US2690020A - Laundry press - Google Patents

Description

p 1954 E. E. FOSTER 2,690,020

LAUNDRY PRESS Filed June 8, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet l o 56 I 90 2 1 89- 85 3 L o 6 I 3 4 v I O\\ 5/ l nn I I I O W 71 I I; 8 I I 3 Him h Ill. 7 Ill '11! INVENTOR.

EDWIN E. FOSTER A TTORNEVS Sept. 28, 1954 Filed June 8, 1949 E. E. FOSTER 2,690,020

LAUNDRY PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 as n 1 a9 (as 42 26 o 4/ 0 4 4/ o 4 28 5 Q 0' O 0 3 4 I LL\\ 39 a0 0 o 38 62 87V I O 5 Q7 2 m m I IN i L INVENTOR.

EDWIN E FOSTER A TTORNEVS P 1954 E. E. FOSTER 2,690,020

LAUNDRY PRESS Filed June 8, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ll. 1 I a 56 36 89 35 r89 J5 5/ o 4 6 2 M13 2 II I 0 I 4 k 0 I" A3 43 a la g f- O as an 6 l5 9 W INVENTOR. 5 3 EDWIN E FOSTER BY 67 62 I '1] y 4 5 2M il llll 6 4 I II. I I

A TTORNEKS E; E. FOSTER Sept. 28, 1954 LAUNDRY PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 8, 1949 Wlillfllllll INVENTOR. EDW/(V 5 FOSTER B v y9 v 24-7 %W A TTQRNEVQ Sept. 28, 1954 E E FQSTER 2,690,020

LAUNDRY PRESS Filed June 8, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lhhh l8 WWW MM. Hm.

' INVENTOR.

EDWIN E. FOSTER A TTnRA/EVS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY PRESS Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex. Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,783

(01. esp-25) 18 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a manually operated press to be more particularly used in laundries and the like for pressing all types of textiles.

It is an object of this invention to provide a manually operated press which will require a minimum of effort by the operator and will be quick in its operation. A further object of the invention resides in a structure for applying the force necessary to effect the ironing or pressing pressure and torelease this pressure without dissipating the effective force. A still further object resides in a press in which the bed member is adjustable automatically to accommodate varying thicknesses of materials to be pressed.

Another object of the invention resides in a press in which a lever is provided with a weight on a long arm with a short arm connected to the bed member of the press to thus apply the pressing force between the head and bed members. The mechanism includes means to hold the weight at the two positions of movement of the weighted lever together with means to latch the various parts in the positions of pressing and non-pressing.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the press in the open position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the press in the position preparatory to a pressing operation with the head member latched down before pressure is applied,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the press in the pressure applied position,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the press just after pressure has been released, but before the head is re-opened,

Fig. 5' is a top plan view of the base partly in section,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lower rear portion of the press showing one of the brake devices, v

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the press in the open position,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the back of the press,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine, and

Fig. 10 is a side view partly in section showing the toggle member in broken position. The press comprises a head member 9 and a bed member 24 with the head member mounted and secured on a pivoted yoke I. A frame indicated generally by the reference character 2 is comprised of angle irons with front foot member 83 and rear foot member 84, both interconnected by side members 85. Two front upright members 86 and two rear upright members 81 are connected to side brace members 88 and cross brace members 89 complete the framework which supports the various parts of the press.

The yoke l is pivoted to the frame 2 at the point or rod 3 and is provided with a toggle member 4 which latches the yoke in the. open position, as shown in Fig. 1 and also in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2. The toggle 4 is hinged to a link 5, which in turn is pivoted to the frame 2 at the point 6. The link 5 is held forward or in the position to the extreme right, by means of a tension spring 1 against a heavy cross member 8 of the frame 2. The object of this link 5 is to allow the toggle member 4 to latch into the straightened position and then lift away from the cross member acting as a limit stop 8 enough to allow the head member 9 on the yoke I to travel to its extreme open position without the use of an oil check or other form of energy dissipater. Multiple latch fingers ID are pivoted to the cross member 8 at the point ii and cooperate with a roller I2 on the toggle 4 to hold the head in its extreme open position. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1, the head is wide open and the toggle 4 is held in its straightened position by means of a latch l3 and a roller I4 and the toggle 4 is held away from the cross member 8 by one of the prop latches ill. The roller I4 is mounted on a link 45.

