US2136722A - Ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 11938.

w 1. J. MCCABE IRON ING MACHINE Filed March 2l, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l J. J. Mec/x55 2,136,722

IRONING MACHINE Filed Maron 21, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 2 47 INVENTOR M'fe @6L A RNEY J. J. MCCABE IRONING MACHINE Nov. 15, 1938.

Filed March 2l, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ORNEY `IRONING MACHINE Nov. 15, 1938.

Fiied March' 21, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i .MNM

IN VENT OR fra-14 Nov. 15, 1932. J. J1 MCC/ABE IRONING MACHINE Filed March 21,1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 15, 1.1938V Nl'reo ,STATES RRONING MAC "Mil i:

. John J.

Meeste, cleveland, ohio, assignmte'rne l l Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, 0h10, a corporation of Ohio Application March zi, i934, serial No. 716,632

29 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines and it constitutes in part a continuation of my copending applications Serial No.'664,'l66, which issued on February 23, '1937, as Patent No1 2,071,888, and Serial No. 664,'76'1, which issued on January 12, 1937, as Patent No. 2,067,719, both of which applications were filed on April 6, 1933.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved ironer shoe support and adjustable tensioning means for effecting resilient pressing engagement between an ironer roll and an ironer shoe.

Another object oi the invention has to do with an improved form of manually operable safety release for the ironer shoe which, upon the application of a relatively slight force, may be operated either to instantly release the shoe from I `contact with the roll or to bring the shoe into pressing engagement with the roll.

Another object of the invention relates to certain improvements for rotatably supporting' an ironer `roll and for automatically'and selectively connecting and disconnecting it with respect to the ironer motor when the shoe and roll are brought into and separated from pressing engagement respectively.

Another object of the invention involves the provision of a friction clutch with improved and generally simpliiied means for preventingl frictional drag between the cooperating driving and driven clutch parts upon the disengagement thereof. i

Another object of this invention is concerned with the provision of an improved flexible shoe support adapted to permit resiliently restrained tilting movement of theshoe with respect to its length.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of an ironing machine ofl sturdy and inexpensive construction having a generally simpiied power driven mechanism for eiecting the operation of the machine. I

With these and other objects in view, the inl vention consists in the novel construction, ar-

rangement and combination of parts,A hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments'in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating some of the details of one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 i`s an enlarged detail view4 of the clutch and associated gearing of the ironing machine illustrated in Figure 1;

l actuation of the shoe;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, 5

. Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the ironing shoe and its supporting arm'taken on line 6-B. Figure 3;

Figure I is an enlarged detail view of the co- 10 'operating means carried by the shoe for its pivotal support taken on line 11, Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 1, illustrating the means' provided for adjusting and maintaining 15 the ironing pressure between the roll andthe shoe;

` Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 9--9, Figure 3, illustrating the manually operated means for bringing the roll and shoe into 20 and out of contact with each other;

Figure l0 is a perspective view of one of the 'shoe actuating members; I

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another of the shoe actuating members; l

' Figure 12 is afperspective view of the end. of one of the shoe supporting tubes;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of another form of ironing machine illustrating certain modifications ot the invention disclosed inthe previous 30 views of the drawings;

Figure 14 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section illustrating certain details of the shoe support of the ironer shown in Figure 13 and the manual means provided for its actu- 35 ation; i

Figure 15 is an end elevational view taken on line l5l5, Figure` 14, illustrating the details of the shoe support and means provided for the Figure 16 is a detail sectional view taken on line I6-l6, Figure 19, illustrating certain details provided for adjusting the force of the pressing engagement 'between the roll and shoe;

Figure '1'7 is an enlarged plan view taken on 45 line Il--l1, Figure 15, of the toggle joint provided for .the manual operation of the shoe; e Figure 18 is an enlarged detail view taken on line lil-48, Figure 14 showing certain details of the means provided for the securement of the shoe with `respect to its supporting arm; l Figure 19 is an enlarged plan view taken on line I9-I 9, Figure 15 of thedetails of the means provided for adjusting the pressure between the roll and the shoe;

v ;-20, Figure 19;

Figure 2l is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2|-2|, Figure 14 illustrating certain details of the connection between the shoe of the ironer and its supporting arm; and

Figure 221s a side elevational view of a modified form of mechanism which can be used in place of the toggle joint shown in Figures 15 and 1'1.`

'I'he ironing machine shown in Figures 1 to 12 is of the type which is adapted for domestic use. The machine is provided,with a stand or supporting structure including a base member I, carried on supporting legs 2 which may be provided with casters (not shown) to facilitate the movement of the machine about from place to place. A combined motor cap and ironer supporting member 3 is flxedly secured at one side to the base member I and at its opposite side it is secured to the stator stack 4 of an electric motor which is provided for driving the ironer. n

A switchl having an operating member 5 at the front of the ironer is provided for controlling the operation of the motor. Fixedly secured to the upper side of the stator 4 of the motor, there is secured an integrally formed combined cast metal motor cap and gear case 8. The part 6 houses most of the operating mechanism of the machine and it supports an ironing roll 1 having suitable padding 8 and a shoe i8 having an electric heating element and rear cover |2. The current supply of thel heating element of the shoe is controlled by means of a switch (not shown) which is located alongside of and behind the motor controlling switchS shown in Figure l.

