US2933839A - Rotary pressing machine safety means - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1956 R O Y Tm w m m V M. 5 A 0 Z m 9 n a 4 5 E L 5 WW 4 r u M o E 5 B m M W A Y w o no a c R m w M 1 4 .0 m 5 m 5 .d \QU um a u v a 4 K aw 1 am A E U .////MI///\\ I w April 26, 1960 v o. H. LANGEN 2,933,839

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ROTARY PRESSING MACHINE SAFETY MEANS Ole H. Langen, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Mirna, a corporation of Minnesota Application March 16, 1956, Serial N 0. 572,018

8 Claims. (Cl. 38-22) I This invention relates to improvements in rotary pressing machines of the type having a plurality of individual pressing machines of what are ordinarily of the stationary type, mounted on a frame or turntable which is arranged to be rotated on a vertical axis. Such rotary pressing machines are exemplified in Patent 2,669,044 and various other patents of the prior art.

All modern prior art pressing machines of this type and as exemplified in the aforesaid patent and other patents of the prior art utilize separate individual presses of the type having steam heated presser heads and usually, also have steam heated bucks. The mechanism in each press for moving the head against the buck for pressing is almost always an air motor, suitably controlled although other motor forms may be used. Air under pressure, for'operating the air motor of the several presses on the rotary frame is conducted from the base, then thru a rotary gland at the axis of the rotary frame and to a supply line on the-rotary frame which feeds the several presses, which are controlled, usually by automatic valves so as that each is closed in succession at a certain point in their rotary path of motion (as they are carried by the rotary frame) and successively opened at another point. The air under pressure from the common supply line holds the presses closed during the pressing operation of the cycle.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the safety of such rotary multiple press, pressing machines, and to provide mechanism whereby all presses may be opened, under emergency conditions, from any one of a plurality of stations on or near the machine.

It is another object of'the invention to provide an improved multiple press pressing machine of the aforesaid type having a plurality of emergency open controls, for immediately and summarily opening all presses, from one or more emergency open stations on or adjacent 'to the pressing machine.

Other objects of the invention are those inherent in th apparatus hereinafter illustrated, described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein corresponding numerals refer to the same parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a representative type of pressing machine embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a-view partially as a schematic partial verby lines XA--XB; YA-YB; I

Referring to the drawings, and with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, it may be stated in general, that the pressing machine of the type of which the present invention is an improvement consists of a rotary turntable of low elevation that is adapted to be placed on the floor and upon which there are mounted a plurality of individual pressing machines. The pressing machines are of the laundry or garment pressing type and may have the same or different types of bucks and heads for pressing the same or different portions of garments or laundry items. While pressing machines of this type may be built as a unitary structure, for ease of manufacture and reduction in cost it has been found that ordinary individual air driven, steam heated pressing machines may be used to advantage, such individual pressing machines being mounted in regularly spaced relationship around the pcriphery of the rotary turntable of low elevation. In such mechanical organization the presses are thus rotated one at a time in succession in front of an operator station. Prior to reaching the operator station each press is automatically controlled by its rotary movement so as to actuate the press to open-press position and the operator may, without moving from her position, remove the pressed garment and lay an unpressed garment on the buck. Usually the rotation of the press is continuous (but it may be operator-controlled as to speed, or discontinuous), the removal of the pressed garment and replacement of the unpressed garments on the bucks being effected while the pressing machine moves at its regular rate (or at a slower rate or temporarily halted) ,at operator station. Then as the pressing progresses along its rotary path of motion it reaches a position adjacent to and safely beyond the operator station, where provision is made for automatically actuating controls of the pressingmachine to cause the presser head to move against the buck into pressing relationship therewith. The actuation of the controls may be accomplished by various means, such as cams that are mounted on the floor or upon supports and which are engaged by appropriate mechanisms on the presses, as it moves past a predetermined station, which is known as the closing station. Each press then automatically closes and remains closed as it continues its course of travel around its circular path 'of' motion being carried around by the rotary platform and during such closed condition (which is the pressing portion of the cycle) the press is held closed bycontinuous application of air line pressure, which if released, would permit the press to open. At-a predetermined station, known as the opening station, appropriate controls are actuated by cams or other mechanisms, such as timers, so as to release air line pressure, so as to cause each press to open in succession and each press, then is in an open condition when it again reaches the operator station. 7