As shown in Fig. 1, heavy tension springs 15 are provided which pull in a direct line between the point [6 on the base of the frame and the point 3, where the yoke is pivoted to the frame. When handle I! of the yoke is pulled downward, the latch roller 14 is moved to the left and the toggle 4 is broken and at the same time the roller I2 is pulled off of the latch finger I0. This allows the head to fall toward its closed position. With a few pounds additional pull during the entire stroke of the head closing operation, the springs [5 will be stretched sufiiciently by the time the toggle 4 is latched in the closed position,

'as shown in Fig. 2, so that after the pressure is applied and the head reopened, the tension springs [5 will again throw the head to its extreme open position. In other words, the yoke System of opening and closing the heavy head on a laundry press does two things which are better than the system heretofore in use. That is, the head opens and closes much more quickly and second, it requires considerably less eifort. In order to apply 6,000 pounds pressure between the head and buck, after the head is latched down, this structure uses a combination of leverage, weight and compression spring.

The weight I8 is rigidly mounted to the arm I9 which is pivoted to the frame on the rod 20 as a fulcrum. A push link 2| carries the pressure from a pin 22 into a compression spring 23 and against the buck or bed member 24. In Fig. l, the weight i8 is being held by means of a friction shoe 25. As the handle I1 is pulled downward to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the weight I8 is lifted to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a latch member 26 pivoted on the yoke and the shoe 25 is disengaged from the weight i8 due to the fact that a pin 21 on the weight hits a leaf spring 28 and lifts it out of contact where it is held by means of a latch member 29. In order to apply the pressure between the head and buck after latching the head down, it is necessary to lift up on the handle IT to release the weight W, as will be explained. As shown in Fig. 3, the weight l8 falls downward due to the force of gravity and the push link 2| is forced upward against the compression spring 23, which in turn transmits this pressure agamst the padded buck. The lower end of the compression spring 23 lifts away from the bottom of housing 30. The falling weight l8 has now transferred its energy into the spring 23 and the friction shoe 3| allows the weight to go downward as far as it can, but will not let it back track or rebound. Therefore, the 6,000 pounds pressure is held between the head and buck to provide the ironing pressure.

Fig. 6 shows a rear bottom portion of the machine. Referring to Fig. 2, when the head is brought downward,the latch 26 lifts the weight l8 to its highest position. During this operation the pin 21 on the weight [8 hits the leaf spring 28 and lifts the friction shoe 25 out of contact with the curved surface and the latch 29 holds it out of contact. In order to apply pressure, the handle I! is moved upward, which releases the latch 26 and allows the weight i8 to fall and apply pressure. During this falling stroke of the weight IS, the roller bumps the projection on the latch 29 and lets the shoe 25 move downward again into operating position.

At the same time the head was being brought downward, a tension spring 32 was also stretched,

as shown in Fig. 2. This spring 32 is made to hold its energy during the interval of time while the press is applying ironing pressure, then, in order to release the pressure and allow the head to open, a slight pressure on a trigger 33 on the handle transmits a pull through a cable 34 over the two rollers 35 and 3B and lifts latch 31 upward off of the roller 38. This allows the energy in the tension spring 32 to jerk the'friction shoe 3| downward in order to release the weight l8, which immediately rebounds upward to the position shown in Fig. l. After reaching the position shown in Fig. 4, a cable 39 moves a lever 40 about fulcrum 4| and actuates a forked member 42, which breaks the toggle 4 and allows the head to snap open. When the head is opened it is back again in the position shown in Fig. 1 and ready to begin a new cycle. Fig. 9 shows the tension spring 32, which is tensioned' at thetime the head is lowered so that at the end of the ironing operation a light pressure on the trigger at the handle will pull the cable 34 releasing the latch 31 and permitting the arm 39 to rotate about the rod 96. This will cause the pull link 62 to move the friction shoe 3| downward, thereby releasing the weight It. The last part of this downward movement of the shoe 3| causes the pull cable 39 to move thelever 40,, which releases the toggle 4 and lets the head open.

The principle of counterweighting the head and also the principle of applying the pressure can be compared to the action of a bouncing ball oraspring board. The pressure is applied at the bottomv of the bounce and the weight is held there as long as necessary. When the weight is released, the weightbounces back up as if it had never been stopped. This allows the machine to recover three-fourths or more of the energy each time so that the total effort required is little enough that it can be supplied by the average operator without being tiresome. The actual machine can develop 6,000 pounds ormore pressure with a 300 pound head with the following forces required by the operator: An average of 20 pounds on the handle through 24 inches is sufficient to close the head quickly and raise the bell enough to replenish the spent energy. About 10 pounds lift on the handle through an inch and a quarter stroke caused the 6,000 pounds to be applied. About 5 pounds pressure through 1 /2 inches caused the pressure to be released and the head opened. A complete cycle can be completed in 2 seconds-that is, when the pressure is applied and released immediately.

The toggle 4' is comprised of two members or links 4| and 49 pivoted at 43, and 44 is a rigid extension of the link 4|. The link 45 is pivoted with limited movement to the right but free to move to the left urged by a' spring l3 to the right, Figs. 1-4.