The casting 6 has a centrally bored boss |3 which provides a bearing for the shaft |4 of the electric motor, such shaft being provided at its outer end with a worm I5, meshing with a worm gear I6, which is mountedfor rotation in the casting 3. 4'I'i'ie worm `gear I8 is threadably secured to a cup-shaped clutch member I1 having an axially extending part I8 which is keyed at i9 to a shaft 20. 'I'he opposite ends of this shaft are mounted in ball bearings 2| and 22.

A pinion 23 is threadably secured to the projecting part I8 of the cup-shaped member I1. The worm I5 thus serves to drive the worm gear I8, the clutch member I1 and the pinion 23 at all times during the operation of the motor. The annular rim 24 of the cup-shaped member |1 serves as one of the driving elements of a roller type clutch, the driven element of which is formed by a member 28 having cam faces 28 and 21 and coacting rollers 28 and 33.

hThe roller 28 coacts with the cam face 28 and the rim partv 24 to provide driving connection between the clutch parts for movement in one direction and the roller 33. coacts with the cam face 21 and the annular rim part 24 to provide driving connection between the clutch parts for movement in anopposite direction. Suitable springs 3| and 32 having associated plungers 33 and 34 are provided to urge the rollers 28 and 30 A into driving\engagement with the driving and the drivenclutch parts.

The engagement between the driving clutch member 24 and the driven clutch member 28 is under control of a member which is rotatably and loosely carried on the shaft 23." The clutch control member 33 has a laterally projecting finger 36 provided ,for engaging and shifting the roller 30. An oppositely projecting part 31 is provided at one end of the member 3l -i'or contact engagement with the stops of a. member which is to be described in detail presently. 'I'he opposite end 38 of the member 31a/provides an abutment for the spring 3|.

During the operation of themotor the driving clutch member 24 rotates continuously. The actuation of the clutch control member and the engagement and disengagement between the driving and driven clutch members 24 and 25 respectively is effected by means of a shiftable plate-like member 39 having offset stops 40 and 4| which can be moved into and out of the path described by the oilset part 31 during its rotation about the axis of the shaft 20.

The stops 40 and 4| engage the part 31 at points spaced substantially one hundred and eighty degrees apart with respect to the circular path traveled by the member 31 about the axis of the shaft 20. Normally the member 39 is maintained so that its -stops 40 and 4I are in the path of travel of the offset part 31 of the clutch controlling member 35 to hold the same ina position corresponding toits clutch disengaging position.

The following action of the parts, shown best in Figure 2, takes place during the disengagement of the clutch. The part 31 upon-initial contact of one or the other of the stops 40 or 4I causes the member 35 to pivot a slight amount about the roller 30 compressing the spring 3|. 'I'his movement is made possible by reason of the loose flt of the member 35 about the shaft 20. As viewed in Figure 2 when the member 35 contacts with the upper side of the shaft 20 further compression of the spring 3| is prevented and the finger 36 then moves the roller 30 out of connecting engagement with the cam face 21 and the inner surface of the rim 24, thereby disengaging the driving connection between the driving and the driven members of the clutch.

Upon the stoppage of the driven parts of the clutch the spring 3| operates to further move the roller an additional amount from its initial released position until the clutch control part 35 assumes the position relative to the shaft 20 as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, whereupon no further movement of the clutch parts takes place until the clutch stop in contact with the oifset Apart 31 is withdrawn from obstructing position. A cammember 42 having a slot through which the finger 31 projects is carried over one end of the clutch and serves as a cover therefor.

The purpose of arranging and operating the aforesaid clutch parts in the manner described is to prevent frictional drag between the driving and the driven clutch parts when the clutch is disengaged. In the present construction the spring 3| has the added function ofl moving the roller 30 to a completely disengaged position with respect to the cooperating driving and driven clutch parts, therebyv eliminating frictional drag in the clutch and also preventing overheating of the clutch by reason of such frlctional drag.

'I'he highly important results just described are made possible by the simple expedient of providing an enlarged opening in the clutch controlling member 35 ior the reception of the shaft 20 and by utilizing the clutch roller spring 3| in the manner described, the complete arrangement being one of utmost simplicity and relatively inexpensive construction. The reversely acting cam face 26 and the roller 28 are provided to prevent -overrunning of the driven clutch parts with respect to the driving clutch part when the shoe and roll are separated from yielding pressing contact with each other about which more will be said later.

Separate hand and foot operated means are provided for optionally controlling the clutch. The hand operated clutchvcontrol means comprises an external button 43 located at the front side of the machine Where it may be easily reached by the operator. This button is mounted on the end of a plunger rod 44 which is secured at its other end in any suitable manner,`such as by means of the pin 45, to the slidable clutch control plate 39. In a similar manner a pin 46 is used to secure a plunger rod 41 to the opposite end of the plate 39. A spring 48 is carried at `this point to normally maintain the plate 39 in the position shown in Figure 3 vof the drawing which position corresponds to the position of disengagement for the clutch. Oil seals 49-49 engage with the plunger rods 44 and 41 to prevent the escape of lubricant from the gear case casting 6.

