Patent GB-471363-A (GB)
Title: Clothes wringer
IPC: D06F45/00
Filed: 1936-03-02
Abstract: 471,363. Wringers. SCHROEDER, S. E. March 2, 1936, No. 6317. [Class 138 (ii)] The upper roller C is journalled in struts 41, Figs. 3a and 3b, secured to a cap member B which is normally latched to the main frame A by means of bars 43 slidably mounted in the main frame. The bars are provided at their upper ends with bevelled apertures in which are engaged the bevelled ends of locking bars 62 pivoted to a locking member 88, Fig. 15, pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to and depending within the cap member B. The lower ends of the bars 43 are bent inwardly and are engaged by the ends of a leaf spring 42, Fig. 1a, the tension of which is adjusted by a nut 48 working in a member 47 secured to the bottom bridge member 24 of the main frame and controlling a saddle member 44 which engages the leaf spring. The lower roller is raised into operative engagement with the upper roller by actuation of the same handle 35, Fig. 3b, that may be shifted from a neutral position to control the forward or reverse drive from the vertical shaft 40. The handle 35 rotates a cam 132 to raise or lower a sleeve 122 splined to the drive shaft whereby an upper or lower bevel 123 is engaged with a gear-wheel 129 mounted in a bushing 127 secured within the main frame. The gear-wheel is provided with a recessed boss 126 having a lug 128 engaged with one end of a flexible coupling member 100 of which the other end engages the lower roller shaft 58. The cam 132 which is normally retained in one of its three positions by a spring bolt 137 also actuates another cam 103 to which links 111 are pivoted. The bifurcated outer ends of the links engage a pin 108 which is engaged in an eye 110 at the end of a rod 101 slidably guided in the main frame and having a similar eye 110 and pin 108 at its other end, Fig. 3a. The pins are connected by links 102 to the bearing blocks of the lower roller shaft whereby, on the rod being shifted to the left by the movement of handle 35, rollers 109 on the pins ride over projections 119, 120 standing up from the top of the bridge member 24 of the main frame and raise the lower roller into pressure engagement with the upper roller. The handle 35 may now be operated to return the gearing to neutral or reverse, the upper roller (due to the toggle arrangement 102 and the projections 119, 120) remaining raised until the sliding bars 43 are unlatched, whereupon springs 104, Fig. 1a, anchored between a lug 107 within the bridge member 24 and lug 105 depending from the rod 101 restore the rod to the position shown. Unlatching of the bars 43 is effected either by the operator intenticnaily or by the wrapping of an article ground the upper roller. The locking member 88 is normally biassed to the position shown in Fig. 15 by a spring 93 but, due to the interaction of the spring-drawn locking plates 43 and the bevelled ends of the bars 62 it would rotate clockwise and unlock the cap from the main frame. It is, however, held by a keeper 80 which is carried by a saddle plate 73, Fig. 13, slidably guided within the cap and normally kept from movement by springs 77. Lugs 79 depending from the saddle plate are engaged by cam surfaces 71 on crossbars 68 connecting longitudinally extending plates 64, 66, Fig. 15, which are slidably mounted to a limited extent through longitudinal apertures in the cap and project therethrough so that when either plate is pushed inwards by the operator the saddle plate moves to the right, frees the keeper 80 from the lock 88 which then rotates and withdraws the locking bars. An article wrapping itself around the upper roller engages a bar 67, Fig. 13, suspended from the cross-bars 68 connecting the plates 64, 66 and operates them similarly. When the locking bars are withdrawn from the plates 43 the cap member B may be entirely withdrawn from the main frame ; the unlocking also causes the lower roller to descend and, through the linkage 111 and associated cam plate, Fig. 3b, move the clutch and control handle 3s to neutral position if not already therein, the bifurcated ends of the links 111 permitting the independent movement of the clutch and control handle 35 to neutral position and causing such movement when the unlocking mechanism is released. Relatching of the cap member to the main frame is effected manually, the locking bars 62, Fig. 15, being projected by the spring 93 so as to engage the outwardly bent upper ends 55 of the plates 43 and subsequently snapping into the apertures therein whilst the lock 88 is again engaged by the keeper 80 which has been restored to position by the springs 77. Re-engagement of the lower roller with the upper one and the reclutching of the vertical drive shaft to the lower roller shaft must be effected by the operation of the control handle 35.