US2030596A - Pressing element for pressing machines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 11, 1936. c; w JOHNSON 2,030,596

PRESSING ELEMENT FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed Oct. 1'7. 1933 III-II."IIIIIII'IIIIII II'IIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllll'llIllllllllll :Hmr Mpumuam)? I I E 2 5 I z I ///IIIIIIIIIIIIIII,IIIIII/IIIII[III{IIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIII/ ///I fiatenteci Feb. 1 1 193d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE PRESSING ELEMENT FOR PRESSING MACHINES Application October 17, 1933, Serial No. 693,958

'7 Claims.

-"Ihis invention relates to a pressing element for pressing machines, and particularlyone which is expansible by fluid pressure to apply heavy pressure after the press is closed.

An object of my invention is to provide an expansible pressing element which will equalize the pressure about the edges of the element.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a pressing element of this type which does not require a diaphgram of large area;

Another object of the invention isto provide an expansible element which will be economical in the use of fluid pressure.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, together with the drawing, and the essential features of my invention are summarized. in the claims.

In the drawing Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are elevations, generally in section, showing three modifications r of my invention as applied to a pressing bed;

illustrated mechanism for so moving the pressing members as many such arrangements are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

One or both of a pair of pressing members is usually provided with a yielding surface, such as spring padding or the like, to enable the pressing bed to better accommodate itself to seams, buttons and other slight unevenness in the work. However, there is sometimes a greater variation in thickness between the ends or sides of a garment for which the yielding padding will not compensate. Also, when the heavy pressure is applied through rigid arms it is diftlcult to distribute the pressure evenly over the surface of the pressing members. My improved element applies final pressure by means of fluid introduced into an expansible member. The fluid permits the pressing member to accommodate itself to variations in work thickness and insures even distribution of pressure over the entire pressing surface.

Expansible pressing members involving large diaphragm or bag-like members are to be avoided as they are expensive to construct and maintain.

My invention comprises in general a pressing element having two rigid portions spaced apart and movable toward'and away from each other. