reference will be made thereto. The press comprises a base In having a pair of spaced, upwardly projecting side frame members II, l2, integral therewith and carrying at their upper end a buck support [3 and a working table M. From a rearwardly extending portion 19 of the base in, there are a pair of upwardly projecting frame members i5, I6, terminating at their upper ends in rearwardly spaced relation to the buck 21. A heavy bifurcated lever l8, pivoted about the axis of a shaft l9, supported by the upper ends of the frame members I5, l6, carries a press head 20 at its forward end and a counterweight 21 at its rear end.

A forwardly breaking toggle mechanismcomprising a lower link 22 and parallel upper links 23 is connected between the rearwardly' projecting portion of the lever l8 and a stub shaft 24 adjacent the rear of the base ID. A second toggle mechanism comprising links 25 connected to the first toggle at 26 and a second link 21, pivoted on a fixed axis 28 is provided for the purpose of straightening the first toggle,- thereby closing the head upon the buck, the second toggle being operated by downwardly projecting links 29 con-- nected to a foot-operated pedal 30 pivoted to the stub-shaft 24 carried by the base of the'niaohine.

As is well understood -in the art, pressure applied to the foot pedal 30 straightensthe toggl'elinks 25, 21, thereby straightening the first toggle links 22, 23 and applying pressure to head upon the buck. continued downward r noveinent of the pedal urges the joint 32 between the toggle links 25 and 21 upwardly a slight distance past dead center, the movement being arrested by step members 33, 34, carried by the toggle and the press frame, respectively. A teiisioh spring as :7

senioly 35, connected between the piyot 2s and the u per end of link 23, assists the weight II in collapsing the toggles and opening the press head when the joint 32 been moved ahead of'or whereupon th sprin 35 and the weight 2| collapse the toggles arid raise the press head t6 open position.

As is well understood in the art, the upper end of the link 23 may he pivoted at 42 to one nd of a bell crank lever 43, fulcrumed at 4'4 adjacent the rear end of the lever is and having its Either 5 end connected to a clevice 45, which has athr'eaded connection with'ari adjusting rod 46} the latter being connected at its forward end with a hand wheel 41 journalled in a transverse web as carried by the heavy lever H3. The hand wheel SeIVS to rock the bell Clallli 43 ai'idthlby vary the effective lehgth or the link '23 and the degree gt iiessure applied between the head anothe As explained in the aforementione application, the valve assembly 54 mounted on the press head 20, controls the discharge of steam from the hollow interior thereof through the padding on the head, the discharge being permitted when the valve stem 55 is raised by upward swinging movement of the lever 56 having a handle 51 associated therewith, the lever being normally eheld in the lowermost, valve closing position by a spring 58. The steam valve may also be o ened by a foot pedal operated rod 59, connected (ill to a bell crank lever 60 having a link 6! connected to an angular lever 62, connected in turn to the lever 56. The foot pedal operated rod 59 and certain associated parts are omitted from Figures 2, 3 and 5, in order to avoid confusion with other parts. In addition, a solenoid 65, (Figure 1) connected through a bell crank and a link 61, to an extension 68 of the lever 60, may be employed to open and close the steam valve, under the control of an automatic timer of the type shown in the aforesaid application.

The press head closing pedal 30 may be raised to open the press head, not only by the operatoractuated pedal 31, but also by timer-controlled, power-actuated means. A pair of levers 15, 16 extend forwardly fromthe pivot 24 on opposite sides of the pedal 30 and are pivotally connected to the lower ends of upwardl extending links 1.1, 18, The links in turn are connected at their upward ends to a cross-head 19 having an upwardly projecting rod 80 secured to its central portion. The-rod is guided in alower bore formed in a forwardly projecting boss 81 formed integral-'- ly with a bracket 82 secured to. the front face of the frame members I I and I2 of the machine. Above the boss 8!, there is a coil compression spring 85, surrounding the rod 80 and adapted to be compressed between the boss and a collar 86 fast onthe rod. A similar collar 81 below the boss limits the upward movement of the rod under the influence of the spring 85, when released, as hereinafter explained.

