US2005171A - Tandem power press - Google Patents

Description

. June 18, ,J' p. S|NG|SER I TANDEM POWER PRESS `Filed Aug. 13, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l June A18, 1.935. 5|NG15ER 2,005,171

TANDEM POWER PRESS Filed Aug.' 13, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 RA' I' June 1.8, 1935. 1 p, 5|NG|5ER I 2,005,171

TANDEM POWER PRESS Filed-Aug. 13, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 4 m x C Ms: M m Si N Elgin/@1% June 18, 1935.

J. P. siNGvlsl-:R v

TANDEM POWER PRESS Filed Aug." 15, 19430 n 5 Sheel's-Sheet 5 rl lllllll 1| Patented `lune i8, i935 TES narran l TANDEM POWER PRESS .lohn P. Singiser, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August i3,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for pressing fabrics and pertains, particularly, to a control mechanism for operating a series of such machines that are operatively interconnected together either in a tandem or by group arrangement. Such machines embody pressing members adapted to bemoved into or out of engagement with each other, and one or both of the pressing members may be movable, although it is customary to have the lowerrnost pressing y member stationary and the uppermost pressing member movable into or out of engagement therewith.

The control of the machine is preferably of the two hand type and consists of push buttons and levers, or handles; the use of which has been more fully described in my prior Patent No. 1,851,990, granted April 5, 1932. In such construction either the push buttons or levers can be actuated to apply power actuating means for bringing the pressing vmembers into engagement.

In accordance with my invention, the control arrangement for operating such machines in tandem or group embodies an auxiliary inlet valve located in close proximity to one of the operating levers or handles and an auxiliary cylinder and piston which is also located in close proximity to the other operating lever or handle of the machine. The depression of one of the control levers will open the auxiliary inlet valve and n cause air to flow to the auxiliary cylinder that `\i`s adjacent one of the operating levers on another machine in the` series to operate the auxiliaiy piston located in such cylinder. 'Ihe actuation of this auxiliary piston releases the control valves to cause automatic opening of the latter machine. However, the auxiliary inlet valve and the auxiliary piston are not affected by movement of the push button controls, and, therefore, such controls are used when the machines are to be operated separately and independently.

'One object of my invention is to provide a control mechanism for a series of machines operatively interconnected and disposed in tandem or group arrangement whereby the pressing members of one of the machines can be moved away from each other andthe pressing members of another machine can be moved into engagement with each other simultaneously.

Another object of my invention is to provide control mechanism for a series of pressing machines operatively interconnected in a group or tandem arrangement ywhereby any one of the 1930, Serial No. 474,890

machines thatare operatively interconnected therewith.

A vfurther object of my invention is to provide a control mechanism of such nature that two or more machines operatively interconnected together canbe manipulated simultaneously by a single operator.

Other objects of my invention will 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 view showing two pressing ma-l chines interconnected in accordance with the idea disclosed by my invention, one of said pressing machines having its pressing members in separated relation and the other machine havingr its pressing members in engagement with each other.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the pressing machines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view t the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional diagrammatic view showing the arrangement and construction of the control mechanism for two pressing machines that are operatively interconnected together.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the operating mechanism for the auxiliary inlet valve.

Fig. 6 is a. view similar to Fig. 5 but the operating mechanism for the auxiliary piston.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View showing the arrangement of iiuid connections for operating aken in the plane of showing pressing machines when three machines are member I having an upwardly extending portion 2 which carries a pivot pin 3 for a head lever or pressure arm 4. A pedestal 5 on the frame I carries a lower pressing member 6 and the pressure arm or head lever` 4 carries an upper pressing member 1. Springs 8 are connected at their upper ends by means of a swivel block arrangement 9 to one end of the pressure arm or head lever 4. The lower end of such springs are connected as at I0 to the machine frame. Such springs tend to move the pressure arm or head lever 4 in a clockwise direction thereby moving the pressing member 1 upwardly and away from the pressing member 6. The springs further tend to maintain the -pressing members 6 and 1 in separated relation, the distance of separation being such as to permit convenient access to the lower' pressing member 6 for the arrangement of the material to be pressed thereon.

Means for moving the upper pressing member 1 into engagement with the lower pressing member 6 consists of a uid pressure operated mechanism adapted to move the head lever or pressure arm 4 through the medium of a toggle mechanism comprising an upper link member II having its one end pivotally connected to the pressure arm or head lever 4 and a lower member I2 having one end thereof pivotally mounted on the frame I as at I0, the free ends of the members I I and I2 being pivotally connected together as at I3.

