US1896517A - Control mechanism for continuous pressing machines - Google Patents

Description

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS PRESSING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1930 INVENTOR ATTORNEY,

Feb. 7, 1933. G w JOHNSON 1,896,517

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS PRESSING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 J0 L 45 l/ 1/ M INVENTOR GAD/P65 hfcfo/m/so/v ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

GEORGE w. JOHNSON, OIQCINOINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY KAY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONTROL MECHANISM 1'03 CONTINUOUS PBESBING MACHINES Application filed October 8, 1880. Serial No. 487,149.

My invention relates to laundry a paratus and, particularly to a pressing an ironin gnachine of the continuous type together wit automatic operating means and automatic control mechanism whereby the operators are relieved of any responsibility other than making the proper lays on the pressing beds. In the finishing of laundry articles where pressing is employed and continuous press- 0 mg machines including a plurality of pressing heads e ually s aced apart in a path or circuit toget er wit a plurality of beds connected in a gang and movable relative to the heads alternately to a position in registry with the heads and to an exposed position are used, there are a plurallty of lays of the garment upon the pressing beds or upon a single pressing bed necessary for a complete finishing of the article. In a construction of this type each operator must become proficient in making all of the lays for each garment which not only renders it diflicult to break in operators but prevents the speeding up of the operations to obtain the maximum output. Added to this, an operator has. in most instances. the responsibility of causing operation of the apparatus to bring successive pressing beds into registry with the pressing heads and pressing engagement between the heads and beds.

The present invention is an improvement upon the invention illustrated. described and claimed in a prior application of Emil J. Carroll for continuous pressing machine, filed June 15, 1929, Serial No. 371,104, to which reference may be had if desirable or necessary. The invention of the said Carroll application comprises a stationary frame carrying a plurality of stationary upper pressing members or heads. and a cooperating rotatiug frame carrying a plurality of lower pressing members or beds. and in the specific arrangement shown, with one more than twice as many beds as heads. together with means for rotating the rotatable frame to move the beds successively into registration with the heads and for producing relative pressing or ironing motion between the beds K, and heads when in registration.

My invention (OlltGlHlllEltOS the improvement of the machine of the said Carroll a plication by the provision of an automa cally operating mechanism together with antomatic control means as ap lied to a pressing machine of this type wl erein a step by step movement of the beds and also an automatic pressing or ironing operation is obtained when some of the beds are in regist with the pressing heads and are in a state of rest. Therefore, the only responsibility of the operator or operators Iifmtio perform the proper lays on the pressing Various objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pressing machine to which automatic operating and control mechanism is applied in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, with the pressing machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the drive for the bed support; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view with a control mechanism and wiring system; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the brake mechanism for stopping the operation of the pressing machine; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the valve mechanism controlling the pressing operation; and Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the drawings, I have shown a pressing machine of the continuous type embodying a plurality of pressing heads and a plurality of pressing beds and consisting of a central support 1 provided with an upstanding shaft 2 having a ball bearing support 3 for a bed support hub 4 that is freely rotatable upon the ball bearing structure 3 and support 1. This hub is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced radially extending arms 5 and each arm terminates at its free end in a pair of eyes 6 adapted to receive a pin 7 upon which a plurality of radially extending bed arms 8 are pivotally mounted. Each of the bed arms 8 has a bed support at its outer end which carries a padded bed 9 and is further all of the be s i provided with a depending roller bracket 10 with an antifriction roller 11 therein that is adapted to ride upon a circular track 12 concentric with the hub 4. By this arrangement the hub 4 and all of the bed members may be moved around in a circuit or path with the rollers 11 riding upon the track 12 and supporting the beds 9 in their lower position and the pivotal mounting of the arms 8 permits the beds 9 to be raised to produce the ressing and ironing operation as will be iiereinafter described.