The upper end of the rod 80' is guided in an upper bore 88 formed in the bracket 82 and having bushings 89 pressed therein. When at its lowermost position, the upper end of the rod '80 is substantially flush with the upper end of the bore 88. An inverted, U-sha'ped latch 90 is pivoted to the bracket at 9i, 82, on opposite sides of the lower end of the bore 88, with its trailsverse body portion 93' normally disposed above the upper end thereof, overlying the end of the rod 80. The transverse body 83' of the latch is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 84, connected by links 95 to a bell crank level 98, connected in turn by a link 91 to the armature 98 of a solenoid assembly I00, mounted in a 0215*- ing lOl carried by an upwardly p'rojet'itingpoltion I02 of the bracket 82. The weight of the solenoid armature 98 and associated parts normally tends to urge the latch 90 toward the right, in position to overlie the bore 88 and the end of the rod 80, but when the solenoid is energized, the latch is swung toward the left to the'dotted line position (Fig. 5) out of the path of movement of the rod 88.

The link 29, extending downwardly from the toggle 2.1, is connected to the pedal 30 by a pin I05 (Fig. 4) which extends laterally a substan tial'distance beyond the pedal 30 and overlies the levers 15, 16, the upper surfaces of which are provided with semi-circular seats I06 for the reception of the pin. Hence, when the lever 30 is depressed by the action oi-tlie operator, the pin m5 engages the seats mo in the levers 18, 1s, and forces them downwardly with the pedal, thereby lowering the rod 80 and compressing the sl 'r'lhg 85. The latch 98 swings to the full line position (Fig. 5) whenthe rod 86! has been lowered and lies in the path of movement thereof, thereby preventing the rod from being raised by the sprin 85. when the parts are in this position, with the press head locked upon the buck, the pedal 39 may be raised by depressing the oper allot-actuated pedal 39, to release the press head,

without disturbing the solenoid controlled press head releasing mechanism. When the solenoid is energized, for instance, under the control of an automatic timer of the type described in the above identified application, the armature 98 is drawn upwardly, thereby swinging the latch 90 toward the left, to the dotted line position, out of the path of movement of rod 80. The spring 85, bearing against the collar 86, raises the rod 80, the links ll, 78 and the levers 15, 18. Since the last-mentioned levers underlie the pin I05, carried by the pedal 30, the latter is also lifted, and the pivot 32 is moved ahead of or below dead center, thereby releasing the head lock and permitting the press head to open under the influence of the counterweight 2i and the spring 35.

It Will be apparent that very little power is required to swing the latch 90 from the locking position to the releasing position and that the power to release the head lock and lift the pedal 30 is supplied, not by the solenoid itself, but by the relatively heavy spring 85, which is compressed by the operator, when he moves the head to closed position. Hence, the opening movement of the press head may be controlled by a relatively weak, low-power solenoid, instead of by a relatively heavy solenoid as in the above identified application.

The upper portion of the bracket 82 is provided with an integral/forwardly projecting housing H5, supported by a vertical web H l, and having an opening H2 in its back wall. As indicated in Figure 9, the upper guiding bore 88 is formed in an enlargement H3 cast in the corner between the housing I I and the back wall of th'e'bracket B2. A plurality of switches H5, H5 in the timer circuit may be mounted in the housing. so as to be controlled by the opening and closing movements of the press head. As explained in the above identified application, two press head controlled switches are preferably included in the timer circuit, to initiate the operation of the timer only when the press head is closed, and to continue the operation of the timer and to control the operation of the vacuum valve solenoid. under certain conditions, after the press head opens.

As shown in Figure '6, a spring feeler H8 is pivoted at its upper end to a transverse bolt H9 carried by upwardly projecting lugs I20, I21, formed integrally with the upper end wall of the housing H0. The feeler H8 lies in the path of movement of the toggle 21 and link 29, so that, when the press head is moved to closed position and the toggle assumes the dotted line position in Figure 6, the feeler is moved toward the left. In this position, a lug I22 on the feeler bears against. rollers I23 or other contactors carried by the switches H5, Hi, to actuate the switches. Thus, when the press head is closed, the feeler H8 and the lug I22 are so moved as to shift the switches H5, H6 by cooperation with the contactors I23. As explained in the aforesaid application, one of the switches is preferably normally open and the other normally closed. The feeler H8 serves to shift the switches, to close the first one and to open the second.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be entirely clear from a consideration of the foregoing description.

