US2651125A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1953 H. E. COLE ETAL PRES-SING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1950 FIC5.|.

m w v N N 0 R EE O m 0 w WM H m Sept. 8, 1953 H. E. COLE ETAL PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Aug. 23, 1950 FIG. 2.

' INVENTOR HYMAN E. COLE WALTER OLSEN ATTORNEYS PRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 COMPRESSED AIR TAN SHUT-OFF COCK a E N 2% 7 w m a f m e 0C L E m .0 v 2% w MW E R am I d 1. u V E 0 Q 7 4 4 IAL a 0 d v Y 9 x C I ll. H B w u a at m. b a W m A u. I J F v 1 u 1 a J L I 2 1, 7/ mm /l/l/l/d Z u w Em mw A/ 7 6 7 v v 7 b 9.. w a a 0 w 1 Z a a a a w w. 4. 7 w w ATTORN EYS Sept. 8, 1953 H. E. COLE ETAL PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1950 INVENTOR 'HYMAN E, COLE ATTORNE'YS &

lIll/Il v 2. I V .l I IIIIIIIII- m HI/432ml)? T x I .1

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 PRESSING MACHINE Hyman E. Cole, Valley Stream, N. Y., and Walter Olsen, East Paterson, N. J., assignors to New York Pressing Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a, corporation of New York Application August 23, 1950, Serial No. 180,922

Claims.

Our invention relates to a, new and improved pressing machine, which may be used for pressing and ironing garments and fabrics. Machine of this type are well known. A machine of this type has a fixed head or base, sometimes designated as a buck, and a movable head which is movable towards said buck and away from said buck. It is also well known to operate the head by means of a low-pressure cylinder and a highpressure cylinder, which have respective pistons therein. The high-pressure cylinder, also desi nated as the high-force cylinder, is operated from the same source of compressed air or other fluid as the low-pressure or low-force cylinder.

The low-force cylinder moves the head towards the buck to an intermediate position of said head, in which said head is either spaced from the garment on the buck or said head abuts the garment under very light or zero pressure. The high-pressure piston of the high-pressure cylinder is then operated in order further to actuate the head, so as to apply the final high-pressure to the garment or other article on the buck.

It is also well known to lock the machine when it is fully closed and when the final high-pressure is applied by the head.

According to our invention, we provide a simple and improved control system for this well known type of machine.

We utilize a first valve casing which has the usual inlet valve and th usual exhaust valve. These valves are operated in unison, in the well known manner. We provide a first operatoractuated member, such as a pedal, for opening the inlet valve in said first valve casing and for closing the exhaust valve therein. We thus connect the source of compressed air to the lower end of the low-pressure cylinder and we actuate'a low-pressure piston outwardly in order to actuate the head and move said head to its intermediate position. When the head is in said intermediate position, the low-pressure piston clear a, port of the low-pressure cylinder. The space of the loW- pressure cylinder which contains the compressed air, is thus put into communication with a second valve casing, through an intermediate pipe. Said second valve casing contains an inlet valve and exhaust valve which are operated in unison. We provide a second operator-actuated control memaer for operating the valves in the second valve casing. This second operator-actuated control member is preferably a lever or arm which is pivotally connected for the support of the mo'vable head of the press. When this manually operated lever or arm is moved, the compressed pressure.

air flows through said second valve casing,

through a normally closed one-way or check valve connected in the pipe leading to the diaphragm chamber. This diaphragm chamber contains the usual resilient diaphragm which is flexed by the compressed air in said diaphragm chamber. The flexing of said resilient diaphragm opens an inlet valve, whereby compressed air is admitted into the high-pressure cylinder, in order to actuate the piston therein and finally to close the press under high-pressure. The pipe through which the compressed air is admitted into the high-pressure cylinder is connected by a branch pipe of said diaphragm chamber, through a oneway or check valve. While the compressed air is retained in said diaphragm chamber, no air can flow through the last mentioned check valve because it is subjected to equal pressure at both sides thereof and the usual spring maintains said check valve in normally closed position. After the press has been finally closed under final highpressure, the operator can release the pedal, in order to exhaust the air from the first valve casin while the machine remains locked under high- In order to unlock the machine, we provide a release valve which is located in a fourth valve casing. When thi release valv is opened by the operator, the air is exhausted from the diaphragm chamber and also from the pipe which connects the source of compressed air to the high-pressure cylinder. The machine is thus unlocked.

In addition, we connect the diaphragm chamher by a by-pass to the pipe which connects the second valve casing to the diaphragm chamber. This by-pass is controlled by a manually operated valve. When this valve is opened, it permits the air in the diaphragm chamber to bypass the check valve into the second valve casing and escape through the exhaust outlet when said arm or lever is released. This provides an automatic opening of the press when said hand operated lever is released, so that it is unnecessary to operate the release valve.