Spaced around the path of travel of beds as just described are a plurality of pressing head structures each of which com rises a stationary frame or base 13 provider with a vertical standard 14 having a head arm 15 that carries a head 16 extending inwardly from the uppermost end thereof so that the pressing head will be dis osed over the path of travel of the pressing ds 9 in such position that a pressing bed may be brought into registry therewith. Each base 13 is provided with a fluid cylinder and piston structure as shown in Fi s. 2 and 3, including a cylinder 17, piston 18 and plunger 19 formed by the piston rod and ada ted to engage under the outermost end of t e bed arms 8 that are above the piston and cylinder structure when the piston 18 is raised in a manner hereinafter described. The, cylinders are connected with a valve casing member 20 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 by means of a pipe or conduit 21 that communicatesby way of a valve seat 22 with steam supply 23 as shown in Fig. 8, which is regulated by a control valve 24 of the needle type. A chamber'20 also communicates by way of a valve 30 and valve seat 25 with an exhaust 26. A steam inlet valve 27 engages the valve seat 22 and is provided with a valve stem 28 that is adapted to be actuated by any suitable motor means, the means here shown being a solenoid structure generally indicated by the numeral 29. Likewise, the valve seat 25 is engaged by an exhaust valve 30 whose stem 31 is connected to the operating means for the valve 27 by being interconnected with the valve stem 28 by a lever arm 32 that is pivoted to the frame as at 33, the arrangement being such that when one valve is closed, the other is opened. There is a. valve mechanism for each pressing head 16 and they are all connected to a suitable supply line 34 and to a suitable exhaust line 35 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. i

At the proper time in the cycle of operation, as will appear. current is supplied to the solenoid 29 to operate the valves in such manner that steam will be supplied to all of the cylinders 17 below the pistons 18 and those beds 9 which are in registry with the heads 16 are moved upwardly into pressing engagement with the head and the ironing operation takes place. Likewise. at another point in the cycle, the circuit to the solenoid is broken whereby the steam supply valve 27 will be closed and the exhaust valve opened by the action of the spring 31' so that the piston 18 will be moved downwardly and the pressing beds in registry with the pressing heads 16 will move to their lowermost position by reason of their own weight.

In accordance with my invention intermittently operating mechanism is provided for rotating the bed support and the several beds to bring successive beds into registry with the pressing heads, and this mechanism includes a bevelled driving gears 36 that is rigidly secured to the hub 4 and meshes with the bevelled driving pinion 37 that is driven by a worm wheel 38, which is, in turn, driven by a worm and shaft '39 operated by motor means, such, for instance, as the motor 40. As shown in Fig. 6, the worm shaft is provided with a brake drum 41 adapted to be engaged by a brake band 42 that is anchored as at 43 and is connected at its opposed end to a pull rod 44. The pull rod is provided with a collar 45 that is spring pressed to normally a ply the brake by the spring 46 and the end 0 the pull-rod is engaged by an armature 47 having an adjusting screw therein, the armature cooperating with an electromagnet generally indicated at 48 and the arrangement being such that the brake is normally applied and released intermittently by the magnet when the motor is running to permit or to stop rotation of the bedasupport.

The controlling mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5 and includes a speed regulator 49 for the motor 40, a pilot motor 50, a speed regulator 51 therefor, a gear box 52 having a shaft 53 extending outwardly therefrom and rotating :1 commutator drum 54 provided with peripherally longitudinally spaced contacts 55 and 56. This mechanism also includes a suitable bed support commutator 57 having segments 58 with suitable spaces or gaps 59 between each two adjacent segments. A pair of brushes 60 and 61, mounted in a bracket 62 that is secured to the frame in any suitable manner engage these segments. Also. the control mechanism includes a series of four brushes, 63, 64, 65 and 66 mounted in a bracket 67 secured to the frame so that the brushes may cooperate with the periphery of the drum 54 and the segments 55, 56 thereon. Further, the mechanism includes a maintaining switch mechanism including a coil 68, a plunger or armature 69, bridge contact member 70 and four contacts 71. 72. T3 and 74 arranged in an upper and a lower pair. A double pole switch structure 7.3 leadingfrom lines L1 and L2 is also included.