The plunger 41 is slidably carried in a threaded coupling member 50 which serves as a support means for one end of a flexible conduit 5| within which there is provided a flexible control wire 52 which is secured at one end by means of a threaded member 53 to a similarly threaded end part of the rod 41. The other end of the flexible wire 52 is adjustably secured by means of a set I screw 53a to a bell crank 54, pivoted at 55 to a floor engaging supporting fixture 56 which is provided with a foot operated button 51 xedly secured to a plunger 58, provided for contacting with one arm of the bell crank 54. The other arm of the bell crank is provided with an offset part 60 which is engaged by one end of a compression spring 6|, the other end of which abuts against' the underside of the supporting ixture 56.`

From the foregoing it is apparent that the driving engagement between the cooperating clutch members 24 and 25 may be readily eiected by pressing either the hand button 43 or the foot button 51 whichever happens to be most convenient for the operator or for the class of work being ironed. In the actuation of the aforesaid buttons they are. pressed in only momentarily. This operation permits the driving and driven clutch parts 24 and 25 to move into engagement with respect to each other for upon release of the finger 31 the spring 32 moves the roller 38 into frictional engagement with the cam face' 21 and the rim 24. l'

The driven clutch part is then rotated `about one-half turn until the finger-31 engages one or the other of the stops or offset parts 40 or 4| of the control plate 39 whereupon the disengagement of the clutch parts is effected in the manner previously described and the driven clutch part 25 remains stationary until the aforesaid clutch controls are again operated. The movement of the driven. clutch part serves to drive the cam 42 which is xedly secured'to the driven clutch part 25 by any suitable means such as the rivets 62.

The cam 42 is in contact engagement with a roller 63 rotatably carried on one end of a lever 64 which is rigidly secured by means voi' a pin 66' to a rotatably mounted tubev61 and a spring torsion rod 68. The roller 63 of the crank 64 is maintained in contact with the cam 42 by means of a spring v65 which abuts at one end in a suitable pocket formed in the gear case casing 6 and which at the other end is received in a suitable recess provided by the crank arm 64.

The rod 68 is provided with screw threads at its opposite ends and one of these threaded ends of the rodis received in a threaded cylindrical mem.-

. the axis of the tube 61.

ber 69 `located inside the fixed end of the tube 61. The member 69 is also fixed with` respect to the lever 64 by the pin 66. The outer end of the torsion rod 68 is threaded into a crank member 18. This member has an arm 1| which is provided with a threaded hole for reception of an `adjusting screw 12. The parts attached to the threaded ends of the rod 68 are locked in their adjusted positions by means of a pair of lock nuts 13-13. Preferably the ends of the rod 688 are threaded so that the twisting the rod is subjected to will tend to further tighten the nuts 13 and if desired other meansy may be used for insuring the locked engagement between the rod and the members attached to its ends.

The gear case casting 6 is provided with a laterally extending hollow boss 14 in which is rigidly iitted one end of a supporting tube 16. In the opposite ends of this tube are lfitted bushings 16 and 11 which provide bearings for the tube 61. A pair of crank members 188 and 19 are rotatably mounted on the outer end of the tube 61 Iand they are held in position thereon by any suitable means such as a bolt 88 threaded into the outer end of the tube 61. A T-shaped slot 8| is formed in this endof the tube 61 to provide means for locating the crank member 18 in position in the tube and also to permit the arm 1| of this crank member to have a certain limited amount of rotational movement with respect to The crank member 18 is also cut away at 82 for the accommodation of the arm 1| of the crank 18.

The torsion rod 68 acts as a spring for providing resilient pressing engagement between the ironer shoe andthe ironer roll. The adjusting screw 12 is provided to pre-load the torsion rod 68 to provide a' predetermined pressure between the vroll and shoe when they are in engagement with each other. This pre-loading of the rod is made possible by reason of the fact that the ends of the rod 68 and the tube 61 are rigidly Vsecured to each other at one end and at their other ends the adjusting screw 12 of thearm 1| of the crank member 18 which is xed to the end of the rod 68 engages with the arm 84 of the crank member 18 which is journaled on the end of the tube 61i. The crank 18 has a set screw 83 which normally contacts with one end of the crosswise part of the T-shaped slot 8| so that the tube 81 and the crank arm 84 of the crank 18 can oppose the twisting moment of the torsion spring 88.

The crank arm 84 is connected by means of an end-threaded stud shaft 85 to one end of a toggle joint formed by a pair of toggle links 86 and 81 which are pivotally joined to each other by means of an end-threaded stud shaft 88. At its outer end the link 81 is pivotally secured by means of an end-threaded stud shaft 89 to the arm 90 of the crank member 19 which is journaled on the outermost end of the tube 61. Another arm 93 of the crank member 19 pivotally carries the ironer shoe I8 at its outermost end.

The shoe I8 is flexibly secured ata point intermediate its' length to the arm 93 by means of a pair of rearwardly projecting relatively resilient yielding ears 94-94 xed to the sh and which have non-circular openings 95 for receiving correspondingly formed notched ends of a pin 96, the intermediate part of which is formed with a channeled or grooved part 91, the ends of which are arranged to engage with a screw 98 iixedly carried by the arm 93 of the crank 19. The end of the screw 98 cooperates with the ends of the channeled or grooved part of the pin 96 to provide stops for limiting the movement of the shoe 0 about the axis of the pin 96. 'I'he shoe contacting ends 99 of the ears 94 which may be secured to the shoe by means of the rear cover thereof are oiset a slight amount to permit the shoe ends to tilt in a slightly restrainedv manner a small amount with respect to the roll as is necessary for the accommodation of articles being ironed which vary in thickness along the line of conta'ct between the ironer roll and shoe.