An important advantage of this invention is that if the operators hand or another obstruction is accidentally interposed over the buck, thereby preventing the head from being moved to its intermediat position when the pedal is actuated, the low-pressure piston fails to clear the'port in the low-pressure cylinder. As a result, no compressed air is supplied to the second valve casing, and it is impossible to actuate the high-pressure piston. Injury to the obstruction is thereby prevented.

Any problem as to whether the air leaving the port in the low-pressure cylinder is sufiicient directly to operate the high-pressure piston is avoided in this construction. The air leaving the port merely operates the inlet valve in the diaphragm chamber, and this inlet valve serves as a sort of mechanical relay means to admit air into the high-pressure cylinder. The use of this mechanical relay valve system makes it convenient to utilize the check valve in parallel with the diaphragm as a locking means.

Numerous other objects and advantages and features of our invention are disclosed in the annexed description and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation which shows the machine in its fuliy open position. The buck and table and head of the machine are shown in broken lines. The first control member, namely, the pedal 19, is shown in normal or non-operated position. The second control member, namely, the arm or lever is also shown in normal or non-operated position.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, showing the machine in its fully closed and locked position, in which the head is forced towards the buck under final high pressure.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partially in vertical section, which shows the controls and valves and other parts of the air-supply means. The fullline position of the head corresponds to the open position of the machine. The broken-line position of the head corresponds to the closed and locked position of the machine. The two operator-actuated control members is and I are shown in their normal or unoperated positions. The low-force and high force pistons 9 and 59 are shown in their normal inner or non-operated positions.

4 is a detail elevation, partially in vertical section, which shows the first operator-actuated control member or pedal in its operated position, and it shows the first or inlet valve IS in its operated position, in which compressed air is admitted to the low-force cylinder Ill.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, showing the pistons 9 and E2 in their outer positions, and showing the head 2 in its final high-pressure position, in. which the machine is fully closed. The broken-line position of the pedal [9 is its normal or nonoperated position. The broken-line position of the arm or lever 4 is its normal or non-operated position. The full-line position of. the arm or lever is its o erated position.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation, partially in vertical section, which shows the release valve in its operated position.

Fig. 7 shows the needle valve in its open position, in order to unlock and open the machine when the arm or lever 4 is released, without oper ating the release valve.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of a modification in which additional control means are connected between the first operator-actuated control memoer or pedal and the low-force cylinder Ill.

The machine has a frame 3, the usual base or buck l and the usual head 2. The head 2 is fixed to a U-shaped or Y-shaped arm 6, which is turnably connected by a pivot I to frame 3. Arm 6 has an extension 5a, which is connected by a pivot pin 9a to the piston rod 8 of a low-force piston 9, which is slidably positioned in low-force cylinder 48. Said cylinder [0 is turnably connected at one end thereof to frame 3 by pivot pin Illa. Adjacent said pivot pin Illa, the low-force cylinder 10 is provided at its inner end with an inlet H for admitting compressed air from one end of a flexible pipe I2, whose other end is connected to an outlet port of a first valve-casing 14. Between its ends, the low-force cylinder 10 has an outlet port 29a, which is connected by a flexible pipe 29 to the inlet of a second valve-casing 30.

The outer end of cylinder 10 is provided with a pipe outlet [01), which is always open to the atmosphere. When the piston 9 is in its full-line inner position of Fig. 3, the arm 6 and head 2 are in their full-line positions of Fig. 3 and the machine is iully open. When compressed air is admitted to cylinder 19 at its inner end through inlet H, the. piston 9 is forced forwardly or outwardly. During said outward movement of piston: 9, the air in cylinder 10 which is in front of piston 9 escapes from cylinder In to the outer atmosphere through outlet lUb, which is a pipe which is open at both ends thereof. When piston 9- is moved to a position in front of outlet port 29a of cylinder I0, the compressed air behind piston 9 flows-from cylinder l0 through port tea-and flexible pipe 29- to the second valve-casing 393. When the piston 9 is thus moved in front of port 290., in order to establish communication between cylinder 10 and pipe 29, the head 2 touches the garment or other article which is located on buck i, or head 2 is slightly spaced from said article. The head 2 and piston 9 are then in their intermediate positions and the machine is partially closed. The function of low-force cylinder [0 is mainly or wholly to move the head to a position which is close to its final pressure position, without applying the final high pressure to head 2.

The first valve-casing I4 has an air-inlet to which pipe 15a is connected. Said pipe 15a is an extension of a pipe I5, which is connected to a source of compressed air. Said pipe I5 is provided with an air strainer and a manually operated shut-01f cock.

