Patent GB-566322-A (GB)
Title: Timing apparatus for garment presses and the like
IPC: D06F71/32
Filed: 1942-07-10
Abstract: 566,322. Ironing and pressing machines. REISS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION. July 10, 1942, No. 9657. Convention date, July 12, 1941. [Class 138 (ii)] In a garment press of the type comprising a fixed buck and movable head, locking means for holding the head closed on the buck and steam and vacuum supply thereto, means is provided for automatically controlling with high accuracy the commencement and duration of the various operations, while allowing the operator at any time to take over control, the apparatus after such non-automatic control returning to initial normal condition. The invention is shown applied to the Hoffman type of machine, such as described in Specifications 466,541 and 482,538, but is not restricted to use therewith. The head is carried on a lever 18 pivoted at 19 and is pressed against the buck 17 by a toggle 22, 23 lockable in closed position by a toggle 25, 27, when in over-centre position with stops 33, 34 in contact, pressure being applied by depressing a pedal 30 and released by a pedal having a rear end 39 underlying the pedal 30. The toggle link 23 is connected to the head lever 18 by a bell-crank 42, 43 and an extensible link 45, 46 with hand wheel 47 for adjusting the pressure applied to the work. A spring 35 and counterweight 21 raises the presshead. Steam is supplied to the latter through inlet and discharge pipes (not shown) supported at the ends of the shaft 19 and a valve 55 is fitted to the head 20 to enable steam to be discharged through the padding thereof by rocking a lever 56 against the action of a spring 58 which closes the valve. Control of this valve is also provided by a pedal 60, pivoted at 38, through bell-cranks 62 and 64, link 67 and a bent lever 69 with a bridge-piece underlying the lever 56. To remove steam from the work and cool it, air is drawn through the buck by means of a pipe 75, Fig. 9, and valve 76 from a suction or vacuum supply 77, the stem 79 of the valve having a cap engaged by a forked lever 82 pivoted at 83 on a bracket 84 and operated by a pedal 9G. For automatic operation these controls are adapted to be actuated electromagnetically. To break the holding toggle and raise the head, a lever 127 on a shaft 125 is provided above the link 25 and a solenoid 134 is mounted on the main frame 16 with its armature linked to an arm 128 on the shaft so that on applying current the arm 127 throws the toggle 25, 27 over centre and the spring 35 raises the head. To control the steam valve an extension 66 is fitted to the bell-crank 64 and is linked to a lever 102 pivoted between cheeks 98 secured to a bracket 95 attached to the frame and carrying a solenoid 100, the plunger of which is pivoted to the lever 102 and the link 67 has a pin engaging a slot in the extension 66 to suit the movement of the press-head. To control the suction valve 76 a solenoid 120, Fig. 9, is mounted on the main frame with its armature pivoted to a rocking lever 114, the other arm of which is pivoted at 113 to a link 112 pivoted to the valve stem 79. In addition, switches are also provided operated by the opening and closing of the press-head, on the lever 18 of f' which is secured a block 149 to engage a lever 147 pivoted at 148 on a fixed plate 140 and raise a bar 146 carried by it to engage feelers 144, 145 which actuate sensitive snap-action switches 141, 142. Accurate automatic control requires the delivery of current to the solenoids successively for predetermined times in a predetermined cycle, and in one form of the invention the timer consists of three time delay relays 157, 158 and 159, Figs. 10 and 11, and a pair of magnetically operated relays 160, 161. The three former are of known type comprising a sensitive snap-action switch and a constant actuating mechanism driven in one direction by a self-starting synchronous motor against a returning coil spring. A shaft 150, Figs. lla, lib, projects through field members 151 and carries an aluminium armature 152 on one end and a pinion 153 on the other, normally held out of mesh with the first gear of a train 154 by a spring 154a. On energizing the field, the pinion 153 is thrust into driving position, and on de-energizing, the pinion is unmeshed and the train returned by the coil spring. In each time delay switch the contact actuating mechanism moves with a pointer 162 subject to the reset coil spring which tends to move it clockwise, Fig. 10. When current is applied to the synchronous motor, the contact mechanism moves anticlockwise from the position to which the pointer 162 has been set by using a micrometer screw 163, back to zero where the switch is actuated and held actuated by stalling of the motor and continued engagement of the gear clutch. On interruption of the circuit to the motor, the spring 154a disengages the gear. The circuit is shown in Fig. 11 in normal inactive condition with the press-head open. The main switch 165 being closed, if the head is closed down, switch 141 is closed and switch 142 thrown, opening contacts 171, 172 and closing 173, 174. If the starting switch 166 is then closed, coil 1601 is energized and a holding circuit made at 160c and 160d and time delay relay 157 starts simultaneously with steam application by solenoid 100 which, after the set time is cut off at contacts 157a and 157b and contact is made at 157c and 157d to apply vacuum by solenoid 120 and start delay relay 158, while current is maintained through contacts 157c and 157d, the motor 1571 being still energized. After the set time relay 158 cuts out the vacuum solenoid and buck cooling ceases, while contacts 158c and 158d are closed to cause relay 161 to shunt out head switch 141 and keep relay coil 1601 in circuit and to start time relay 159 through contacts 161c and 161d. At the same time a branch line through contacts 173, 174 and solenoid 134 releases the locking toggle 25, 27 and opens the press, which thereupon restores switches 141, 142 cutting out solenoid 134 and again applying vacuum through solenoid 120 and so cooling the work with the press-head open. Finally, after the set time relay 159 opens contacts 159a, 159b, cutting out relay 160 which cuts out all the time relays and relay 161 is cut out and the apparatus returns to initial starting condition. If at any time the operator opens the press-head switch 141 is opened, cutting out solenoid 160<1>, opening contacts 160a and 160b and stopping all time delay motors and thus resetting all the timing relays. In another form of timing control, a synchronous motor 200, Fig. 12, drives against the action of a resetting spring 204 a timing wheel 202 having holes for pegs 208 which can successively operate a sensitive switch G mounted in a casing pivoted at 209 and brought into co-operative position with the timing. wheel 202 by a link 211 operated by a relay at the start of a cycle of operation. An appropriate circuit diagram (not shown) is given of the use of this timer. A further modification employs a set of timing wheels 302, 303, 304, 305, Fig. 14, similarly driven by a motor 300 against a resetting spring 310, the wheels having cam arcs 302a &c. adjustably bolted to holes in the wheel rims, the arcs actuating sensitive switches as before. A circuit diagram (not shown) is given showing the use of these timing switches.