It is in this class of pressing machines that the invention hereinafter described constitutes improvements. For purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation there is herein illustrated a rotary pressing machine resembling that shown in the Patent 2,669,044.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures-1 and 2, the pressing machine includes a central floor plate 10 which is adapted to be placed or bolted upon the floor 11 on which the pressing machine is installed. Upon the plate 10 there is a central stationary pivot 12. The pivot shaft 12 which is hollow,'serves to support a suitable ball or sleeve bearing assembly 18 which is mounted in or on the main flange 16 of the circular rotary fraine plate 17. The bearing 18 is usually-constructed soas to serve as a thrust bearing to receive the weight load at the center of the rotary frame plate 17. The plate 17 preferably of'circular shape and near its periphery'it is reinforced by ring channels 20 and 21 which are posi tioned so that their flanges are oppositely directed and are of such a diameter as to leave a space between the webs of the flanges. Within this space are mounted a plurality of wheels 22. Greatest rigidity is provided by placing two or more of the wheels 22 under each of the presses that are mounted upon the rotary frame plate 17 so as to steady the plate 17 against vibration due to the opening and closing of the presses. Plate 17 may, if desired, have radial stiffening Webs not illustrated in order to increase its rigidity. The wheels 22 may be rubber tired, if desired, and the wheels 22 may run directly upon the floor 11 where the floor has suflicient evenness. Where the installation is made on a rough or uneven floor 11, it is preferable to place a circular sheet metal track 24 on the floor along the path where the wheels 22 track. The axis of each of the wheels 22 is radial in respect to the central pivot axis 12.

' For rotating the circular frame plate 17 and all elements carried thereon, there is provided a belt 25 which may be a chain belt, as shown in Figure 1, which passes over a pulley 26 that is mounted upon radial arm 27, the arm being pivoted at 28 to the floor. An adjustment screw 30 mounted in the stationary bracket 31 is positioned so as to bear against the arm 27 so as to move it arcuately and thus permit tightening or loosening of the belt 25. The belt 25 also runs over the driven pulley 32. The pulley 32 rotates at slow speed and is preferably driven by an electric motor 34 through a gear box. It is preferable to use a motor 34 which is capable of speed variations, such as a wound rotor repulsion induction motor, a shunt type direct current motor or the like. It is perfectly feasible to utilize an air driven motor 34 of constant or variable speed construction application where such is desired, the controls therefor being then appropriately selected for controlling the speed and operation of the motor 34.

Upon rotary base 17 there are mounted a plurality of pressing machines generally designated A, B, C and D in Figures 1 and 2. Any suitable number of pressing machines greater than one may be utilized, depending upon the size and capacity of the unit and the type of work desired to be done by means of the installation. Four pressing machines are shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention and are spaced evenly around the rotary frame plate 17. The rotation of the frame plate 17 is in the direction of the arrow 35 and rotation of the drive pulley 32 is shown by the arrow 36. An operator station indicated by the floor pad 37 extends through approximately one-quarter of the circular path of motion of the floor plate 17 and presses AD mounted thereon. Adjacent the terminating edge 38 of the operator station, there is provided a protective guard 40 which likewise extends through approximately one-quarter of the path of rotation of the floor plate 17 and the presses mounted thereon. The guard 40 roughly defines the position of a press at the closing station, it being understood that the guard extends somewhat ahead of and behind the position where the presses close at the closing station and is sufiiciently high so as adequately to safeguard any person from introducing members of the body into the press while the press is closing. From the termination of the closing station, which is at the position approximately shown by press D in Figure 1, and continuing in the direction of arrow 35, there is a portion of the path of motion during which the pressing part of the cycle takes place. During this portion of the cycle the pressing head is closed down upon the buck and is held down (closed) so long as line air pressure is maintained on the air motor of the press. The opening station is between the position in which press B is shown in Figure 1, which is still closed, and the leading edge 41 of the .operator station. At the opening station each press is opened by discontinuing the application of line air-pressure and exhausting the air motor of the press, thereupon 4 the press will then be opened by its springs, as is well known.