Cylindrical valves 3 and 26, which are fixed to a valve-rod 22, fit closely against the respective adjacent parts of the inner wall of valvecasing Hi. The valve i6 is the inlet valve. The valve 26 is the usual exhaust valve. A compression spring ll, whose upper end abuts an adjustable nut l8 which closes the upper end of first valve-casing M, normally maintains the valves H5 and 26 in their normal positions of Fig. 3'. In its normal position, the first valve or inlet valve 16 is closed and it abuts a valve-seat which is provided by an inner shoulder of valve-casing I4, thus blocking communication between the air-inlet port of the first valve-casing l4 and the air-outlet port of the first valve-casing M. In its normal position of Fig. 3, exhaust valve 26 is open and located below its valve-seat, which is provided by a respective internal shoulder of valve-casing M. Between said shoulder and the normal position of valve 26, the valve-casing I4 is provided with a pipe outlet 28 which is always open to the outer atmosphere. Like outlet 1% of cylinder In, the outlet 28 of valve-casing I4 is a pipe which is open at both ends. The valverod 22 extends through the bore of a hollow nut 21, which is fixed to first valve-casing M.

In this embodiment, the first operator-actuated control member is a pedal [9, which is turnably connected by pivot pin 20 to the frame 3 of the machine. A compression spring 2| yieldingly maintains the pedal IS! in its normal position of Fig. 3, in which the first or inlet valve I6 is closed.

Pedal l9 has an extension lBa, which has a bore or opening through which the first valve-rod 22 extends slidably. The lower end of a compres the first valve-rod 22. Nuts are fixed to the bottom end of the first valve-rod 22. The top nut 25 abuts the bottom face of extension Illa. When pedal I9 is in its normal, unoperated position of Fig. 3, the topcompression spring I? has a greater force than the bottom compression spring 24, so that valves l6 and 26 are maintained in their respective normal positions of Fig. .3.

When the pedal I9 is turned counterclockwise from its normal position of Fig. 3 to its position shown in Fig. 4 and also shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the compression of lower spring 24 is increased, so that the first or inlet valve I6 is moved upwardly away from its valve seat, thus establishing communication between pipes I51; and 2 through the first valve-casing I4. At the same time, exhaust valve 26 is moved against its valve seat, thus preventing flow of the compressed air through the pipe outlet 28, so that air cannot flow out of the first valve-casing l4, save through pipe l2.

The second valve-casing 30 is closed at its right end. Said second valve-casing 30 is provided with a second valve-rod 36, which extends slidably through the bore of a hollow guide-nut which is provided at the left end of second valvecasing 33. Said second valve-rod 36 has cylindrical valves 44 and 32 fixed thereto. The valve 32 i designated as the second valve. A compression spring 34 yieldingly maintains the valves 44 and 32 in their normal positions of Fig. 3, in which the second valve 32 is closed and abuts its valve-seat and exhaust valve 44 is open and spaced from its valve-seat of second valve-casing 30. In its said normal position, the second valve 32 blocks communication between pipe 29 and the outlet pipe 3| of the second valve-casing 30. In said normal position of valve 44, it is spaced from the pipe outlet 45 of valve-casing 36. This pipe-outlet 45 is always open to the outer atmosphere.

When the second valve-rod 36 is moved inwardly to its position of Fig. 5, valve 44 is moved against its seat and the second valve 32 is moved away from its seat. The compressed air then flows out of cylinder l0 through its outlet port pipes 46 and 3| are designated as a diaphragm chamber connecting conduit, in which the oneway valve 41 is located.

It is then to be noted that no compressed air can flow through pipe 3|, upon inward movement of valve-rod 36, unless pedal |9 has first been moved to its position of Fig. 4.

When compressed air thus enters pipe 46, said compressed air upwardly flexes a resilient diaphragm 58, so that it is flexed from its normal flat shape of Fig. 3 to its upwardly flexed shape of Fig. 5. The outlet end of this diaphragm-connecting conduit is connected to the inner end of a pressure-chamber or diaphragmchamber, which is sealed at its outer end by the flexible and resilient diaphragm 50. This dia- 6 phragm 50 is an actuating or control means for the third valve 54.

The diaphragm 50 abuts valve 5|, which is located in a third valve-casing 53. A branch pipe 56 of pipe |5a i connected to the third valvecasing 53 through a regulating valve. A pressure gauge is also provided. The valve 5| is fixed to a valve-rod 52, to which the third valve 54 is also fixed. When diaphragm 50 is in its normal shape of Fig. 3, a compression spring 55 normally maintains the third valve 54 in closed position against its valve seat, and normally maintains valve 5| spaced below its valve seat of valve-casing 53. Said third valve-casing 53 has a pipe outlet 82, which is open to the outer atmosphere. When valve 5| is moved to its position of Fig. 5, it prevents t-he flow of air out of pipe outlet 82.

When diaphragm 50 is flexed upwardly, the third valve 54 is moved upwardly away from its valve seat in order to open said third valve 54, and valve 5| is moved against its valve seat. Communication is thus established between pipe 56 and the adjacent branch of pipe 51, through the third valve-casing 53. The adjacent ends of the branches of pipe 51 are connected to each other through a coupling to which a fourth valvecasing I6 is connected through a nipple 13a which has a narrow bore. Said fourth valve casing 16 has a one-way valve, which is conventionally represented by a ball 17, which is normally held in closed position against its seat by a compression spring 18. The fourth valve-casing 16 is connected by pipe 19 to pipe 46.

When pipe 46 has a filling of compressed air to keep the resilient diaphragm 5|] upwardly flexed, the air pressure in pipe 46 is equal to the air pressure in pipe 51, so that valve 11 will remain closed. The compressed air which flows through pipe 51 enters the high-force cylinder 58, which is optionally and preferably of greater diameter than the low-force cylinder I6. For convenience, the pipe 51 is designated as a highforce cylinder pipe, because it delivers compressed air to the inlet of the high-force cylinder 58.

Hence, although cylinders I0 and 58 operate under air at the same pressure, the high-force piston 59 of cylinder 58 exerts greater force than piston 3 of cylinder Hi. The high-force cylinder 58 is turnably connected to the frame 3 of the machine by a pivot pin 6 I. The high-force piston 59 of cylinder 58 has a piston rod 63, which is pivotally connected at 62 to an arm 63 which is pivotally connected at 64to the frame 3 of the machine. Rod 65 is pivotally connected at 66 to arm 63. p

This rod 65 is of adjustable length and it is provided with conventional means 61 for adjust ing its length. Rod 65 is fixed to an extension 66a of member 6a.

The arm 63 and rod 65 therefore provide two arms of a toggle which have a common pivot 66.

When high-force piston 59 is operated, the arm 63 and rod 65 are moved from their full-line positions of Fig. 3 to their broken-line positions of I Fig. 3, and other parts shown in Fig. 3 are moved from the full-line positions to their broken-line positions, thus applying the head 2 under final high pressure against the garment or other article on the buck v In order to move the second valve rod 36 from its normal position of Fig. 3 to its operated position of Fig. 5 in order to open the second valve 32, an arm 38 is turned from its normal position of Fig. 3.. This arm 38 is pivoted at 4| to the frame 3 of the machine. A tension spring 42a 7 normally holds arm 38. itsnormalposition oi Fig. 3. Said arm 38 has a boss through which a valve-actuating rod 31. extends. sliolalolly. A compression spring 39 keeps the head of rod .1 in contact with the. proximate tip of rodv 36. A nut 40 limits the movement of rod 31 relative to arm 38,.

When, arm 38 is in its normal position at Fig. 3, the iorce of the compression pring 3.4 maintain the valves 44 and 3.2 of rod'35 in their normal positions of Fig. 3.

Arm 38 can be turned from its normal position of Fig. 3 to its operated position of Fig. 5, by means of a flexible wire 42 which may have a suitable flexible covering 4311.

One end of wire 42 is connected tov arm 38. The other end of wire, is connected through a rigid head 43 and a pivot a to the lug of an arm 4, which is pivoted at 5 to arm 5. Said arm 6 is u-shaped or Y-shaped, so that. it has two legs between which arm 4 can be. located. When arm 4 is turned toward head 2,. arm 38, is operated by wire 42 Head 2 cannot be p ced under hi h pressure until pedal 89 has been depressed. This is an important safety feature. In operation, the parts are initially in the position of Fig. 1. The operator then places a garment or other article on book I and depresses pedal i9. This actuate-s low-pressure piston 9 to move head 2 to its intermediate position adiacent buck i. If head 2. is moved only under the impetus of low-pressure piston 9, the operator will not be injured if he has neglected to remove his hand from between buck l and head 2.

In some prior machines, it has been possible to actuate the high-pressure lever and thereby move the high-pressure piston independently of the i ovementv of the low-pressure cylinder. In this case, the operator could retain his hand between buck i and head 2, while depressing the foot pedal to move head 2 to a position adjacent buck. l. andthen actuate the high-pressure piston. This could result in serious injury.

the present machine, the depressing of arm 4, will 1% result in the actuating of high-pressure piston 59 unless low-pressure; piston 9 has first cleared outlet 29a and thereby permitted. highpressure air to enter valve-casing 30. However, if an obstruction such as a human hand is placed between buck, I and head 2, thereby preventing head 2 from moving to its intermediate position which is normally reached when pedal i9 is de-. pressed. piston I9 tails to cle r outlet 29 A a result, the depressing of arm 4 fails to cause high pressure to be applied to piston 59, and the obstruction is not crushed.

' After arm 4 has been turned to its full-line position of Fig. 5 in order to exert final high pressure upon head 2, said arm 4 may be released without releasing said high pressure, so that the machine remains fully locked and said final high pressure is maintained. When arm 4 is released after said final high pressure has been applied to head 2, the second valve 32 is moved back to its position of Fig. 3, and valve 44 is also mQved back to its position of Fig. 3. The compressed air thus escapes from the second valve-casing 30 to the outer atmosphere, through pipe outlet 45,. However, the one-way valve 4! is now held closed by its spring 68, so that compressed. air can not escape from pip 46. The di phr m 50 is thus maintained upwardly flexed as shown in Fi 5. and the thi d v lv 54 is thus maintained in ts open position of Fig. 5, and the desir d air=pressure is maintained in. th h gh-f rce. oviinder 58.. Pedal. I9. can be. e eased, hen th machine has bee iullv oc e or pedal 9. may be k pt. its depr ssed position oi His. 4 a er the. ma hine has. been fully locked- I e p da [9 is, released alter the machine. has e n h l y looked. he ompresse air in low f lin Ml flows, reversely through pipe 12 to the first alve-c s n l4. and. o t o s id first. valve-casin l4, through. p pe-outlet 28. to the u r atmosphere... However, the compressed air cannot escape from the, high-force cylinder 58 as long as diaphragm 50 remain upwa dly fl xed. so that the required hi h press r s ma ntain d n head 1..