In operation and assuming that the machine is in a state of rest and prior to use. some of the beds will be in their lowermost position in alignment with several heads, the

main line switch 75 will be'in open position and the control switches 49 and 51 will be in otlposition. with the two contacts 60 and 61 opposite a gap in the commutator 57 carried by the bed support and the segmental contact 56 on the drum 54 will be in substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. Then, the first lay being made, the bed moving motor 40 and the cylinder moving motor 50 are made ready for operation by adjusting the arms of the speed regulators 49 and 51 to selected position so that the machine will be driven at a predetermined speed and the double pole switch 75 is closed.

The pilot motor 50 which begins to operate prior to the time of starting of the bed moving motor 40 turns the drum 54 in the direction indicated by the arrow and the contact 56 which is just long enough to engage the contacts and 66 will be brought into engagement therewith closing the maintain ing circuit through the coil 68 of the main taining switch. the circuit at this time being from L2 through a main line 76. line 77, coil 68. line 78. contact 65. segment 56. contact 66. line 79 to line 80 and L1. The pilot motor 50 is in a separate line including 81 and 82 leading to the main circuit wires 76 and 80 and thence to L1 and L2 and includes the speed regulator 51 as shown.

The effect of this circuit through the maintaining switch is to elevate the bridge contacting member into contact with the contacts 73 and 74 which establishes the following circuit: From L1 through main line 80. line 83. contact 73. bridge arm 70. contact 74 and line 84 to the speed regulator 49. From the other side of the speed regulator 49 to line 85.n1otor 40, through line 86 to the brake coil 48. to release the brake. through line 87 to the main line 76 and L2. Inasmuch as the segmental contact'56 is of slight circumferential extent, other means are provided for maintaining the circuit to the motor closed until the abeds havc been shifted from the lav'stations to registry under the heads. This is accomplished by means of contacts 60 and 61 which upon the rotation of the commutator 57 by the motor 40 engage one of the segments of this cbmniutator and csta n lish a new maintaining circuit as follows:

From the main line 80 and L1 through line 79 to a branch line 88 to contact 61 across one of the segments 58 to contact 60 through line 89 to line 78. thence through coil 68 through line 77 to 76 and L2. This circuit. therefore. operates to maintain the switch bridge member 70 in position and continues the operation of the motor 40. 'hen the beds reach registry position the contacts (it) and 61 ride oft the segment and into a gap 59 which results in the breaking ot the maintaining circuit just des ribed and sin e the contacts 65 and 66 are now away from the coin tact segment 56 thcrc is no maintaining circuit for this switch and the bridge member 70 dro s into engagement with the contacts 71 and i2. Some of the beds being in registry with the heads it is now in order to bring about the pressing operation and this is accomplished by the pilot drum 54 which has at this time brought segment into engagement with the contacts 63 and 64. The effect of this operation is to create the following circuit: From 76 and L2 through the line 77 to contact 72 thence to contact 71 through line 90 to the solenoid 29 for actuating the inlet and exhaust valves from this solenoid through line 91 to contact 63 across the segment 55 to contact 6i connected by a line 92 to 79 and thence to 80.and L1. This circuit just completed causes the solenoid to open the inlet to the several power cylinders, close their exhausts and bring about the pressing operation. This operation is continued until the conti ct segment 55 moves out from under the contacts 63 and 64; when the solenoid circuit is opened and the spring 30 returns the valves to their normal position, to wit, one where the supply is closed and the exhaust is open. \Vhen this occurs the beds return to their normal lower position and the machine is ready for another cycle.

Vith the above construction, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic operating mechanism, an automatic control mechanism for a pressing and ironing machine of the continuous type of such nature that after the double pole switch is closed, the operator or operators are relieved of all responsibility except that of making the proper lays on the exposed beds, the operating and control mechanism being such that the pressing beds will be automatically and intermittently moved step by step into and out of registry with a pressing head and'into and out of an exposed position together with automatic operating and control mechanism which will bring the pressing heads and pressing beds that are in registry into engagement.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a plurality of uniformly spaced beds in said path, there being more than twice as many beds as heads and the heads except at one portion of the path being spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between a bed and the next bed save one, means for moving the group of beds step by step for effecting registration of suc-- cessive beds with a head, means for effecting pressing engagement between the heads and those of the beds in registration therewith, and means for timing the step byistep movement of said beds. T" V 2. In a pressing machine. a number of spaced heads arranged in an endless path, a plurality of uniformly spaced beds in said path, there being more than twice as many beds as heads and the beads except at one ortion of the path being spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between alternate beds, means for moving the group of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, means for effecting pressing engagement between '-=-the heads and those of the beds in registration with'said heads, and means for timing the step by step movement of said beds and the pressing operation.

' 3. In a pressing machine, a number of s aced heads arranged in a path, a gang of sgaced beds in said path and a movable support therefor, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means having an operative connection with said bed support, braking means effective to stop movement of said support, and means for controlling the motor means and intermittently releasing and applying said braking means to rotate said bed support and move said beds or-stop rotation thereof and maintain it stationary.

4. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a gang of spaced beds in said path and a movable support therefor, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means having an operative connection with said bed support, braking means effective to stop movement of said support, means for controlling the motor means andintermittently releasing and applying said braking means to rotate said bed support and move said beds or stop rotation thereof and maintain it stationary, and means for effecting pressing engagement of the registering heads and beds.

5. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a gang of spaced beds in said path and a movable support therefor, there being more than twice as many beds as heads and the heads except at one portion of the path being spaced apart with the distance between the centers of the heads substantially equal to the distance from the centre of one bed to the center of the next bed save one, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means having an operative connection with said bed support, braking means for maintaining said support stationary, and means for controlling the operation of said motor means and for intermittently releasing and applying said brak at one ortion of the path being spaced apart with t 0 distance between the centers of the heads substantially equal to the distance from the center of one bed to the center of the next bed save one,. means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means having an operative connection with said bed support, braking means for maintaining said support stationary, means for controlling the operation of said motor means and for intermitt'ently releasing and applying said braking means to rotate said bed support and move said beds or maintain it stationary, and means for effecting pressing engagement of the heads and beds in registration therewith.

7. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a gang of port therefor there being more than twice as many beds as heads and the heads except at one portion of the path being spaced apart with the distance between the centers of the heads substantially equal to the distance from the center of one bed to the center of the next bed save one, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, means for moving each bed u Wardly from the support when the bed is in registry with a head to effect pressing engagement therebetween, and means for timing the step by step movement of said beds.

8. In a ressing machine, a number of spaced head; arranged in a path, a ang of spaced beds in said path and a movable support therefor there being more than twice as many beds as heads and the heads except at one portion of the path being spaced apart with the distance between the centers of the heads substantially equal to the distance from the center of one bed to the center of the next bed save one, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, means for moving each bed, upwardlyfrom the support when the bed is, in registry with a head to effect pressing engagement therebetween, means for timing the step by step movement of said beds, and means for timing the movement of said beds into pressing engagement with a head.

9. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a gang of spaced beds in said path and a movable support therefor, means for moving the support and its gang of beds step by step for effecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means operatively interconnected with said support, time control mechanism effective to cause operation of said motor means. a starting motor for actuating said mechanism. motor means effective to cause pressing engagement between the heads and the beds in registration therewith, and timecontrol means actuated by movement of said bed moving means for controlling the operation of said last named motor means.

10. In a pressing machine, a number of spaced heads arranged in a path, a ang of spaced beds in said path and a mova le support therefor, braking means for said support, means for moving the su port and its gang of beds step by step for e ecting registration of successive beds with a head, including a motor means operatively interconnected with said support, time control mechanism for said motor means and braking means, a starting motor for actuating said mechanism, motor means effective to cause pressing engagement between the heads and the beds in registration therewith, time control means actuated by movement of said bed moving means-for controlling the operation of said last named motor means.

In testimony whereof I hereby afii'x my signature.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON.'

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