The closing station actuator is shown generally at 42 and the opening station actuator is shown generally at 45.

Adjacent the leading edge of the guard 40 there is a control panel generally designated 46, in which the On- Oif controls of motor 34 and speed controls therefor, as well as Emergency Opening controls for all presses may be located, convenient to the operator.

The presses AD (or any number which are mounted upon the rotary floor plate 17), may be of any desired individually power driven presses. Present day presses are usually air driven and in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the presses AD are of the type shown in Patent Re. 22,041, although it is to be understood that any suitable one or two cylinder air press, or other power driven press may be utilized. Thus, for example, the presses AD can be single cylinder air driven presses of which the type shown in Patent 2,265,449 is exemplary, or they can be multiple air cylinder presses. The use of electrically actuated presses is within the purview of the invention.

In the exemplified showing of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, each of the pressing machines includes a frame 52 which is suitably attached to the circular revolving frame plate 17. The type of presses illustrated is a two-cylinder press, but as hereinbefore stated, this is merely exemplary of any type of power actuated presses that may be used. In the presses shown, each has a press frame and upon the frame 52 there is mounted a stationary buck 54 and a presser arm 55 which is pivoted at 56. The presser arm carries a presser head 57 which is movable from an open position (as shown for press A at the left in Figure 2), to the closed position (as shown for press D at the right in Figure 2). The movement of the press from open to closed position and from closed to open position is accomplished by means of an air or other fluid motors suitably controlled by push-button type valves. The press closes when the power energy is applied, and is held closed by continued application of such energy. It is spring biased to open when application of power is discontinued.

In Patent Re. 22,041, which explains the operation of presses of this type, the air cylinders for operating the press are energized through two-hand control valves that are (in the case of a single pressing machine), located near the front of the pressing machine on the work table beneath the bucks. In the present instance these two valves (corresponding to the two hand control valves) are located at 75 and 76 near the base of the press (as'in Patent 2,669,044) and when they are operated, air under pressure is introduced from the air supply pipe for operating the press. Valves 75 and 76 are normally closed but when both are opened (by actuation of their cams 87 and 86 respectively) air is transmitted therethrough a pneumatic or mechanical linkage 72, Figure 3 (see also Patent 2,669,044) and this moves a master valve 70 to one of its two positions namely Press Close" position. Air is then introduced from the air pressure supply line 78, of the press under consideration, thru master valve 70 to air line 81, leading to closing cylinder 58 and squeezing cylinder 61. Air so introduced causes pressing machine linkages 55, 65 and cam 68 to effectuate closing and then squeezing of the presser head 57 against buck 54. The press remains closed until master valve is moved to the other of its positions, namely Press Open. This is accomplished when opening pilot valve 82 is actuated by its Opening cam 90, Figure 3, to which actuates a pneumatic or mechanical linkage 71, which, when actuated shifts the master valve to the Exhaust or Opening position. This cuts off air pressure from the supply line, exhausts cylinders 58 and 61 and the press opens under action of springs (not shown). Valve 82 is normally closed by spring action,

but when actuated air is admitted through it for operating the appropriate press controls for opening the press as described. The foregoing controls are described in greater detail in Patents 2,669,044 and Re. 22,041. It is to be understood that any suitable controls for the presses A, B, C, and D may be utilized, depending upon the style of the press, and that the specific illustration herein given is therefore only exemplary. For simplicity, in Figure 3 hereof the pneumatic linkage between the valves 7576 and master valve 70 and between valve 82 and master valve 70 are shown as mere dotted lines, and indeed a direct mechanical link can be used as in Patent 2,63 ,965, if desired.