The machine may be opened ways.

In. one method of operation. a fifth or le e valve-casing .3. is use fiit or re as valve-easing '13 has valve-r d .0.. to w ich. al es U and 15 ar fixed. The valve H. i the fifth or release or relief valve. Said release valves casin 13 has a pipeoutlet 14. which open to the atmosphere. The right end of the release valve-casing is closed. The valve rod 10 extends lid bly throu h a hollow n t wh h is pr vid at the, left end of release valve-casing 13. The

valves 15 and H are normally maintained in their positions of 3 and 5 y a compression pring 12..

The release valve H is moved to its open or release position of Fig. 6. by manually operating a push rod or push link 68. One end of a compression sprin 69. abuts. fram 3 and the o er end of spring 69 abuts a head of push-link 88. As shown in Fig. 1 one end of he push-rod or push-link 68 ha an xtension whi h turna v onnected at 68a to an. ang lar ar 581. which i hingedly connected at 630 to the table T of he machine. Said an u ar bar 8 2 h a pus face B.

his pivoted an ular bar on ext nds lat ra y across the mach n so that it can be conv n entl operated by the hand or leg or the operator.

Normally, no air can escape through valve casing 13, because valve H is seated. However, when bar 68b is operated to move valve H from its position of Fig. 3 to its position of Fig. 6, compressed air in hi h-force cylinder 58 then flows throu h pipe 51. to ope the o y valve and. said. compressed air flows hr u h p p s 9. 46, and a to the l ase alve-ea ng 3 a to the outer atmosphere through p e-outlet 1 Ill. some $815.65., it is desira le 1 i- 2 115.5 th re ea e val e ll ior p ning the machine. In such case t e arm or le er 4 s he d d as lon as it is desired. to maintain the high pressure. and such high pressure is released by merely releasing the arm or lever 4.

For this purpose, the pipe 46 is provided with a passage which is controlled by a manually op erated release needle-valve 80. Said passage is connected by pipe 8! to pipe 31. The release or relief needle valve 80 is normally closed to block communication between pipes 46 and 31 through pipe 8|. If it is desired to control the high pressure without using the release valve 1 I, the needle valve 80 is moved by hand to its open position of Fig. '7 and is kept in said open position. In such case, when pressure is applied to arm or lever 4, the head 2 is moved to its high-pressure position as previously stated, and head 2 is kept its high-pressure position as long as lever 4 is kept pressed down by hand to keep arm 38 in its posi ion or Fig... 5.. When the lever 4. is r in one of two.

9 leased, and arm 38 is moved back to its position of Fig. 3, it is unnecessary to operate rod 10, because the open needle-valve 80 will permit compressed air to escape from pipe 46 through pipe 8| and out of valve-casing 30 through its outlet pipe 45 to the outer atmosphere. When diaphragm 50 returns to its unfiexed shape of Fig. 3, or as soon as diaphragm 50 is sufliciently unfiexed from its fully flexed shape of Fig. 5, compressed air can escape from pipe 51 through outlet pipe 82 of valve-casing 53.

The opening of the press is assisted by means of two tension springs 85. One end of each said tension spring 85 is fixed to a yoke 86 which is pivotally connected to the frame 3 of the machine by pin 81. The other ends of said tension springs 85 are connected to a head 88, which is connected to the pivot 9a.

The movement of the head 2 is also cushioned or clamped by means of a dash-pot device which includes a dash-pot cylinder 89. The flow of air out of the dash-pot cylinder 89 is controlled by an adjustable needle-valve 90. The dash-pot cylinder 89 has the usual piston (not shown) whose piston rod is pivotally connected at 9| to the usual adjustable link 92 which ispivotally connected at 93 to the extension 6a. The supplemental needle-valve 90a is optionally provided in order to regulatethe flow of air into the dashpot cylinder 89.

An alternate construction is shown in Fig. 8, in which pedal l9 operates mechanical relay means to allow the passage of air to low-pressure cylinder l0, entirely similarly to the manner in which the manipulation of arm 4 permits air to operate mechanical relay means to allow the passage of air to high-pressure cylinder 53.