There are three fingers H) but they are of unequal length with a gradually increasing length from the front to the back and each isv urged downwardly by tension springs 4'1. The fingers l9 are pivoted at 48 in a bracket 49; Fig. 1, and are limted as to movement counter clockwise.

From Fig. 2 to Fig. 3, latch 26 is released by the handle I! and is lifted up about the fulcrum 50, latch 26 being pivoted at 5| on the yoke I. Latch 26 releases the. pin 52.0n the weight H3 which latter also has a roller 53 on its upper end. This roller 53 contacts the latch 29 as a cam to release the latch 29 from shoe 25.

A spring 54 constantly urges latch 26 counterclockwise around the pivot 5|.

The forked member 42 is by means of a link 55 pivoted at its upper end at 53' on the angle member 57 of the frame and the left end 58 is pivoted to a bell crank lever 49 pivoted at 59. to the frame.

The shoe 3| is mounted on a double link 60 which is pivotally mounted at 6|. to the frame. Another link 62 is pivoted at 63' to the shoe at its upper end and the lower end is secured at E4 to a cross piece 69 rotatable on a rod 66. A bell crank B! is secured to the cross piece 65 and to which the spring 32 is connectedby a link 38. Arm 69 is also secured to the cross" piece 65 and a spring 'Hlurges the arm 69 to the left. A limit strip 1| contacts the frame.

I claim as my invention:

1. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and carrying the head member, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame at one end thereof and having a weight at the other end thereof, means connecting the bed member with the lever arm adjacent the pivot of the arm and on the side opposite to that which carries the weight, and means to hold the lever arm in the press open position and the closed position of the head and bed members, and including a resilient member interposed between the bed member and the means operable by the weight to release the latter to impart an ironing force on the head and bed members.

2. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and carrying the head member, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame at one end thereof and having a weight at the other end thereof, means connecting the bed member with the lever arm adjacent the pivot of the arm and on the side opposite to that which carries the weight, means to hold the lever arm in the press open position and the closed position of the head and bed members, means between the bed member and the connecting means to compensate for the thickness of the material to be pressed, and including a resilient member interposed between the bed member and the means operable by the weight to release the latter to impart an ironing force on the head and bed members.

3. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and carrying the head member, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame at one end thereof and having a weight at the other end thereof, means connecting the bed member with the lever arm adjacent the pivot of the arm and on the side opposite to that which carries the weight, means to hold the lever arm in the press open position and the closed position of the head and bed members, means connected on the yoke to release the lever arm after the head member is brought down near the bed member, and including a resilient member interposed between the bed member and the means operable by the weight to release the latter to impart an ironing force on the head and bed members.

4. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and to which the head member is secured, a lever arm having a weight at one end and pivotally mounted at the other end in the frame with a long lever arm for the weight and a short lever arm, and means for connecting the short lever arm to the bed member.

5. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and to which the head member is secured, a lever arm having a weight at one end and pivotally mounted at the other end in the frame with a long lever arm for the weight and a short lever arm means for connecting the short lever arm to the bed member, and means for latching the lever arm in the open and closed positions of the head and bed members.

6. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and on which one of the members is mounted, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame at one end thereof and having a weight 6. at the other end thereof, meansconnecting the lever arm with the other member on the side opposite to that which carries the weight, means to latch and hold the weighted lever in the open and closed positions of the press, and a resilient member interposed between the bed member and the means operable by the weight to release the latter to impart an ironing force on the head and bed members.

7. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and having the head member secured thereon, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame at one end thereof and having a weight secured on the other end thereof, a push link secured at one end adjacent the pivot point of the lever arm on the side opposite to that which carries the weight, a spring connected to the other end of the push link and the bed member, means to hold the weighted lever arm in the raised and lowered positions for the press open and closed positions, and a resilient member interposed between the bed member and the means operable by the weight to release the latter to impart an ironing force on the head and bed members.

8. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, the bed member being provided with a compression spring, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and having the head mem'- ber secured thereon, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a weight secured on one end, a push link secured at one end adjacent the pivot point of the lever arm and connected at the other end to the spring, and meansto hold the weighted lever arm in the raised and lowered positions for the press open and closed positions, said lever arm on the downward or falling movement of the weight, forces the push link upwardly against the action of the spring to transfer the energy of the falling weight in the spring which latter produces the pressing force between the head and bed members.

9. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, the bed member being provided with a compression spring, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and having the head member secured thereon, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a weight secured on one end, a push link secured at one end adjacent the pivot point of the lever arm and connected at the other end to the spring, means to hold the weighted lever arm in the raised and lowered positions for the press open and closed positions, said lever arm on the downward or falling movement of the weight, forces the push link upwardly against the action of the spring to transfer the energy of the falling weight in the spring which latter produces the pressing force between the head and bed members, a latch mounted adjacent the weighted end of the lever arm, and handle means on the yoke and connected to the latch to hold the weighted lever arm in the raised position.

10. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and having the head member secured thereon, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a weight secured on one end, a push link secured at one end adjacent the pivot point of the lever arm, a compression spring in contact with the other end of the push link aeeopzo at; one endandwith the bed member atthe. other end, means. to hold the weighted lever arm. inthe raised and lowered positions for the press open and closed. positions, said leverarm on the downward or falling movement of the weight, forces the push linkupwardly against the. action of the spring to transfer'the energy of the falling weight in the spring; which latter. produces the pressing force between the head and bedmembers, and means; connected to the yoke operable to. releasethe weighted lever arm. in the raised position.

11. A textile. press particularly for laundries comprising. a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted. in. the frame and carrying the head member, av lever arm having a weight at one end and the other end. pivotally secured in the frame, means connected. to the. said other end of the. lever arm and the. bedmember to provide a. resilient. con.- nection between the arm and. the bed. member, and means mounted on. the frame to. arrest and hold the weighted lever ,armin. a. raisedposition and. in a lowered position in which. the raised position is the non-pressing position for the head and bed members. and the lowered. position reacts to provide the force of the movement of the lever and weight in the lowered position into the resilient connection to provide the pressing force. between the head and. bed members.

12. A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and, carrying the head member, a lever arm having a. weight at one end and the other end pivotally secured in. the frame, means con,- nected to the said other end of the. lever arm and the bed member to provide a resilient connection between the arm and the bed member, means mounted. on the frame to arrest and hold the weighted lever arm in a raised position and ina lowered position in which the raised position is the non-pressing position. for the head and bed members and the lowered position reacts to provide the force of, the movement of the. weight descending by force of gravity into the resilient connection to provide the pressing force between the head and bed" members, and means, operable from the yoke to release the weighted lever arm in its positions of non-pressing and pressure application' relative to the head and bed members.

13. A textile. press particularly for l'aundries comprising a frame, relatively movable headv and bed members, a yoke pivotally' mounted in the frame and carrying the head member, a lever arm having a weight at one end and the. other end pivotally secured. in the frame,..means, connected' to the said other end of the lever arm and the bed member to. provide a resilient connection between the arm and the bed member, means mounted on the frame to; arrest and hold the weighted lever arm in a raised position and in a lowered position in which the raised position is the non-pressing: position for the head and bed members and the lowered position reacts to provide the force. of the movement. of the weight descending by force of gravity into the resilient. connection toprovide the pressing. force between the headand bed members, and means 8:. including an operating handle on the. yoke to release the weighted lever arm in its positions of. non-pressing and pressure application relative to the. head. andbed members.

14. A. textile. press particularly for laundries comprising afra-me, relatively movable head and bed members with the bed member movable relative to the frame, a yoke pivotally mounted in.the frame and carrying, the head. member, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a long portion and a short portion relative to. the pivot, a weight. mounted on the free end of the long arm, a rod connected. at one end to the short portion of the lever arm, resilient means connecting the other end of the rod to the bed member, andv means to hold the weight in two vertical positionsv of non-pressing and pressure. applied. relative to the head. and bed member whereby in the pressure applied position the force of theweight in the. non-pressing position will. be transferred into the resilient means for the pressing force of the head and bed members in. the. press closed position so that when released. the force in. the resilient means will be transferred back into the lever arm. to thereby conserve. the energy of. the pressing force.

15. A textile press according to claim 14, in which. the. resilient means is in the form of a compression spring bearing at one end on the rod and. they other end on the bed member.

16. A textile press according to claim 14, in which means are provided operable from the .yoke to. release the holding means for the weight.

17... A textile press particularly for laundries comprising a frame, relatively movable head and bed members mounted on the frame, a yoke pivotally mounted in the frame and on which the head member is secured, an energy storing unit secured to the bed member so that the latter may be slightly movable relative to the frame, and means connected to the energy storing unit and. movable to various positions to transfer the energy for the. pressing force between the head and bed. members into and out of the unit to thereby prevent release ofthe pressing force after each pressing operation of the press, said means including. a lever arm having a weight at one end and pivotally mounted in the frame at the other end to move in a vertical direction relative to the weight.

' 18'. A textile press comprising a frame, relatively movable head" and bed members mounted on the frame, an energy storing unit. connected to one of the members, and means mounted. in the frame and movable to various positions to transfer the energy for the pressing force between the head and bed members into and out of the unit during each pressing operation to thereby prevent release of the pressing force after each pressing operation of the press, said means including-a weight mounted on the frame for vertical movement for storing the energy of the pressing force when the unit and members have completed a pressing cycle.

References Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,041,923 H'onney- May 26, 1936 2,239,991. Bush Apr. 29, 1941

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