Connected by a pin I4 to the lower member I2 just below the connection I3 between the upper and lower members II and I2, is the rear end of a piston rod I5 that forms a part of a piston I6 adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder I1. As shown, the cylinder I1 is horizontally disposed and is mounted for oscillation on pins I8 having one of their ends supported in the frame I. The purpose of connecting the piston rod I5 to the toggle II, I2 just below the connection between the free ends voi the links thereof is to permit an increased separation between the pressing members 6 and 1 by a shorter throw of the piston and piston rod.

Either steam or air may be used for moving the piston I6 in one direction in the cylinder I1 to effect closing movement of the pressing members 6 and 1. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the means for supplying such iiuid -to the cylinder I5 embodies a pipe I9 which may lead from a suitable source of supply (not shown) to the supply side of a casing 20 which contains a valve 2I controlling the iiow of iiuid through the casing and normally held against its seat to prevent such ilow of uid by a spring 22 bearing against the vupper surface of the valve. A exible tube or conduit 23 is connected at one end to the discharge side of the valve casing 20 and at its other end to the cylinder I1.

Movement of the lpressing members 6 and 1 into `engagement is caused by movement of the piston I6 in one direction. However, such pressing members are separated and the piston I6 moved in the opposing direction in the cylinder I1 by the springs previously described. Therefore, to permit separation of the pressing members 6 and 1 it is necessary that means be provided for permitting the exhaust oi' the fluid pressure between the larger surface of the piston I6 and the corresponding surface of the cylinder I1. To accomplish this, a flexible conduit 24 leads from the iiexible conduit 23 to one side of a casing 25 containing a valve 26 which normally prevents the escape of fluid to the atmosphere through the conduit 21 and the'exhaust muiller 28, being nora mally held against its seat by a spring 29. Upon the movement of the valve 26 away from its seat against the pressure of the spring 29, the fluid pressure between the larger surface of the piston I6 and the corresponding surface of the cylinder I1 may escape through the conduit 24, casing 25,

' and exhaust conduit 21 to the atmosphere, whereby the piston I6 may be moved rearwardly by the springs 8. When the valve 26 is in open position, fluid pressure ilowing through the conduit 23 will also escape to the atmosphere to such an extent as to not be effective to move the pistn I6 within the cylinder.

In order to safeguard the operator of the press against having his hands caught between the pressing members when such pressing members move into engagement with each other, the control mechanism provided requires the use of both of the operators hands to eiect closing of the press. The use of one hand is needed for the operation of the valve 2I to permit ilow of iluid to the cylinder I1 and use of the other hand is needed for the operation of the valve 26 to prevent escape of theiluid to the atmosphere. Such use of both hands is required until the pressing members 6 and 1 have been brought into substantial engagement with eachv other. A means for maintaining the valves 2l and 26 in their operative positions for a given length of time is provided so that the hands of the operator may be free immediately upon substantial engagement of the pressing members 6 and 1 while pressure continues to be exerted by one of such members on the other.

The operating means for the valve 2I embodies a hand lever 36 pivotally mounted in a bracket 3I carried by a bracket 32 that forms supporting means for one side of a work supporting table 33. 'Ihis hand lever 30 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 34 connected to a clevis member 35 rigidly connected to the forward end of a rod 36. The rod 36 extends through a bracket 31 and the outer end of the rod 36 is connected to a bracket 38 carrying an arm 39 and a. member 40, the member 40 engaging the extreme outer end of the valve stem 4I which has its inner end lying within the casing 2U for engagement with the valve 2l. l

With this construction, depression of the hand lever 30 will cause movment of the rod 59 longitudinally towards the casing 2U through the medium of the clevis arrangement 36 hereinbefore described which will result in movement of the valve stem 4I in the same direction and consequent movement of the valve 2I away from its seat against the pressure of the spring 22. The inlet valve 2I is thereby opened and uid pressure for causing movement of the piston I6 in one direction and consequent movement of the pressing members 6 and 1 into engagement against the resistance of the springs 8 through the medium of the mechanism hereinbefore described is permitted to flow to the cylinder I1.

