Patent GB-602375-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to garment and like presses
IPC: D06F71/14
Filed: 1945-09-21
Abstract: 602,375. Ironing-presses. TRIGGS. W. W. (Prosperity Co., Inc.). Sept. 21, 1945, No. 24436. [Class 138 (ii)] A garment or like press is enclosed by a cabinet 4 and comprises co-operating press elements 5, 6, of which at least one is heated, means for transferring one of the elements between a position outside the cabinet for receiving the work through an opening 29 in the cabinet to its working position inside the cabinet, a door 34 for closing the opening 29, and operator-controlled actuating means for controlling the automatic operation of power means for opening and closing the press elements, moving one element into and out of the cabinet, and actuating the door 34. The upper press head 5, Figs. 3 and 4, is supported from a frame 7 by hangers 8 which are connected to the member 5 by universal joints 9. The lower buck 6 is mounted so as to be movable vertically relatively to a base 11 by rods 12 connected by universal joints 15 to a horizontal bar 14 which is engaged by the head of a piston 18 working in a cylinder 19. Both the upper and lower members 5, 6, may be provided with chambers 10. 20 which receive a heating medium, such as steam. A table 22 for supporting work which overhangs from the buck 6 is carried by the base 11. The buck 6 is adapted to be moved into and out of the cabinet 4 by a power cylinder 52 through the medium of a pair of parallel links 23, 24, which are secured at their upper ends to the base 11 and at their lower ends to the base of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 3. Operation of the piston 54 of the cylinder 52 causes the buck to be moved into the cabinet against the action of a spring 58 connected with the links 23, 24. A hydraulic check 205 connected to the link 23 prevents violent movement of the buck in either direction. During its outward movement, the buck 6 passes through the opening 29 in the front wall of the cabinet, and. in order to accommodate the links 23, 24 when they are outwardly swung, the cabinet has a lower forward extension 30; a flexible curtain 31, which is connected at one end to the table 22 and rolls at its other. end over a spring roller 32, closes the top opening of the extension 30 when the buck 6 is in the cabinet. The door 34, which normally closes the opening 29, can be moved vertically against a spring 59 by poweroperated means including a cylinder 35 and piston 36, which is connected by a cable 38 to a bracket on the lower edge of the door. For moistening the garments preparatory to pressing, a spray device 41 which extends across the upper edge of the door opening 29 on the outside thereof, is arranged to project jets of steam or water on to the garment on the buck 6 under the control of a valve which is operated by the return movement of the buck 6 into the cabinet. The valve is controlled by levers 46, 48 through a spring-pressed slide 42, Fig. 4, which is provided with a lower ratchet arm 44 having a roller 49 co-acting with a cam 50 on the table 22. The cylinders 19, 35, 52 are arranged, as shown in Fig. 8, in a pneumatic system which is actuated, when the operator steps off a hollow rubber mat 61, after laying the work on the buck 6 with the latter disposed in the outer position. A valve 65, which as long as the operator is on the mat is kept closed by the air compressed from the mat, then opens so that a diaphragm 69 in a chamber 68 operates a lever 71 to open a combined intake and outlet valve 74 whereby air passes through pipes 76, 75 to the cylinder 52 for swinging the buck 6 under the head 5. The door 34 is opened to permit the passage of the buck 6 through the engagement of a cam 85 carried by the link 23 with a roller 86 on the stem 87 of a combined intake and exhaust valve 88. In the initial return movement of the buck 6, the cam 85 serves to open the valve so as to permit air to be supplied through the pipe 95 to the cylinder 35 and thereby open the door 34. When the follower 86 enters the dwell 92 of the cam 85, the valve 88 acts to cut off air supply to the cylinder 35 so that the door closes under the action of the spring 59. When the door is closed, it serves to open a combined intake and exhaust valve 103, which is connected by a pipe 106a with a port 106 in the cylinder 52. As the piston 54 reaches the end of its stroke, i.e., when the buck 6 is under the head 5, air is supplied from the cylinder through the port 106 to the valve 103 and thence through a pipe 108 to a diaphragm chamber 109 where it actuates a lever 111 so as to close the exhaust 102 and open the inlet 101 of a valve 99. Air is then supplied to the cylinder 19 so as to close the buck 6 against the .head 5, but a choke 107 in the pipe 106a delays this operation sufficiently to allow time for the piston 54 to come to rest. If desired, the press may be opened automatically after a pre-determined time by timing mechanism comprising a bleeding check valve 115 which is connected in a conduit 112 extending between the valve 103 and an air tank 113. The valve 115 determines the rate at which air is admitted to the tank, and, at a pre-determined pressure in the tank, a diaphragm 116 is caused, through the medium of levers 117, to open an exhaust valve 118, the connection of this valve through the pipes 120, 112, diaphragm chamber 109, and valve 99 provides for the exhaust from the cylinder 19. and thereby the lowering of the buck 6. At the same time, but with some delay due to the presence of a choke 122, air from the valve 118 operates a diaphragm 123 in a chamber 124 so as to open an exhaust valve 126 which, since it is connected with the diaphragm chamber 68, serves to close the valve 74, and thereby exhaust the cylinder 52 so as to allow the buck 6 to be transferred to its outer position by the spring 58. The press may also be provided with manual means for initiating closure of the press in the form of a push button 132. pressure upon which serves to operate a valve 128, whereby air passes from an intake 131 to the diaphragm chamber 68 through pipe 133; and the operation of the press then follows the same proceedure as when the operator steps off the mat 61. Manual means for initiating the opening of the press comprises a push button 137, pressure on which opens a valve 135 and thereby places it in circuit with the valve 103. Should this valve be receiving air from the cylinder 52 for passage to cylinder 19, some of this air will pass through the valve 135 and thence through a pipe 140 to the diaphragm chamber 124; actuation of the diaphragm 123 thereby causes the diaphragm 68 to close the valve 74. During the operation of the press, a blower 60 evacuates the moist air, gases, etc., from the interior of the cabinet to outside the room so that the draught is inward when the door is open. The cabinet may be of double-wall construction and provided with an insulating layer 200. If desired, three machines may be arranged as a battery for control by one operator, the machines then having press elements of different kinds for pressing the different parts of the same article.