Fig. 8 differs from the other figures in that the outlet port of first valve casing I4 is not connected directly to pipe [2. Instead, the outlet port of easing I4 is connected to pipe 46a, and air entering this pipe 46a upwardly fiexes a resilient diaphragm 50a which is the same in construction and operation as diaphragm 50. This diaphragm 50a is associated with a valve casing control 53a which is the same in construction and operation as valve casing 53. A pipe 56a is connected between pipe la and the inlet of valve casing 53a, and the inlet end of pipe 12 is connected to the outlet of valve casing 5311..

In this construction, when pedal I 9 is depressed, compressed air is permitted to pass from pipe l5w to pipe 46a and flex diaphragm50a upwardly. This makes it possible for the main supply of compressed air to pass from pipe Ilia through pipe 56a. and valve casing 53a into pipe I2 and thence into low-pressure cylinder l0.

In Fig. 8, the valve-casings l4 and 53a are respectively in anterior and succeeding positions, so that valve casing l4 may be designated as the anterior valve-casing and the succeeding valve-casing. In Fig. 3, the valve- casings 30 and 53 are likewise anterior and succeeding valve casings.

When pedal I 9 is released, the parts return to their normal position, and no more compressed air reaches pipe [2.

We have disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention, but numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without departing from its scope.

We claim:

1. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a low-force cylinder which hasa low-force .10 piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, and connecting means between said pistons and said head to move said head towards said buck when said pistons are moved in respective outward strokes in their respective cylinders, and a common source of compressed air for said cylinders, the combination of first and second and third valve casings, each casing having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open exhaust valve, 2. first operator-actuated member associated with said first casing and adapted to open the respective inlet valve and to close the respective exhaust 'valve, a second operatoractuated member associated with said second casing to open the respective inlet valve and to close the respective exhaust valve, inlet pipes respectively connecting said source of compressed air to inlet .ports of said first and third casings, another pipe which connects an outlet port of said first casing to an inlet port of said low-force cylinder, said low-force cylinder having an outlet cylinder port which is connected toan inlet port of said second casing, said outlet cylinder port being cleared by said low-force piston when said head substantially abuts said buck, said third casing having a diaphragm chamber which hasan inlet at one end thereof and which is sealed at its other end by a flexible diaphragm, a connecting diaphragm-chamber conduit which connects said second casing to the inlet of said diaphragm chamber, a check valve located in said connecting diaphragmchamber conduit and operable to permit the flow of air through said connecting diaphragm-chamber conduit in only a single direction from said second casing towards said inlet of said diaphragm chamber, said diaphragm being operable by compressed air in said diaphragm chamber to open the inlet valve and to close the exhaust.

valve of said third casing, said third casing having an outlet port which is connected by a highforce cylinder pipe to the inner end of said highforce cylinder, an additional pipe which connects said high-force cylinder pipe to said diaphragm-chamber conduit succeeding the checkvalve in said conduit, another check-valve in said additional pipe which is operable to permit the fiow of air through said additional pipe in only a single direction from said high-force cylinder pipe towards said diaphragm-chamber pipe, and

a movable relief valve connected to said dia-' phragm chamber and operable to relieve theair pressure in said diaphragm.

2. A combination according to claim 1, in which said relief means is an operator-actuated valve.

3. A combination according to claim 1, in which said diaphragm chamber is connected beyond said mentioned check valve to said connecting pipe through an adjustable valve which is adjustable to open and closed positions.

4. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a low-force cylinder which has a low-force piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, and connectmg means between said pistons and said head to move said. head towards said buck when said pistons are moved in respective outward strokes 1n their respective cylinders, and a source of compressed air, the combination of operator-actuated means to control the admission of compressed air into said low-forcecylinder to move the low-force piston in its outward stroke and to'control the exhaust of said compressed air from said 10W- ii force cylinder, a diaphragm chamber which has an inlet port, additional operator-actuated means having an outlet port which is connected by an inlet pipe to said inlet port of said diaphragm chamber and having an inlet port which is connected to said source of compressed air through means controlled by said low-force piston whereby compressed air is led to said diaphragm chamber at a selected point in the outward stroke of said low-force piston and resulting selected movement of said head toward said buck by operation of said additional operator-actuated means, said inlet pipe having a check valve which prevents reverse flow of compressed air through said inlet pipe from said diaphragm chamber, a power inlet pipe which connects the inlet end of said highforce cylinder to said source of compressed air, a normally closed power-control inlet valve which controls the flow of air through said power inlet pipe to said high-force cylinder, said power inlet pipe being connected to the inlet port of said diaphragm chamber by a normally closed checkvalve which permits flowo'f air from said power inlet pipe to said diaphragm cha'mberonly when the pressure in said diaphragm chamber is less than the pressure in said power inlet pipe, a resilient diaphragm which seals one end of said diaphragm chamber, said diaphragm being operable under air pressure to open said power control inlet valve, and a movable relief valve which is connected to said diaphragm chamber and which is operable to connect said diaphragm chamber to the atmosphere.