'I'he limiting positions of the shoe are shown in full and dotted lines respectively in Figure 6 of the drawings. 'I'he full line position corresponds to the operative ironing position of the shoe and the dotted line position corresponds to the position the shoe may be shifted to for the purpose of. cleaning or polishing the ironing surface thereof. The T-shaped slot 8| of the tube 61 is positioned and located so that the stop screw 83 moves only a slight distancefrom the end of the slot when the shoe is moved into pressing engagement with the roll, thus permitting -maximum separation between the roll and shoe for the various tension adjustments ofthe rod 68.

The elements described thus far, relate primar-l ily to the members provided for the actuation of the shoe as well as the means provided' for insuring yielding pressing contact between the roll and the shoe when they are `in engagement with each other. Normally during the operation of the driving motor of the ironer the roll 1 is stationary. When the shoe moves into contact with the roll, the roll is automatically connected in driven relation to the motor, and conversely when the shoe is moved away from the roll such driving connection between the motor and the roll is automatically disconnected.

The driving of the roll is effected through the constantly driven gear 23 which serves to drive a gear |02, in meshing engagement therewith. The gear |02 is fixed to one end of a shaft |03 and at its other end this shaft carries a gear |04 which is free to rotate a slight amount on the shaft under restraint of a coiled spring |05. The gear |04 has an enlarged keyway or' slotv |06 for loosely receiving akey |01 xedly carried by the shaft |03 and by means of which the gear |04 is driven.

The teeth of the gear |04 normally rotate clear of the teeth of an internal gear |08, flxedly secured in one end of the 'roll 1 by any suitable means such as the screws |l0. One end of the roller 1 is provided with a radially movable bearing and at its other end the roller is rotatably supported by means of a bearing ||2 which is arranged to permit slight radial movements of the opposite end of the roller. The roller 1 is held in position on a supporting shaft or tube ||3 by means of a suitable bolt ||4 and Washer I5 carried on the end of the tube.

'I'he movable bearing member has an elliptical slot ||6 traversed by the roll supporting shaft or tube |l3. -The slot ||6 is provided to permit certain limited radial movements of the bearing and the end of the roll relatively to the tube ||3. The gear case casting 6 is provided at one side with an extending part ||1 Ahaving drilled radial openings at one edge-for reception of a pair of springs |8--||8. vThese springs press suitable plungers ||9| I9 against the bearing member urging such bearing member and the end of the roll supported thereon in a direction radially of the tube I3 to maintain the gears |04 and 08 out of mesh. 'I'he web of the bearing member has a slot for receiving a bolt |20 carried by the gear case part ||1.

'I'he bolt is provided to prevent rotation of the bearing while at the same time permitting the described radial movements of the bearing.

When the shoe is moved into engagement- With 5 the roll the end of the roll carrying the gear |08 moves a slight amount with the shoe until the bearing is brought into contact with the edge |2| of the gear case part ||1. As this movement is eected the gears |04 andA |08 are brought into 10 meshing engagement with each other and the roll is thus connected in driving relation with respect to the ironer motor and it is rotated continuously during the operation of the ironer motor until the shoe 'is Withdrawn from the contact l5 with the roll. In the event that the teeth of the gears |04 and |08 are not in proper alignment at the time of their initial contact the permissible spring restrained movement of the gear |04 with respect to its shaft will lallow sulcient rela- 20 tive movement between the gears |04 and |08 to insure proper meshing engagement between these gears. 'I'he ends of the teeth of the'gear |04 are rounded oi as shown in Figure 4 to facilitate their meshing engagement with each other. 25

It is sometimes desirable to operate the machine without rotatingthe roll as for example when it is intended to use the machine as a press rather than as an ironing machine. Means are provided for preventing the roll driving gears 30 |04 and |08 from being moved into engagement with each other. These means comprise a rotatable pin |22 which is carried in the offset part ||1 of the gear case casting 6. This pin is held in position by means of a balll |23 which is urged 35 by a spring |24 into an annular slot |25 formed inthe pin |22. One end of this pin is notched at |26 and it also has a\hole drilled in its side for receiving an operating rod |21 having a handle4 |28 by means of which the pin is rotated about its axis. o

When the pin is rotated from the position shown in Figure 3 the side of the pin is presented to the bearing member and as the pin is rigid in so far as radial movement with respect to the roll axis is concerned, when the shoe 5 is brought intof engagement with the roll the meshing engagement between the gears |04 and |08 is thus prevented The operating handle |28 is positioned above the roll at one end thereof where it may be easily manipulated by the user 50 of the machine.

Other means are provided for utilizing the machine as a press. These means comprise an operating lever |30 which is pivoted at a point intermediate its length to the base l of the ma- 55 ditions the toggle links 86 and 81 will maintain 65 the substantially aligned position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.