When the operator closes the press head, by placing his weight upon the pedal 30, the pin 1H5 carried thereby enters the seats I06 formed on the upper edges of the levers 15, 16, thereby lowering those levers and drawing the links H, 1B

of the spring 85. When the rod has been depressed to its lowermost position, the latch 90 swingsto its operative position with the transverse body portion 93 thereof overlying the end of the rod. Closing movement of the press head causes the end of toggle link 2'! to engage the feeler H8 which serves to shift the switches H5, H6, thereby rendering the automatic timer operative, as explained in my prior application.

When the solenoid I00 is subsequently energized, for instance, by the timer, the latch 93 is shifted to the release position, to one side of the upper end of the rod 80, whereupon the spring moves the rod and the parts operatively connected thereto upwardly with a sharp jerk. The levers T5, 76 moves the pin m5 and the pedal lever 35 upwardly, thereby swinging the toggle 21 in a clockwise direction and moving the joint 32 ahead of or below dead center. This unlocks the press head and permits the same to open under the influence of the counterweight 2| and spring 35. As the end of the toggle link 27 rotates, it moves away from the feeler H8 .with the result that the switches are shifted to the press head open position.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the details'of construction shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, as many modifications will readily occur to one skilled in the art. All such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents are included within the invention.

I claim:

1. A garment press comprising a buck, a head mounted for movement to closed position on the buck, a pedal operated link and lever system including a toggle for so moving the head and for locking the head in closed position when the toggle is moved past dead center, operator-actuated means for unlocking said system and for raising the head, and automatic, power-actuated means for unlocking said system and for raising the head, said operator-actuated means and said automatic, power-actuated means each having an independent, one-way connection with said system, whereby either may be actuated to unlock the system and to raise the head independently of the other and without affecting the other.

2. A garment press comprising a buck, a head mounted for movement to closed position on the buck, a pedal operated link and lever system including a toggle for so moving the head and for locking the head in closed position when the toggle is moved past dead center, operator-actuated means for unlocking said system and for raising the head, and automatic, power-actuated means for unlocking said system and head, said automatic means comprising spring means operatively connected to said system to be stressed upon movement of the head to closed position on the buck, a latch for holding the spring means in stressed condition, and means for moving the latch to release position to permit the spring means to unlock the system and raise the head, said automatic means being so connected to said system as to permitinde'pendent operation of the latter under-the influence of the operator-actuated means without releasingsaid springmeans, whereby the press head maybe opened and closed independently of said auto matic means and while the spring means remains in stressed condition. I

for raising the moving the head and -3. A garment press comprising a buck, a head mounted for swinging movement to closed position on the buck, a toggle linkage system for adapted to be moved past dead center to lock the head on the buck, a pedal lever connected to the toggle system and movable downwardly to move the latter past dead center and upwardly from it lowermost position to unlock the system, operator-actuated means for so moving the pedal lever upwardly, a spring, a connection between the pedal and the spring, operated by downward movement of the pedal for stressing the spring, a latch for holding the spring in stressed condition, and means for releasing the latch to cause the spring to move the pedal upwardly, said connection being of the oneway type permitting the pedal to move upwardly under the influence of said operator-actuated means independently of the release of the latch and of the spring.

4. A garment press comprising a buck, a head mounted for swinging movement to closed position on the buck, a toggle linkage system for moving the head and adapted to be moved past dead center to lock the head on the buck, a pedal lever connected to the toggle system and movable downwardly to move the latter past dead center and upwardly from its lowermost position to unlock the system, operator-actuated means for moving the pedal upwardly, a spring, means having a one-way connection with the pedal for stressing the spring upon downward movement of the pedal, a latch for holding the spring in stressed condition and the last-mentioned means in the position to which it is moved by downward movement of the pedal, while leaving the'pedal free for upward movement by said operator-actuated means, and means for releasing the latch means whereby said spring, through said oneway connection, serves to move the pedal upwardly to unlock the head.

5. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is mounted for swinging movement to closed position upon a buck and wherein the head is urged to closed position by a system of levers, including a pedal lever, and is locked in that position by a toggle mechanism moved past dead center and is unlocked by operator-actuated means for lifting the pedal lever, auxiliary means independent of said operator-actuated means for unlocking and raising the press head, comprising a spring, a linkage system positioned to be moved by downward movement of the pedal for stressing the sprin but leaving the pedal free to be lifted by the operator-actuated means, a latch for holding the linkage system and the spring in the last-mentioned position, and poweractuated means for releasing the latch, whereby the linkage system, under the influence of said spring, raises the pedal lever to unlock the toggle mechanism and open the press.

6. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is mounted for swinging movement to closed position upon a buck and wherein the head is urged to closed position by a system of levers, including a pedal lever, and is locked in that position by a toggle mechanism moved past dead center and is unlocked by operator-actuated means for lifting the pedal lever, auxiliary means for unlocking and raising the press head, comprising a compression spring, a spring operating linkage system including an element positioned below the pedal in the path of downward movement thereof and adapted to compress the spring when the pedal is moved to head locking position,

the pedal free for upward movement underthe influence of the operator-actuated pedal lifting means, a latch for holding the spring compressed, and means for moving the latch to release position, whereby said linkage system lifts the pedal and unlocks the press head.

7. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is closed and looked upon a buck by a downwardly movable pedal lever, a vertically extending link adjacent the pedal, a one-way connection between the pedal and the link, whereby downward movement of the pedal is transmitted to the link and upward movement of the link is transmitted to the pedal, the pedal being free to move upwardly independently of while leaving the link, a spring urging the link upwardly when the latter has been lowered by downward movement of the pedal, a latch for holding the link in the lowered position against the force of said spring, and means for moving the latchto release the link, whereby the link raises the pedal and unlocks the press head.

8. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is closed and locked upon a buck by a downwardly movable pedal lever, a vertically extending link adjacent the pedal, a one-way con nection between the pedal and the link, whereby downward movement of the pedal i transmitted to the link and upward movement of the link is transmitted to the pedal, the pedal being free to move upwardly independently of the link, a spring urging the link upwardly when the latter has been lowered by downward movement of the pedal, a latch engaging member movable with said link, a latch pivoted for swinging movement into the path of upward movement of said member for holding the link in the lowered position against the force of said spring, and means for swinging the latch out of the path of movement of said member, whereby the link may mOVe upwardly ill under the influence of the spring to lift the pedal and unlock the press head.

9. In a garment pres of the type wherein a press head is closed and locked upon a buck by a downwardly movable pedal lever, a vertically extending link adjacent the pedal, a one-way connection between the pedal and the link, whereby downward movement of the pedal is transmitted to the link and upward movement of the link is transmitted to the pedal, the pedal being free to move upwardly independently of the link, a spring urging the link upwardly when the latter has been lowered by downward movement of the pedal, a latch engaging member movable with said link, a

= latch pivoted for swinging movement into the path of upward movement of said member for holding the link in the lowered position against the force of said spring, and a solenoid connected to said latch for swinging the same out of the path of movement of said member, whereby said spring may raise the link and the pedal and unlock the press head.

10. In a press of the type wherein a press head is closed and looked upon a buck by a pedal lever, means for raising the lever to unlock the press head, said means comprising a pair of vertically extending links on opposite sides of the pedal, means connected to said links underlying an element associated with the pedal, thereby providing a one-way connection between the pedal and the links, spring means urging the links upwardly same to a position to release the links, whereby said spring means may raise the links and the pedal.

11. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is closed and looked upon a buck by a forwardly extending, downwardly movable pedal pivoted adjacent the rear of the press frame,

electrically controlled mean for lifting the pedal and unlocking the press head, comprising a forwardly extending lever fulcrumed on the pedal pivot and having a surface underlying a surface associated with the pedal in abutting relation, spring means for urging the lever upwardly when the latter has been lowered by downward movement of the pedal, a latch for holding the lever in the lowered position against the force of the spring means, and a solenoid for moving the latch to a position to release the lever, whereby the lever and the pedal are raised by said spring means.