Each of the presses A, B, C and D is provided with a set of closing valves (or actuators) corresponding to 75 and 76 and with an opening or release valve (or actuator) corresponding to valve 82 of press A. These may be located at any location on the press or on the rotary frame 17, which is convenient. For example, they may be located at the front lower left portion of each press as illustrated in the present exemplified form of the invention or at any place on the rotating frame 17 or parts movable therewith so that the valves or mechanical linkages may be operated by stationary stops or cams as the presses move along their circular path of motion. The criterion is to have each press close after it has reached a safe location with a perscribed space (as within the guard 40). The closing cams are located accordingly. The criterion is also to have each press open as it comes to the operating station and the opening cam is located accordingly. 4

Thus, as each press reaches'the closing station 42 the cams 86 and 87 cause actuation of the press and the presser head 57 closes upon buck 54. The continued rotation of the frame 17 carries the then closed press in the direction of arrow 35 and the pressing action takes place until the operating controls of the press are brought adjacent the opening station 45 at which place a single cam 90, which is mounted upon a pedestal under the cover 45, actuates the operating stem of the release valve 82, thereby causing release of each press as it comes past the opening station 45. The thus opened press continues around through the operator station 37. The operator removes the pressed garment and lays a fresh unpressed or damp garment on the buck while the rotation is continued, or two operators, if desired, may be at the operating station 37, one who will remove the garments and another to place the unpressed garments on the buck. The then open press with the unpressed garment on the buck then continues around to the station 42 where closure of the press is occasioned as preyiously described.

Each of the presses A, B, C and D has steam heated presser heads 57 and if desired may also provide heat (steam heat), for the bucks 54. The steam supply line 49 and condensate return line 50 and also the air pressure supply line 48 are arranged concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary platform 17 and are brought in from above or below (or partly above and partly below) as may be convenient in the particular installation in Figure 3, the air supply line 48 enters from above (or below) and passes thru a rotary gland 48X and then passes thru pipe 483 to the Emergency press release valve IV, thence thru pipe 48A to a junction coupling 48C whence the air pressure is then supplied to each press via a connector pipe 78. In Figure 2, the steam supply is via pipe 49 to rotary gland 47Z, which also serves as a junction thru which steam lines 478 radiate to the presses. Condensate return is via connector pipes 47R which leads to 47Y which is a junction and also a rotary gland connected to pipe 50.

According to the present invention added safety is provided by having one or more Emergency press release valves in the air supply line leading to the entire rotary pressing machine. While one such emergency press release valvewill suflice'to provide safety,- I prefer to utilize several suchvalves connected in series in the air supply line and to locate those strategically at convenient places around and on the rotary pressing machine so as to be convenient for operation by the operator near the press. As an illustration, four such valves are shown, i.e. emergency press open valves I, II, III, and IV. The first three (i.e. I, II and III), or at least one of them, is mounted on a stationary portion of the machine, preferably on control panel 46, for if an operators hand or arm should be trapped, the operator would be pulled toward panel 46, and one such emergency release valve is therefore located on panel 46 at location I. This valve may be mounted so as to beactuated to emergency press opening condition merely by leaning against valve I or against the control panel 46. Other locations are also provided, as at H, where the valve can be actuated by hand or knee and at III where anyone near the machine can operate it. One or more valves IV may be located on the rotary pressing machine frame 14 between the rotary gland 47X and the distributor coupling 48C leading to the presses. Thisvalve or valves IV, preferably is located and/or provided with an actu ator so that it can be actuated by the machine operator or anyone near the machine.

The desideratum is that there should be one or more such emergency press release valves provided for shutting off air to all of the presses and simultaneously exhausting all air motors of all presses. When any of the Emergency" press release valves are operated to the Open position, all presses on the rotary frame are immediately and summarily open. The manner in which this objective is accomplished will be clear from an examination of Figure 3.

All of the valves I, II, III and IV, or as many as ar used, are of the same construction as the master valve 70 of the individual presses, the construction details of which are described in Patents 2,669,044 and Re. 22,041. Thus, referring to valve I which is representative, it is of the rotary type; it has threeports, namely a supply line port 100, a delivery port 101 and an exhaust port 103. Internally the valve has a plug or disk rotor 105 having a channel 106 so shaped that when in the full line position (shown in Figure 3), air is delivered from supply port to delivery port 101 and the exhaust port 103 is closed and when the rotor-105 isrotated, via its handle 107 so as to bring the channel 106 into dotted line position 106A (of Figure 3), the supply line 100 is closed off and the delivery (or pressing machine) line 101 is connected to the exhaustport 103. Hence when the handle 107 is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position the press supply line .101 is: ex} hausted and the motors of any presses that may be closed (and hence has air pressure supplied to their cylinders) will likewise be exhausted immediately and summarily. Such press then immediately opens under influence of their springs.

By examination of Figure 3, it will be seen that the emergency press opening valves I, II, III and IV are connected serially with the delivery port of each valve being connected to the supply port of the next valve in the series. Thus delivery port 101 of valve I is connected to supply port 100A of valve II and delivery port 101A of valveII is connected to supply port 100B of valve III and delivery port 101B of valve III is connected thru pipe 48 and rotary gland 47X and pipe 48A to supply port 100C of valve IV and its delivery port 1010 is connected thru pipe 48B to distributor coupling 48C which is in turn connected thru the individual air supply connection pipes 78 to each of the presses.

When any of the Emergency valves I thru IV is moved from its full line to its dotted line position, the net result is that the entire air system from that valve to all of the presses is exhausted of air and hence any closed press will immediately be opened.

" As manylapparently widely varying embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

The form of the invention shown and described must be considered only as illustrative. Many variations within the scope of the invention illustrated, described and claimed will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore not to be limited except as stated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine having a rotary turntable upon which are mounted a plurality of presses which are moved past an operator station in succession and in which such presses each have a buck, a presser head mounted for movement toward and away from the buck and normally biased away from it, a motor for moving the head against the buck and for holding the head against the buck so long as the motor has power applied thereto, and motor control means on each press and connected to the motor and automatically operable as the turntable is rotated to cause actuation of the motor of each press and hence movement of the head thereof against the buck thereof, successively during a certain portion of the rotation of the turntable, said pressing machine being further characterized by having spring means for automatically opening the presses when application of power to the motors thereof is discontinued, and also, characterized by having a common power supply main leading to the rotary turntable and extending thru separate branches thereon thru the motor control means of the individual presses and to the motors thereof, and unbiased emergency valve means connected serially in said common power supply main for interrupting the flow of power thru said power supply main.

2. The pressing machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said emergency means comprises more than one spacially located emergency operable device serially connected in said main, the operation of any one of which devices interrupts said power supply main.

3. The pressing machine of claim 2 further characterized in that at least one of said emergency operable devices is located at the operator station.

4. The pressing machine of claim 2 further characterized in that at least one of said emergency operable devices is located at the operator station and another is located in the rotary turntable.

5. A pressing machine have a rotary turntable upon which are mounted a plurality of presses which are brought past an operator station in succession and in which such presses each have a buck, a presser head mounted for movement toward and away from the buck,

an air 'mdtor'tor moving the head against the buck, and valve means on each press and connected to the air motor and automatically operable as the turntable is rotated to cause actuation of the air motor of each press and hence movement of the head thereof against the buck thereof, successively during a certain portion of the rotation of the turntable, said pressing machine being further characterized by having bias means for moving the presser head away from the buck when application of air to the air motor is discontinued and the air motor is exhausted and also characterized by having a common compressed air supply main leading to the rotary turntable and extending thru separate branches on the turntable and thru the valve means of the presses and to the air motors thereof, and unbiased two position emergency valve means having a normal position in which air is conducted through the valve and an emergency exhaust position in which the supply of air is shut off by the valve and that portion of the valve connected to the pressing machine has the air exhausted therefrom, said valves being connected in said common air supply main, said two-position valve when in its normal position being effective to close said exhaust and conduct air under pressure therethru and thru to said common air supply main and when moved to its emergency position being effective to close said main and to open its exhaust port connected to that port of the main which leads to the pressing machines.

6. The pressing machine of claim 5 further characterized in that said emergency valve means includes more than one such two position valve, such valves being mounted at several locations at least one of which locations is adjacent said operator station. 7. The pressing machine of claim 6 further characterized in that the location of one such valve is adjacent the rotary frame and spaced around said frame away from the operators station.

8. The pressing machine of claim 6 further characterized in that such locations include one location adjacent the operator station and another location adjacent the pressing machine at another point around the path of movement of said presses on said rotary frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,006,629 Davis July 2, 1935 2,007,607 Johnson July 9, 1935 2,022,951 Cohen Dec. 3, 1935 2,632,965 Leef Mar. 31, 1953 2,632,966 Leef Mar. 31, 1953 2,669,044 Maxwell et al. Feb. 16, 1954

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