When the lever |30 is raised from the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and when the shoe and the roll are in pressing engagement with 70 each other, the connection provided by the toggle links 86v and 81 is broken and the shoe can be manually moved away from the roll. In a slmilar manner when the lever |30 is'manually u l 2,188,722 moved downwardly from the position last described, the toggle links 86 and 81 are brought into alignment and the shoe is thus forced into pressing contact with th`e roll. d

The stated operations can be performed without the use oi the driving motor of the ironer, and the elements just describedalso serve as a safety release for moving the shoe away from the roll as might be necessary in the event of l stoppage of the motor or in caseone oi the operators hands is drawn between the roll and the shoe. The breaking of the toggle joint requires the exertion of but a very slight pressure on the handle and due to the great leaverage provided by the handle |30 and the toggle links the reverse movement of the shoe into pressing engagement with the roll is accomplished with equal ease.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figures 13 to 22 of the drawings, the ironing machine illustrated follows in general the form of machine shown in my Patent No. 2,067,719, and it comprises' a table-like structure |40 for the support ofthe ironer which has a rotatable roll |4| and a heated shoe |42. Suitable gearing and Vdriving mechanism are housed within a gear case |43 located at one end of the roll and shoe. The mechanism and gearing in the gear case |43 is arranged to rotateD the roll and also to move the roll toward and away from the shoe as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l5. .The shoe is flexibly mounted to provide. for resilient pressing contact between the roll and the shoe when the roll is moved into contact with the shoe.

In so far as the improvements of the machine shown ln Figure 13 are concerned mainly with the shoe and its supporting means, further reference will not be made to the operating mechanism of of the roll, other than to state that its movements are under control of a push button |44 which is conveniently mounted at the top of the gear case |43. r

The shoe |42 at its rearward side is provided with a pair of ears |45-|45 ofslmilar construction to the shoe supporting ears mentioned in connection with the description ofthe machine shown in Figures 1 to 12 andsuch ears are provided with non-circular holes |46.-|46 for receiving the notched ends of a shoe supporting pin |41 which is rigidly secured to the ears by means of a pair of bolts |48.

The pin |41 is provided with a circumferential channel intermediate its length which extends part way around the pin axis. The groovedpart of the pin is received in a suitable bearingprovidedat the upper end of a shoe supporting arm |5| whichis drilled and threaded for the reception of a screw |52. The end of this screw projects into the channeled slot |50 of the pin |41 and the screw thus serves to limit the movement of the shoe about the axis of its pin |41 so that the shoe may be rotated to present its surface in a position corresponding. to the position shown in dotted lines for the form of the y invention shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, whereupon the ironing surface of the shoe may be cleaned or polished.

` The shoe supporting arm |5| is provided with a spring |53,at a point intermediate its ends. The spring |53 is held in position on the shoe supporting arm by means of a screw |54 and at its outer exposed end the spring is provided with a cap |55. The spring |53 engages the lower edge of the shoe and serves to move the shoe a slight amount about the axis of the pin |41 when the roll and shoe are not in pressing contact, the purpose being to insure that the trailing edge of the shoe is the iirst to engage the roll when they are moved into pressing contact with each other. This arrangement and mode of operation helps to prevent wrinkling of the articles being ironed as sometimes occurs when the front edge of the shoe engages the roll and an article to be ironed, at or beforethe time the rest of the shoe engages the roll.

The shoe supporting arm |5| is secured to av torsion rod |56 by means of a pin |51. The torsion rod |56 is journaled' in suitable bearings |58 and |60. the former of which is carried in a shoe supporting tube |6| and the latter of which is rigid with and surrounded by a boss |62 of the gear case |43. At this end o! the'rod |58 a crank arm |63 is secured by means of a pin |84. The other end of the crank arm is pivotally connectedv by. means of a stud shaft |65 to one end oi a toggle link |66, the other end of which is pivotally connected by means of a pin |81 to the end of a`lever |68 which forms the cooperating link of the toggle joint.

Intermediate its length the lever |68 is pivoted at |10 to a supporting bracket |1| carried by the supporting structure |40 of the ironer. An operating handle |12 is provided for th\e manipilation of the lever |68. When the operating handle |12 is depressed the toggle is .broken and the shoe is moved rearwardly away from the roll. When the handleA |12 is raised tothe position last described, the toggle is brought into its aligned position and the shoe is moved to the position shown in Figure 15 of the drawings.

This arrangement provides a safety release for moving the shoe away from the roll and it also serves to utilize the rn'achine as a pressing device without necessitating the need of operating the motor as the leverage of the `operating handle is so great that very little force is necessary to bring the shoe and roll into pressing engagement. A stop |18 carried by the member I1 I engages the lever |68 when the toggle is moved to its locked or aligned position. In practice it is preferred, when the lever |88 is in engagement with the stop |12, to have the toggle normally out of alignment a slight amount so that there is a tendency to maintain the aforesaid parts in this position.

The torsion rod |56 is ordinarily pre-loaded a slight amount which loading may be varied by means of an eccentric part |14 formed on the stud shaft |65 which eccentric part is journaled in the lower end of the crank |63. An adjusting member |15 having a rectangular hole for reception of a similarly formed part of the stud shaft |65 is provided for adjusting the eccentric |14. This member has an operating handlev |16 which is held in various desired positions of adjustment by means of a series of notches |19 formed in the rearmost end of the toggle member |88. The adjusting member |15 is urged against this lend of the toggle member by means of a spring |11 which is held on the stud shaft |65 by means of a pin |18 and by the reason of thisarrangement the edge of the handle |16 maybe main-` tained in any one of the notches |19. Both the spring means or torsion' rod |56 and the manu-V,

ally operable com or eccentric part |14 are Ainterposed in the shoe supporting means and they are located intermediate the shoe and its operating member or handle |12. The eccentric part |14, the operating handle |16 and the notches |19 constitute a `cam with multiple stagesor a muln finished appearance of the ironer.

tiple stage adjustment by means of which the ironing pressure may be adjusted to a plurality of different pressures. y

Due to the pre-loading of the rod |56 there is a tendency for the shoe to follow the roll when the roll is moved away from the shoe. 'This movement is limited in extent by means of an adjustable bolt V|80 fixed in the base |40 which engages with a part |8| carried by and rigid with the shoe supporting arm l'5i. The adjustmenty of the aforesaid parts normally is such that when the shoe and roll are in pressing contact the part |8| is maintained out of contact with the bolt y|80 a very slight amount. A bolt |82 which is threaded into the bearing |58 is used to secure the hollow casting |83 to the base |40 and to the end of the tube ISI. This casting is formed with smoothly blended surfaces and serves to conceal the end of the shoe supporting arm |5| and also yto add considerably to the The casting |83 also assists in supporting the shoe of the machine, in stiiening the base |40 and in strengthening and increasing the rigidity of the entire supportingv structure of the ironing elements of the machine.

In Figure 22 amodifled form of shoe release mechanism is shown which can be used in place of the arrangement shown in Figure 15 and in which the shoe operating crank member |03 would be replaced by a crank member |8| having a roller |92 at its lower end. This roller is engaged by a cam |50 ilxed to one end of a shaft |05 which is journaledin a bearing |88 carried by the base |40 of the ironer. The depending skirt at the front of the base member i 40, is received between a collar |81 'and a crank |03, fixed to the other end of the shaft |85.

' The crank |83 has an operating handle |04 by means of which the cam |80 may be rotated to manually move the shoe toward and away from the roll. The profile of the cam |90 preferably is arranged so that the greatest leverage of the shoe shifting mechanism is available just before the shoe reaches its operative position and for other positions of the shoe agiven movement of the handle |94 will effect a relatively large movement of the shoe. The toggle joint mechanism shown in Figures 15 and 17 will also operate in much the same manner it being a characteristic s `of such joints that the mechanical advantage of the system rapidly increases as the links of the joint are brought into alignment.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the ironing machine described herein has many adg vantages and improvements, some of which include the use of the machine as a pressing device without requiring the operation ofthe driving motor, the use of a torsion rod to provide for the pressing contact between the roll and shoe,

the elimination of the customary clutches and v theiroperaitng means ordinarily used in starting and stopping the operation of the roll, the provision of an easily operated safety shoe release and manually operated pressing device, the' provision "of an improved and simplified means for adjusting the pressure between the roll and the shoe, such means including provisions to maintain a constantclearance betweenthe roll and the shoe when they are separated from each other, the provision offan ironing machine of pleasing and attractive appearance, and the provision of a generally simplified and inexpensive mechanism for accomplishing the desiredresults.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the thereon with one end only of said roll arranged for radial movement, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, power means for rotating said roll including an internal gear fixed inside the roll at the radially movable end thereof and a driving pinion normally out of mesh therewith, and means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing contact with each other and for radially movingthe end of the roll to bring said gear and pinion into meshing engagement with each other.

2. In an ironing machine, a relatively rigid supporting structure, a roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, and means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member towards and away from each other for bringing them into yielding pressing engagement and for separating them from each other selectively, such means comprising a spring torsion roc! and means for preloadlng said spring torsion rod a substantial amount when said roll and member are separated for increasing the pressure between said roll and ironing member when they are brought into pressing engagement with each other.

3 In an ironing machine, a relatively rigid supporting structure, a roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, and power means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member toward and away from each other for bringing them into pressing engagement and for separating them from each other selectively, such means comprising a source of power and a spring torsion rod providing a yielding operative connection between said member and said source of power and means for preloadlng Vsaid spring torsion rod a substantial amount when said roll and member are separated for increasing the pressure between said roll and ironing member when they are brought into pressing engagement with each other.

4;. An ironing machine comprising, cooperating ironing members including apadded rotatable roll and a heated shoe, power means for rotating `said roll and Vfor shifting one of said ironing members alternatively into and out of pressing engagement with the other, and independent manually operable means for shifting the other of said ironing members into and out of pressing engagement with the power shifted ironing member, said manually operable means including an operating member located adjacent to the front of the machine where it is readily accessible for use by the machine operator.

5, An ironing machine `comprising, cooperating ironing members including a padded rotatable roll and a heated shoe, power means for rotating said roll and for shifting said roll alternatively into and out of pressing engagement with said shoe, and independent manually operable means for shifting said shoe into and out of Dressing engagement with said roll, said manually operable means including an operating member located adjacent to the front of the machine where it is readily accessible for use by the machine operator.