The operating means for the outlet or exhaust valve 26 is in two parts normally out of operative relation. One of these parts embodies a hand lever 42 pivoted upon the pin 43 mounted in a bracket'44, that forms a supporting means for the opposing side of the work supporting table 33 and is provided with a downwardly extending arm 45 connected to a clevis 46 which is, in turn, slidably connected with a rod 41. The other part of the operating means includes the rod 41 provided with a head 48. The rod 41 extends through. a table bracket 49 and is secured at its outer end to a bracket 50 carrying a member 5| adapted to engage the end of a valve stem '52 extending into the valve casing 25 and engaging the valve 26. When the two parts of the operating means are in operative relation as a result of the operation of mechanism hereinafter described, depression of the hand lever 42 effects rearward movement of `the clevis 46, rod 41, and bracket 50 through engagement with the head 46 whereupon the member 5| will move away from the valve stem 52, the valve 26 being moved toward its seat by the "spring 29 which will cut off fluid pressure ow from between the larger surface of the piston I6 and the corresponding surface of the cylinder |1 through the conduit 24, exhaust conduit 21, and the muffler 26 to the atmosphere and prevent the piston |6 from being moved forwardly in the cylinder I1 and the pressing members 6 and 1 from being separated by the action of the springs 6.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the inlet valve 2| normally remains closed by pressure of the spring 22 when the pressing members are in separated relation, vbut further means must be provided for overcoming the closing effect of the exhaust valve spring 29 in order to maintain the` valve in open position when the pressing members are separated. Sucl. means comprises a spring 53 surrounding the rod 41 of the outlet valve operating means and having -its one end abutting the table bracket 49 and its opposing end abutting a collar 54 that is rigidly mounted on the rod 41. This spring is vmade considerably stronger than the exhaust valve spring 29. Therefore, the rod 41 of the exhaust valve operating means will be normally maintained in its rearwardmost position, with the result that the valve stem 52 is also maintained in its rearwardmost position and the valve 26 is held open by engagement of the stem with the valve. I

` In order to move the pressing members 6 and 1 into engagement, the operator must actuate th inlet valve operating means with one hand to open the inlet valve and exhaust valve operating means with the other to permit the exhaust valve to close. Such manual actuation of the valve operating means is necessary until the pressing members are moved into substantial engagement whereupon a maintaining means hereinafter described becomes effective to hold the inlet valve open and to permit the exhaust valve to remain closed for the pressing operation on the operating means being released.

, As hereinbefore mentioned, the outlet valve operating means is in two parts normally out of operative relation and in such position that operation of one ofthe parts has no effect upon the other. For instance, the hand lever 42 may be depressed without causing movement of the outlet or exhaust valve actuating rod 41 because oi the fact that the clevis 46 Awill merely slide upon the rod. A spring 55 is so arranged on the rod 41 that one of its ends abuts the forward end of the clevis 46 and its opposite end bears against a collar 56 disposed on the rod 41. This spring serves to return the hand lever 42 to its normal position. j

The means for putting the two parts of, the outlet valve operating means, namely, the hand lever and clevis arrangement and the rod 41, into operative relation, comprises twor transversely extending rods 51 and 58 connected at their inner or adjacent ends 'by a coupling 59. The rod 51 is journalled in the clevis 35 of the inlet valve operating means and the rod 58 is journalled in the clevisy 46 of the outlet valve operating means. A lever 6|) is rigidly connected at one of its ends to the rod 51 and has an adjusting screw 6| on its opposing end and lying below the hand lever of the inlet valve operating means in' such position as to bel moved downwardly by downward movement of the hand lever. 'In a like manner, the rod 58 carries an arm 62 having one end thereof lying immediately below the rod 41 slightly in advance of the collar 54 on such rod., It Will be noted that the arm 62 extends in an opposite direction from the lever 66 and that the rods 51 and 58 are adapted to be rotated by the downward or upward movement of the lever 66.

With this construction, depression of the hand lever 36 of the inlet valve operating means will cause downward movement of the lever 60 and rotation of the rods 51 and 58 (see Figs. 3 and 5) to cause upward movement of the outer end of the arm 62 whereby such outer end will be moved into engagement Withthe rod 41 in advance of the collar 54 which is rigidly mounted on the rod as hereinbefore described. Thus, the two parts.

of the outlet valve operating mechanism will be moved into operative relation and depression of the hand lever 42 will cause longitudinal movement of the rod 41 and permit closing of the outlet or exhaust valve 26 by the action of the spring 29. However, if the inlet valve operating means is not actuated to elevate the one end of the rod 62, depression of the hand lever 42 will cause no movement of the rod 41.

By requiring the operation of the inlet valve operating means prior tothe effective 'operation of the outlet valve operating means, the operator is compelled to use both hands to eiect closing of the press. Such construction has a further advantage in that a l-eaky inlet valve will not permit closing of the press by the mere actuation of the outlet valve operating means.

The maintaining means for holding the inlet valve open and permitting the outlet or exhaust valve to remain closed a short time after the operators hands have been removed from the inlet and exhaust valve operating handles 36 and 42 comprises a transversely extending rod 63 of noncircular form mounted in brackets 64 carried by the table supporting brackets. A lever 65 is rigidly secured on one end of the rod 63 and provided with a bifurcatedportion in which a rod 66 is adapted to rest. Such rod has a collar 61 on one of its ends and the opposing end of the rod is rigidly secured in the bracket 38. `A similar lever 68 is rigidly secured to the opposing end of the'rod 63 and has'a bifurcated portion in which one end of a rod 69 is adapted to rest, the opposing end of the-rod being rigidly secured in the bracket 50. Such lever is, likewise, provided with a. collar on one of its ends. The rod 63 is suitably supported in the table supporting brackets and a lever 10 is rigidly connected to the rod 63, such lever 10 having one of its ends connected to the lower end of a rod 1|. As shown ifi Fig. 2, the free end of the rod 1| is adapted to slide within a sleeve 13 which has its upper end pivoted as at'14`on the head lever or pressure arm 4. Arranged in the sleeve 13 between a head 15 provided on vthe rod and the lower end of the sleeve is a coiled spring 16.

When the hand lever 30 is depressed to open the hand lever 3l! serves to put the two parts ofthe outlet valve operating means in operative relation as hereinbefore described. Thus, depression of the hand lever 42 effects rearward movement of the rod 69 and permits closing of the outlet valve 26 whereby the pressing members 6 and 1 will be brought into operative relation. Since the sleeve 13 is pivotally connected to one end of the head le'ver or pressure arm 4 and such head lever or pressure arm moves in a counterclockwise direction in the closing movement of the press, the sleeve will be elevated and the rod 1I moved upwardly by .engagement of the spring 16 with the head 15 of the rod. Such upward movement bf the rod 1I will rotate the rod 63 counter-clockwise thereby moving the blfurcated h portion of the lever 65 into engagement with. the

head 61 on the rod 66 thereby maintaining such rod in its position asfshifted by the handle 30. Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that rearward movement of the rod 66 will be eective to maintain the inlet valve 2l in open position.

'I'he maintaining means are so arranged as to not be eiective until the pressing members have been brought into engagement or substantially so. Therefore, should the operator hold the outlet valve closed but release the inlet valve before the pressing members come into engagement, the inlet valve will close under the action ofthe spring 22 and the press will not be closed. Further, if the inlet valve is open, but the operator releases the outlet or exhaust valve 26 before the maintaining means becomes effective to resist the spring 53 of the outlet valve operating means, the outlet valve will open and the press will not be closed, since the uid for moving the piston I6 will escape through such outlet valve.

In addition to the hand levers 30 and 42, the inlet valve operating means and the outlet valve operating means are provided with push buttons by means of which the inlet and outlet valve operating means may be actuated by the press operator. The inlet valve and hand lever 30 has the lower end of a stem 11 adjustably mounted therein, the upper end of the stem lying within a sleeve 18 mounted on the top portion of the bracket 32. Slidably mounted in the upper end of the sleeve and operatively engaging the stem 11 is a push button 19. The hand lever 42 of the outlet valve operating means is provided with similar parts, namely, a stem l88, sleeve 8I and a push button 82. To operate the inlet valve operating means, either the hand lever 30 or the push button 19 may be depressed and, likewise, to operate the outlet valve operating means, the hand lever 42 or push button 82 may be depressed.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown the mechanism provided for operating two pressing machines, A and B, when such machines are operatively connected in tandem arrangement. This mechanism consists of two auxiliary inlet valves 83 and 84 disposed adjacent the respective main inlet valve operating handles 38 'and two auxil-` iary piston and cylinder constructions 85 and 86 disposed adjacent the respective outlet or exhaust main valve operating handles 42. As shown in this ligure, the auxiliary inlet valves 83 and 84 are connected with the main supply conduits I9 by the conduits 81 and 88 respectively. Further, the auxiliary inlet valve 83 is connected with the auxiliary cylinder and piston construction 86 by a conduit 89 and the auxiliary inlet valve 88 is connected with theauxliary cylinder and piston construction 85 by means of the conduit 9D. The auxiliary inlet valves 83 and 84 consist respectively of valve stems 9| and 92, ball valves 93 and 94 and ball valve springs 95 and 96.