5. A pressing machine which comprises first, second, and third valve-casings, each valve-casing having a valve-stem located therein, each valve-stem having an inlet valve and an exhaustvalve fixed thereto, each valve-stem being biased to normal position in which its inlet valve'is normally closed and its exhaust valve is normally open, a low-force cylinder which has -a low-force piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, each said cylinder having a cylinder-inlet at its inner end, said machineha'v'ing'a irame,'eachcylinder being pivoted at its'inner end to-said frame, a buck, a head connected to a supporting arm which is pivoted to said frame, saidsupporting arm having an arm-extension, said low force piston being connected to a low-force piston-rod which is 'pivotally connected to said arm=extension to move saidhead towards-said-buclg'during the outward stroke of said low force piston, an actuating arm which is pivoted at one end thereof to said frame and'pivoted at its othere'nd to said arm-extension, the point at which said low-force piston rod is connected to said arm- ,extension being between the point at which said supporting arm is pivoted to said machineand the point at which said actuatingarm is pivoted 'to said arm-extension, said high-force piston being connected by a respective piston-rodto saidactuating arm to move said head towards said buck during the outward stroke of said high-force piston, said first valve-casing having an inlet port connected to a source of compressed air and an outlet port connected to the inlet of said lowforce cylinder, operator-actuated means'ior moving the inlet valve of said first valve-casing to open position and to move the associated exhaust valve to closed position, said low-force cylinder having an outlet cylinder port between its ends, said low-force piston passing beyond said outlet cylinder port when said head substantially abuts said buck, said outlet cylinder port being con- V a 12 nectedto an inlet port of said second valve-casing, second operator-actuated means for moving the inlet valve of said second valve-casing to open position and to move the associated exhaust valve to closed position, said second valve casing having an outlet port which is connected through a check-valve to a pressure chamber, a member movable in said pressure chamber and operative by the increased pressure therein when said outlet cylinder port is clear and said inlet valve of said second valve-casing is opened to move the inlet valve of the third valve-casing to open position and to close the associated exhaust valve, said third valve casing having an inlet port connected to said source of compressed air, said third valve casing having an outlet port which is connected by a pipe to the inlet of said high-force cylinder, said pipe being connected between its ends through another check-valve to said pressure chamber, a movable relief valve which is connected to said pressure chamber and which is operable to connect said pressure chamber to the atmosphere.

6. A-machine according to claim 5, in which saidmachine has a table and said relief valve is an operator-actuated valve which is operated to its open position by a lateral bar which is hinged to said table and which extends laterally substantially across the entire frame of the machine.

7. A machine according to claim 5, in which said relief valve succeeds said other check-valve.

8. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a low-force cylinder which has a lowforce.-piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, connecting means between said pistonsand said head tomove said head towards said buck when said pistons are moved in respectiveoutward strokes in their respective cylinders, and a common sourceozf compressed air for said cylinders, the combination of operator-actuated means connecting said source of compressed air to an inlet port of said lowforce cylinder, said low-force cylinder having an outlet cylinder port which is cleared by said lowforce piston when said head substantially abuts said buck, normally closed valve means connecting saidsource ofcompressed air to an inletport of said high-force cylinder, and. pressuie-responsive means for opening said normally closed valve means, said pressureresponsivemeans being'connectible to said'outlet cylinder port of said lowforce cylinder, by additional operator-actuated valve-means.

9. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a low-force cylinder which'ha's a low-force piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, connecting means between said pistons and said-head to move said head'towardssaid buckwhe'n said pistonsare moved in respective outwardstrokes in their respective cylinders, and a common source of compressed air for said cylinders, the combination of operator-actuated means for connecting said source of compressed air to an inlet port of said low-force cylinder, saidlo'w force cylinder having an outlet cylinder port which is cleared by said low-force piston when said head substantially abuts said buck, first and second valvecasings, each casing having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open exhaust valve, an-operatoractuated member associated with said firs'tcasing to open the respective inlet valve and to close the respective exhaust valve, an inlet pipe which conphragm being flexed by the increased pressure insaid diaphragm chamber resulting from said outlet cylinder port being cleared and said inlet valve of said first casing being opened, said second casing having an outlet port which is connected by a pipe to the inner end of said high-force cylinder.

10. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a cylinder which has a piston slidable therein, connecting means between said piston and said head to move said head toward said buck when said piston is moved in an outward stroke in said cylinder, and a source of compressed air, the combination of a first valve casing and a control valve casing, each said casing having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open exhaust valve, an operator-actuated member associated with said first casing and adapted to open the respective inlet valve and close the respective exhaust valve, air-carrying means respectively connecting said source of compressed air to inlet ports of said first and control casings, air-carrying means connecting an outlet port of said first valve casing to a diaphragm chamber which has a resilient diaphragm which is located and operative to open the inlet valve and close the exhaust valve of said control casing, said control casing having an outlet port which is connected by air-carrying means to the inner end of said cylinder.

11. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a low-force cylinder which has a low-force piston slidable therein, a high-force cylinder which has a high-force piston slidable therein, connecting means between said pistons and said head to move said head towards said buck when said pistons are moved in respective outward strokes in their respective cylinders, and a common source of compressed air for said cylinders, the combination of operator-actuated means for controlling the admission of compressed air from said source of compressed air into said low-force cylinder to move the low-force piston in its outward stroke and to control the exhaust of said compressed air from said low-force cylinder, a normally closed power control inlet valve which is connected between said source of compressed air and the inlet openingof said high-force cylinder and which is adapted to control the admission of compressed air from said source of compressed air into said high-force cylinder to move the high-force piston in its outward stroke and to control the exhaust of air from said high-force cylinder, means for opening and closing said power control inlet valve, and means for operating said opening and closing means, said operating means comprising an operator-actuated valve which has an outlet port and an inlet port which is connected to an outlet port of said low-force cylinder, said outlet port of said low-force cylinder being positioned to be cleared by said low-force piston at a selected point in its outward stroke and at a resulting selected position of said head with respect to said buck whereby to connect said operator-actuated valve to said source of compressed air, a diaphragm chamber, a resilient diaphragm which seals one end of said diaphragm chamber, said diaphragm chamber having an inlet port which is connected to the outlet port of said operator-actuated valve whereby to admit'air into said diaphragm chamher to flex said diaphragm outwardly by operation of said operator-actuated valve when said lowiorce piston has cleared said outlet portof said low-force cylinder, said diaphragm being operatively. connected to said opening and closing -means whereby to open said power control inlet valve by said flexing. of said diaphragm, and operator-actuated means connected to said inlet port of said diaphragm chamber for relieving the pressure therein whereby to return said diaphragm to its normal valve.

12. A combination in accordance with claim 11, in which said relief means comprises said operator-actuated valve.

13. A combination in accordance with claim 11, said operator-actuated valve being connected to the inlet port of said diaphragm chamber through a first check-valve which permits air to flow only from said operator-actuated valve to said diaphragm chamber, said power control inlet valve having an outlet port which is connected to the inlet port of said diaphragm chamber through a second check-valve which permits air to flow only from said power inlet valve to said diaphragm chamber, said relief means comprising a further manually operative valve which is normally closed.

14. A combination in accordance with claim 13, in which said first check valve is by-passed by a pipe which has a valve which may be manually moved to closed position to constitute said further valve as said relief means and to open position to constitute said operator-actuated valve as said relief means.

15. In a pressing machine which has a buck, a head movable towards and away from said buck, a cylinder which has a slidable piston therein, connecting means between said piston and said head to move said head towards said buck when said piston is moved in an outward stroke in said cylinder, a source of compressed air, an anterior valve-casing and a succeeding valve-casing, said anterior casing having an inlet port and an outlet port and an exhaust port, said inlet port being adapted to be connected to said source of compressed air, said anterior casing having a normally closed inlet valve which is normally located to block communication between said inlet port and said outlet port, said anterior casing having a normally open exhaust valve which is normally located to provide communication between the interior of said anterior valve-casing and its exhaust port, said succeeding valve-casing having an outlet port which is connected by an outlet pipe to the inner end of said cylinder, said succeeding valve-casing having an inlet port which is connected to said source of compressed air, said succeeding valve-casing having a normally closed inlet valve which is normally in a position to block communication between the inlet and outlet ports of said succeeding valve-casing, said succeeding valve-casing having a flexible diaphragm which closes one end of said succeeding valve-casing, said flexible diaphragm being at one end of a diaphragm chamber which has a chamber-inlet, said outlet port of said anterior casing being connected to said chamber-inlet by a conduit, a check-valve in said conduit which permits flow of air through said conduit only from said outlet port of said anterior casing to said chamber-inlet, a by-pass pipe which connects said outlet pipe to positionand close said power inlet said conduit at a part of said conduit which succeeds its check-valve, said by-pass pipe having an additional check-valve which permits anto flow through said by-pass pipe only from said outlet pipe to said by-pass pipe, an operatoractuated member associatedwith "said anterior casing and adapted to open the respective inlet valve and to close the respective exhaust valve to close the exhaust port of said anterior valvecasing and to establish communication between its inlet port and its outlet port, a movable relief valve which succeeds the first-mentioned checkvalve, said relief valve being connected to said diaphragm chamber and being movable to a'closed position, and also to an open position in which it connects said diaphragm chamber to the atmosphere, said resilient diaphragm having means to open the inlet valve of said succeeding valve-casmg to establish communication between its inlet .port and its outlet port when said diaphragm is flexed by compressedair in said diaphragm chamber, said diaphragm being normally in a normal position in which said inlet valve of said succeeding valve-casing is kept closed, said diaphragm being in said normal position when said relief valve is in :its open position.

HYMAN E. COLE.

WALTER OLSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nmnber Name Date 127753127 Gregoire Sept. 19, 1930 1,974,284 Daly Sept. 18, 1934 2,116,143 Dewey May '3, 1938

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