6. In an ironing machine, a relatively rigid supporting structure, aroll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating ironing member also carried by said supporting structure for movement sure exerted by'said rod between said roll andf ironing member when theyv are brought into engagement with each other without however decreasing the amount of separation between said roll and ironing member when the ironing member is in its inoperative position. i

7. In an ironing machine, a relatively rigid supporting structure, a roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating ironing member also carried by said supporting structure for movement betweensubstantially fixed operative and inoperative positions, and. means for moving said ironing` member into orout of pressing engagement with said roll, such means comprising a spring torsion rod and means connecting one end of said rod to said ironing member, said rod being secured at its other end to devices carried by said supporting structure whereby the rod provides for yielding pressing contact between said roll and ironing member, means for adjusting the pressure exerted by said rod between said roll and ironing member when they are brought into engagement with each other without however' changing the-amount of separation between said roll and ironing member when the ironing member is in its inoperative position, and a manually operable safety device associated with said rod securing devices for releasing the securement'oi' said rod with respect to said supporting*v structure. i

8. In an ironing machine, a shoe, and a yieldw ving supporting structure for said shoe comprising,

a rigid shoe supporting arm, an offset resilient member xed at one end with respect to said shoe at a point intermediate the length thereof, said resilient member being oiset in a direction parallely to thel axis of the shoe whereby tilting of such shoe axis may take place in ironing work of irregular thickness, and means for pivotally securing the other end oi said resilient member to said shoe supporting arm.

9. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing contact with each other, and power means for rotatingsaid roll including power transmission means having a portion xed to rotate-with said power means and another `portion fixed to rotate with said roll and constituting a disconnectible driviing connection Vbetween the portions of said power transmission means which is engageable in vre- 'sponse to the contact pressure between said roll and member.

ing structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, acooperating heated ironing member also carriedby said supporting structure, means for moving said heated ironing member into and out of pressing contact with said roll, and power means for rotating said roll including power transmission means having a portion iixed to rotate with said power means and another portion iixed to rotate with said roll and constituting a disengageable driving connection between the portions of said power transmission means in which driving engagement thereof is effected in response to the contact pressure between said roll and member when they are brought into contact with each other.

1l. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing. contact with each other, and power means for rotating said roll including power transmission means having a portion fixed to rotate with said power means and another portion iixed to: rotate with said roll and constituting a disengageable connection between the portions of said power transber for bringing them into pressing contact with` A each othermea ns driven bysaid motor Afor rjoj- 40 tating said roll' including power transmission means having a portion fixed to rotate with said motor and a cooperating portion xed to rotate,

with said roll and constituting a disconnectible driving connection between the portions of said power transmission means which is engageable in response to the contact pressure between said roll and member, and operator-operated means for effecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing' them into pressing contact with each other and for moving said roll laterally of said supporting structure, and power means for rotating said y roll including power transmission means having a portion fixed to rotate with said power means. and a cooperating portion iixed to rotate with said roll and-constituting a disconnectible driving connection between the portions of said'A power transmission means which is engageable in'response tothe contact pressure between said roll and member.

14. An ironing machine comprising'a supporting structure, a padded rollfrotatably and movably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, means for eecting relative movement between said roll and member'for bringing them into pressing contact with each other and for movingone end of said roll radially of vits axis .of rotation, and power means for rotating .saidroll including power transmission means having a portion ilxed to rotate withl said power means and a cooperating portion xed to rotate with said roll and constituting a disconnectible driving connection between the portions of said power transmission means which is engageable in response to the contact pressure between said roll with said member.

15. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded rollrotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, means for eil'ecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing contact with each other, and power means for rotating said roll including normally disengaged drivingfand driven gears mounted for relative bodily movement and movable into driving engagement with each other in response to the contact pressure between said vroll and member.

16. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure,' a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, power means for rotating said roll including a driven gear ixedly carried by the rpll and a cooperating driving gear xed to rotate with said' power means, said gears being mounted for relative movement into and out oif meshing engagement with respect to each other in response to the application and release of contact pressure between said roll and member, and means for eifecting relative movement between said roll and member for bringing them into pressing contact with each other and for connecting said driving and driven gears as aforesaid. Y

17. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, ,a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, power means for rotating said roll including power transmission means comprising a driving part operatively connected to said power means and a driven part operatively connected to said roll, said parts being movable into engagement with each other in response to contact pressure between said member and roll. and manually operable means for eiIecting relative movement between said roll and'member to bring them into pressing contact with each other and for eiecting driving engagement of the driving and driven parts oi' said power transmission means.

' 18. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, a padded roll rotatably mounted thereon, a cooperating heated ironing member also carried by said supporting structure, power means for rotating said roll including power transmission means comprising a driving part operatively connected to lsaid power means and a driven part operatively connected to said roll, said parts being movable into engagement with each other in response to contact pressure between said member and roll, and manually operated means and power operated means either of which is independently usable for eiecting relative movement between said roll and member to bring them into pressing contact -with each other and for effecting driving engagement of the driving and driven parts of said power transmission means.

19. Inan ironing machine, cooperating ironing members, a flexible supporting structure for one of said ironing members comprising a pivot pin and a pair o! resilient elements, each being iixedly l secured at one end to such ironing member and xedly secured at their other end to'saidpivot pin and having oiset portions intermediate their length, the axis of said pivot pin being arranged longitudinally of said ironing member so as to permit movement thereof about such axis, said elements being adapted because of their resiliency to permit tilting movements of said last-named ironing member with respect to the other ironing member when the thickness of the goods being ironed is different for different portions of the ironing members 4between which it is engaged.