12. In a garment press of the type wherein a press head is closed and locked upon a buck by a forwardly extending, downwardly movable pedal lever pivoted adjacent the rear of the press frame, electrically controlled means for lifting the pedal and unlocking the press head, comprising a forwardly extending lever fulcrumed on the pedal pivot and having a surface underlyin a surface associated with the pedal in abutting relation, an upwardly extending link connected to the free end of the lever, a spring urging the link upwardly when the lever and link have been lowered by downward movement of the pedal. a latch for holding the link-and lever in the lowered position against the force of said spring, and electrically actuated means for moving the latch to a release position, whereby said spring raises the link, the lever and the pedal to unlock the press head.

13. In a garment press of th type. wherein a press head is closed and looked upon a buck by a downwardly movable pedal and is unlocked by upward movement thereof, means for raising the pedal from the locking position, comprising a rod guided for vertical movement relative to the press frame, connections between the rod and the pedal, whereby the rod is lowered when the pedal is lowered to close the press head, a compression spring surrounding the rod and positioned to be compressed by downward movement of the latter. a latch yoke pivoted for swinging movement from a position overlying the end of the rod when lowered to a release position, and power means for swinging the yoke to the last-mentioned position, to permit the spring to raise the rod and lift the pedal.

14. Mechanism for lifting the operating pedal of a garment press from its lowermost, press-headlocking position, to an upper head-releasing position, comprising a bracket carried by the pressframe above the pedal, a rod guided for vertical movement in the bracket, 8. link connected to the rod, a lever connected to the link and extending rearwardly and having a surface underlying the pedal, whereby the pedal depresses the lever, the link and the rod when it is moved to head-lock- Ofa ing position, a spring adapted to be stressed by depression of the rod, a latch pivoted to the bracket and having a surface overlying the end of the rod'when in latching position, and a solenoid connected to the latch, to swing the same to release position, to permit the spring to lift the rod, the link, the lever and th pedal.

15. Mechanism for lifting the operating pedal of a garment press from its lowermost, presshead-locking position to an upper head-releasing position, comprising a bracket carried by the front of the press frame above the pedal, a rod uided for vertical movement in the bracket, a pair of depending links connected to the rod, a pair of rearwardly extending levers connected to the links and having surfaces underlying a surface associated with the pedal, a spring surrounding the rod and adapted to be stressed by depression of the rod, a latch pivoted on the bracket and having a portion thereof overlying the end of the rod when in latching position to hold the same depressed against the force of the spring, and a solenoid connected to the latch for swinging the same to a release position.

16. Mechanism for lifting th operating pedal of a garment press from its lowermost, presshead-locking position to an upper head-releasing position, comprising a bracket carried by the front of the press frame above the pedal, a rod guided for vertical movement in the bracket,

means establishing a connection between the pedal and.the rod, whereby the rod is moved downwardly when the pedal is lowered to locking position, a compression spring connected to the rod and urging the same upwardly and tending to lift the pedal, a latch pivoted to said bracket and positioned in the path of movement of the end of the rod when in latching position to restrain the same against movement under the force of the spring, and a solenoid carried by said bracket and connected to the latch to swing the same out of the path of movement of the rod when the solenoid is energized.

17. Mechanism for lifting the operating pedal garment press from its lowermost, presshead-locking position to an upper head-releasing position, comprising a bracket carried by the front of the press frame above the pedal, a rod guided for vertical movement in the bracket, means establishing a connection between the pedal and the rod, whereby the rod is moved downwardly when the pedal is lowered to locking position, a compression spring connected to the rod and urging the same upwardly and tending to lift the pedal, a U -shaped latch having its legs pivoted on said bracket and its body portion positioned in the path of movement of the end of the rod when in latching position to restrain the same against movement under the force of said spring, and a solenoid carried by said bracket and connected to the latch to swing the body portion thereof to one side of the path of movement of the rod when the solenoid is energized.

ROBERT J. RANDALL.

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