Patent GB-676616-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to presses
IPC: D06F71/10
Filed: 1947-07-24
Abstract: 676,616. Ironing presses. GUDGEON, R. P., and BROWN & GREEN, Ltd. Feb. 16, 1950 [July 24, 1947], No. 19909/47. Class 138 (ii). In a laundry press having driving means for moving tables A<SP>1</SP>, A<SP>2</SP> carrying the articles to be pressed, from the loading position to the pressing position beneath a press head C, the driving means includes means for imparting to the tables an initial impetus which is sufficient to rotate the tables to or close to a new and predetermined position, and further means for re-applying the drive to the tables just before they reach their new position. Compressed air is admitted to an index valve F through an air inlet 1 and raises a piston 2 into engagement with a cap 3. As the piston 2 rises it uncovers ports 5 to allow air to pass through a pipe 6 (Fig. 3), a port 7 and grooves 8, to a main pressure cylinder D where it lifts a ram 9 to lift the table A<SP>2</SP> into pressing engagement with the head C. As the ram 9 rises it lifts a spindle 10 to cut the air supply between ports 12, 13 in a control valve G, air being supplied to port 12 from a junction 14 (Fig. 3) through a pipe 11. Compressed air is also supplied from the junction 14 through a pipe 14b, a valve H, and a pipe 16a to a shock-absorber 17 which is held in inoperative position by the upper end of the piston 2 engaging in a recess 18 in the cap 3. Air under pressure is also supplied from junction 14 through a port 20 (Fig. 2) to a cylinder 19 and bears against the shoulder 21 of a piston 31 to maintain the piston in the position shown. On depressing the pedal E, the piston 2 is depressed and the compressed air in the shock-absorber 17 pushes forward its piston 24 to rotate an indexing assembly 25 about a pivot pin 25a through 20 degrees to 30 degrees. In descending, the piston 2 closes the index valve F by cutting off the air from the ports 5, and the cylinder D exhausts through ports 5, a recess 26 in piston 2, and ports 26a. The ram 9 thus descends, and compressed air entering the port 12 of valve G returns the spindle 10 to its lower position, thereby opening the port 13 to allow air to flow through a pipe 13a to a port 30 in the cylinder 19. The area of the piston 31 is greater than that of the shoulders 21 so that the piston 31 is driven to the left in Fig. 2. The piston 31 carries at one end a pin 32 to which is pivoted a link 33. The other end of link 33 is pivoted at 34 (Fig. 3) to a driving plate 35 freely pivoted about a central column B carrying the arms supporting the tables A<SP>1</SP>, A<SP>2</SP>. When the piston 31 moves to the left in Fig. 2, the plate 35 is rotated about the column B and a pawl 36 on the plate 35 engages a recess 38 in a cam plate 37b of a cam 37 fixed to the column B so as to rotate the column and therefore the tables A<SP>1</SP>, A<SP>2</SP>. A lever 40 is pivoted to the machine at 39 and pivotally connected by a link 42 with the driving plate 35. The lever 40 is so arranged that after the column has rotated through a quarter revolution a roller 44 carried at one end of the lever 40 is brought into contact with the periphery of cam 37. This prevents further rotation of the plate 35, and the column B and tables continue to rotate freely. When a cutaway portion 45 of the cam reaches the roller 44 a guide pin 29 depending from the table engages an arm 27 of the indexing assembly 25 which is in the angularly displaced position, and the momentum of the rotating tables is checked by pressure exerted by the shockabsorber 17. At the same time the roller 44 rides up the cut-out portion 45 under the pressure exerted by the piston 31 and thereby imparts a final thrust to the cam 37 to drive the table home and locate it accurately beneath the press head. The link 33 carries a tappet 46 which depresses a spindle 47 in the valve H to cut the air supply therethrough and allow the air in the shock-absorber 17 to exhaust through the valve H. With the release of pressure in the shock-absorber 17, the unit 25 is rotated back to a central position as the table is driven for the last few degrees to its position beneath the press head. When the unit 25 reaches its central position the piston 2 is free to rise again to admit air to cylinder D and raise the ram 9 once more. At the same time air is cut off from the cylinder 19 by the lifting of the spindle 10, and the cylinder connected to exhaust through ports 13, 51. The air pressure on the shoulders 21 now returns the piston 31, driving plate 35, pawl 36 and lever 40 to their initial positions (Fig. 3). Specification 658,952 is referred to.