20. In an ironing machine, a relatively rigid supporting structure, cooperating ironing elements including a roll rotatably mounted on said supporting structure and an associated ironing member also carried by'said supporting structure, and means for effecting relative movement .between said ironing elements towards and away from each other for bringing them into yielding pressing contact and for separating them from each other selectively, such means comprising a spring torsion rod, means associated with one end of said torsion rod for operatively connecting the same with respect to one ot said ironing elements, an operating mechanism, means associated with the otherV end ot said torsion rod for operatively connecting the same with respect to said operating mechanism and adjusting means including an eccentric interposed between said torsion rod and said operating mechanism for pre-loading said spring torsion rod a substantial amount when said roll and member are separated for increasing the pressure between said roll and ironing member when they are brought into pressing engagement with each other.

21. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, cooperating ironing elements carried by said supporting structure including a heated member and a padded roll, means for mounting said roll for both rotational and lateral bodily movements, shifting means for effecting relative movement between said ironing elements for bringing them into and out of pressing contact with respect to each other, power means for rotating said roll including a source of power and a disconnectible driving connection between the roll and the source of power, said disconnectible driving connection including an element fixed to rotate with said roll and a cooperating element liked to rotate with said source of power, and means including said shifting means for eecting movement of the aforesaid elements of said disconnectible driving connection into yielding engagement with each other in response A to contact pressure between said' cooperating ironing elements.

22. An ironing machine comprising, a support- 'ing structure, cooperating ironing elements car- 'l tate with said roll and a cooperating gear fixed to rotate with said source of power, and means including said shifting means for effecting movement of the aforesaid gears of said disconnectible driving connection into yielding meshing engage- Vit tact with respect to each other, power means for rotating said roll including a source' -of power and a disconnectible driving connection between the roll and the source of power, said disconnectible driving connection including an internal gear `:tlxed inside said roll and rotatable therewith and a cooperating driving pinion located alongside of the internal gear and xed to rotate with said` `als i in said shoe supporting means to make the consource of power, and means including said shifting means for eiecting movement of the aforesaid gear and pinion of said disconnectibledriving connection into meshing engagement with eachother in response to contact pressure between said cooperating ironing elements` 24. In an ironing machine of the class vdescribed, the combination of an ironing roll, a

Vshoe cooperatively supported therewith, an operating member and inter-connectingn mechanism for moving the shoe into contact vwith the rollv tact between the shoe and roll resilient, and a` manually operable cam interposed inthe shoe supporting means to adjust the pressure' between the roll and shoe.

26. In a power driven `ironing machine, the combination vof an ironing roll, an ironer shoe, 'mechanism for revolving the ironing roll and actuating pressure contact between the shoe and the roll, shoe supporting means, spring means interposed in the shoe supporting means to make the contact between the shoe and roll resilient,

and a manually operable cam with multiple stages interposed vin the shoe supporting means to adjust the pressure between the roll and shoe for variable thicknesses of garments.

27.' An ironing machine comprising a stand,

.a housing structure at one end thereof, a roll' support projecting from said' housing structure. a padded roll mounted on said supportfor both rotational movement and bodily movementcwith respect thereto, an ironing shoe arranged to cooperate with said roll in effecting the ironing and pressing operations when the roll and shoe are in contact with each other, a power unit, mechanism operatively connected to said,

power unit to eiect relative movement between said shoe and roll and bodily movement of said roll with respect to said support, and means operatively connected to said power unit torotate said roll .comprising a gear within said roll and fixed to rotate therewith, a shaft projecting from said housing structure and a pinion fixed to said shaft inside said roll, said pinion and gear being moved into and out vof meshing engagement with each other in response to the actuation of said mechanism in eiecting bodily movement of the roll with respect to said support.

28.V An ironing machine comprising a stand,

r a housing structure at one end thereof, a roll support projecting from said housing structure, a padded roll mounted on said support for both rotational movement and bodily movement with respect thereto, an ironing shoe arranged to cooperate with said roll in eiecting the ironing and pressing operations when the roll and shoe unit #to effect relative movement between said shoe' and roll and bodily movement of said roll with respect to said support, means operatively connected to said power unit to rotate said roll comprising a gear xed with respect to said roll internally thereof, a shaft projecting from said housing structure and a pinion inside ofv said roll and xed to rotate with said shaft, said pinion and gear being moved into and out of meshing engagement with each other in response to the actuation of said mechanism in effecting bodily movement of the roll with respect to said support, and manually controlled I means to prevent rotation of said roll upon actuation of said mechanism comprising a'member within said roll operatively arranged with respect to said gear and pinion to prevent meshing engagement thereof.

29. An ironing machine comprising, a supporting structure, cooperating ironing elements carried by said supporting 'structure including a heated member and a padded roll. one of said ironing elements being mounted for relative movement with respect to the other, means including a relatively rigid support extending into said roll for mounting thev roll for rotational movement, power means for effecting relative movement of said ironing elements into and out of pressing contact with each other, roll drive means including a pair of gears inside said roll for rotating the roll, one of said gears being are in contact with each other, a power unit,

mechanism operatively connected to said power adapted to be rotated by said power means and ments are brought intopressing contactwith' each otherby said power means.

JOHN J. MccABE.

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