In the operation of this part of the apparatus, when the main inlet valve operating lever 30 of the press B is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 4, the valve stem 9| will be engaged and moved to push the ball valve 93 from its seat against the resistance of the spring 95. It is understood that depression of the hand lever 30 will open the main inlet valve 2l as hereinbefore described. Pushing of the ball valve 93 from its seat will permit fluid pressure from the main supply pipe I9 of the press B to ilow through the conduit 81, auxiliary inlet valve 83, and the conduit 89 to the cylinder and piston construction 86 to move the cylinder inwardly and move the hand lever 42 of the press A to its release position by reason of contact between the piston rod and the hand lever. As will be understood, movement of the hand lever 42 to its normal position will permit fluid pressure between the larger surface of the piston I6 and the corresponding surface of the cylinder I1 to escape to the atmosphere whereby the pressing members 6 and 1 may be separated by action of the springs 8. Depression of the hand lever 42 of the press B, which is "necessary in order that the outlet or exhaust valve be permitted to-close so that the pressing membersfmay be moved into contact with each other, moves the piston of the cylinder and piston construction 85 to the position shown ln Fig. 4 by reason of contact between the operating lever 42 and the piston rod of such construction. The operating handle 30 of the press A is' moved to normal position by action of the spring 22. Thus, the press B is closed while the press A is opened automatically and by the manual operation of the hand levers on but one press. In a reverse manner, depression of the hand lever 3D of the press A will push the valve 94 from its seat, simultaneously opening the main inlet valve 2| in that press and lluid pressure from the main supply pipe I9 will be permitted to flow through the conduit 88, auxiliary inlet valve 84 and conduit to the cylinder and piston construction 85 whereby the piston will be moved to force the operating lever 42 to its normal position, which will enforce opening of the exhaust valve of the press B, escape of the iluid pressure from between the larger surface of the piston I6 and cooperating surface of the cylinder I1 of that press to the atmosphere and opening of the press by action of the springs 8. Likewise, depression oi.' the hand lever 42 of the press A will move the piston of the cylinder and piston construction 86 to the opposing end of the cylinder of such construction, forcing the uid pressure in such cylinder back into the line 81 and moving the pistlon to a position for operation in a subsequen cyc e.

It will thus Vbe seen that I have provided a means for simultaneously operating a plurality of presses connected in a tandem arrangement wherein it is necessary for the operator to actuate the hand levers of only one press. In Fig. 4, the piston I8 of the press B is shown in such position in the cylinder I1 as it will assume when the pressing members 6 ,and 1 of that press are in contact and the piston I6 of the press A is in the position in the cylinder I1 that it will assume when the pressing members 6 and 1 are separated -as shovm in Fig. 2. As hereinbefore stated, simultaneous closing one press and opening another is eiected by movement of the hand levers of one press only.

'The push button controls 19 and 82 hereinbefore described are provided to permit the operation of any one of a series of operatively interconnected ypresses independently of any of the other presses. This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the inlet and exhaust valves of each press may be operated by the push button controls without moving the controls a sufiicient distance to operate the auxiliary inlet valves, operated thereby when the main valves are fully operated, and thereby the auxiliary cylinder and piston constructions on the adjacent presses. In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the hand lever 30 of the inlet valve operating means is shown in three different positions. For example, it is shown in full line' position in which the inlet Valve of the press is closed, in dotted line position designated by the numeral 9i wherein the inlet valve will be opened but the ball valve of thel auxiliary inlet valve will remain closed since the operating lever will not contact with the valve stem 9| when in this position, and in the dotted line position designated by the numeral 98 which position it assumas when depressed to its fullest extent, to open the auxiliary inlet valves as well as the main inlet valve.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings the operating lever A2 is shown in two positions, namely, the full line or normally inoperative position and the dotted line position assumed when depressed to its greatest extent. With theabove construction, it will be seen that each press may be operated independently of the others by the employment of the push button controls without aiecting the position ofy any of theother presses operatively interconnected therewith.

In Fig. 'I of the drawings, the inlet lines or conduits 8l and 88 for the auxiliary inlet valves 83 and 84 are shown diagrammatically as they would be arranged for three pressing machines operatively interconnected together so that operation of the controls of one pressing machine to bring about closure thereof would result in opening of va machine operatively interconnected therewith,

rear end of the cylinder l1 for engagement by the piston I6. Each of these bumpers encloses a bolt 99 having its rear end adjustably mounted in an opening in the rear end wall of the cylinder, the rear end wall of the cylinder being provided with a cylindrical bore |00 in which the front end portion of the bolts lie surrounded by springs IUI. y

One end of the springs engages the heads on the bolts 99 and the opposite end of the spring en-l gages the rear end wall of the cylinder. With this construction, when the piston I6 is moved rearwardly the piston strikes against the heads of the bolts 99 and the springs IUI 'effectively prevent the piston from striking the rear end wall of the cylinder with any perceptible shock. Such bumpers have a further advantage in that they cause comparatively slow movement of the pressing members 8 and 1 into full engagement after the surface of the piston I6 strikes the heads of the bolts'llll.

Referring to the drawings and the preceding description it will be seen that I have provided a control mechanism for a series of pressing machines operative or interconnected or disposed in tandem or group arrangement whereby the pressing members of one of the machines can be moved away from each other and the pressing members of another machine can be moved into engagement with each other simultaneously by the operation of the control lever's of one machine only. I have also provided a control mechanism for a series of pressing machines operatively interconnected together whereby any one of the machines can be operated independently of the other and without eiecting the relative position of the pressing members of the pressing machine interconnected therewith.

Various other advantageous features will be apparent from the preceding description.

What I claim is:

l. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of said machines including relatively movable pressing members, a power operator therefor, a releasing device for said power operator, `and two-hand control means for the power operator including two manuals for actuation respectively by the two hands of the operator, the tandem connection between said machines including an operative connection from one of the manuals of one machine to the releasing device of the other, whereby joint actuation of both manuals of one machine produces operation of that machine and sole actuation of the said one manual of one machine actuates the releasing device of the other machine.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of said machines including relatively movable pressing members, a power operator therefor, a releasing device for said power operator, and two-hand control means for the power operator including two manuals for actuation respectively by the two hands of the operator, one of the manuals of each machine being movable to a primary position for cooperation with its companion manual in single machine operation and to a secondary position for tandem control of the companion machine, the tandem connection between said machines including operating means for the releasing device of each machine extending to the other machine and having a part located in the path of movement of said one manual to its secondary position for operation thereby.

3. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of said machines including relatively movable pressing members, a power operator therefor, a releasing device for said power operator, and two-hand control means for the power operator including two manuals for actuation respectively by the two hands of the operator, one of the manuals of each machine being movable in one direction to a primary position for cooperation with its companion manual in single machine operation and in the same direction to a secondary position beyond the primary position for tandem control of the companion ma.

chine, the tandem connection between said machines including operating means for the releasing device of each machine extending to the other machine and having a part located in the path of movement of said che manual to lts secondary position for operation thereby.

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of saidmachines including relatively movable pressing members, a power operator therefor, releasing means for said power operator, two-hand control means for the power perator including two devices for actuation respectively by the two hands of the operator, one of the devices of each machine being movable to a primary position for cooperation with its companion device in single machine operation and to a secondary position for tandem control of the companion machine, and two manuals for actuating said one device of each machine,

' by one of which manuals it may be moved to said primary position and by the second of which it may be moved to said secondary position, the tandem connection between said machines including operating means for the releasing means of each machine extending to the other machine and having a part locatedin the path of'movement of said one device to its secondary position for operation by its said second manual,

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of said machines including relatively movable pressing members, a power cylinder for effecting said movement, and means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from said cylinder including an inlet and exhaust valve and separate two-hand operating means therefor, the operating means for said exhaust valve comprising two parts normally out of operative relation, means controlled by operation of the inlet valve operating means for putting said parts into operative relation, the said operating means for the inlet valve of each machine including a member movable to a primary position for operating said inlet valve and for also putting said parts into operative relation and movable to a secondary position for tandem control of the companion machine, the tandem connection between said machines including operating means for the exhaust valve of each machine extending to the other machine and having a part located in the path of movement of said member when it is moved to its secondary position for operation thereby.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising two pressing machines connected in tandem, each of said machines including relatively movable pressing members, a fluid motor therefor, and two-hand control means for said motor including a normally closed inlet valve, a normally open outlet valve, and means for actuating said valves and including spaced manuals operable by the two hands of the operator, the tandem connection between said machines including an operative connection from the inlet valve actuating manual of one machine to the outlet valve actuating means of the other machine, whereby joint actuation of both manuals of one machine produces a closing operation of that machine and sole actuation of the inlet valve actuating manual of one machine actuates the outlet valve actuating means of the other machine.

J HN P. SINGISER.

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