Patent GB-684532-A (GB)
Title: Ironing machine
Inventor: SPERLICH HERMAN AUGUST
IPC: D06F65/08
Filed: 1951-02-08
Abstract: 684,532. Ironing-machines. IRONRITE, Inc. Feb. 8, 1951. No. 3085/51. Class 138 (ii). In an ironing-machine having a movable roller and a fixed ironing element the roller is moved by a lever moved by an eccentric, rotation of the eccentric being effected from a rotating member through the agency of a clutch, the clutch being controlled by an operator by means of an oscillatable lever which has a greater mechanical advantage at the beginning of its stroke than at the end thereof. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the roller 21 is supported by a pair of arms 21A, 21B fixed to a tube 21C rotatably mounted in the gear casing D. Power is transmitted from the electric motor 24 through reduction gearing 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, dog-clutch 25, gear train 25B, 25D, shaft 23 and gear train 22B, 22C to the roller. Movement of the roller about the tube 21C is power-operated from the constantly rotating gear 24D as follows : Within the tube 21C is located a casting 32A in which is anchored one end of a leaf spring 32, whose other end carries a roller 31A which bears on the eccentric 31, whereby half a revolution of the eccentric moves the roller towards or away from the fixed ironing element 20A. As shown in Fig. 9. the eccentric 31 together with boss 30B is mounted freely on the fixed shaft 24E. The boss 30B carries two axially slidable keys 30A, which, when displaced to the right, engage recesses in the boss 30 of the constantly rotating gear 24D, and so rotate the eccentric 31. The two sliding keys are constantly urged to the right by a pair of spring fingers 43 but are kept to the left during approximately 180 degrees of their travel by the fixed cam ring 42 which engages the heads of the keys. The sliding keys can also be kept to the left by interposing between their heads and the cam ring 42 a lever 40B, Fig. 8, fixed to shaft 41. The shaft 41 can be rotated to do this by means of arm 41A fixed to the shaft, rod 41B, bell crank 41C, see also Fig. 5 (which is an underneath view of the table), rod 45 and bell crank 46. Bell crank 46 has a side flange 49 which is in contact with a similar flange formed on a lever 47 whose pivot is nearer the table edge. Lever 47 and a similar parallel lever 47A are joined by a link 47B from which depends an arm 48, moved by the operator. As the arm 48 is moved, due to the relative positioning of the pivots of lever 47 and bell crank 46, the flanges 49 slide on one another and the mechanical advantage is progressively reduced. With the operating arm 48 in its left hand position, the shaft 41 (Fig. 8) and two-armed lever 40 are positioned so that arm 40B causes the keys 30A to be withdrawn from rotating hub 30 whereby the roller is not moved bodily, and arm 40A moves the forked end of lever 35, Fig. 9, to position F, whereby dog-clutch 25 is moved to the right and the drive to the roller interrupted. With the arm 48 in its intermediate position, the roller can be moved bodily to and fro and the lever 35, Fig. 9 is in position E so that the drive to the roller is still interrupted ; thus articles may be pressed. In the right hand position of lever 48, the lever 35 is moved to position D whereby the dog-clutch 25 engages the rotating gear 24D to rotate the roller for ironing. Provision is also made for moving back the roller 21 by an abnormal amount. As described above, the leaf spring 32, Fig. 7, normally controls the roller position, one end being clamped in the casting 32A located within the tube 21C. By pressing down handle 33B, arm 33A rocks about its pivot to withdraw the spring-pressed latch 33D from a slot in casting 32A, so that the tube 21C may be rotated independently of casting 32A and leaf spring 32. Further depression of handle 33B then rotates the casing 33 and tube 21C, to which it is fixed, to move the roller further away from the fixed ironing element 20A. The fixed element 20A has electric heating elements 20B controlled by thermostat 20C and knob 20D. A horizontal feed table 20 is arranged adjacent the ironing surface. The table portion A is provided with hinged extensions F, Fig. 5, which fold up vertically for storage.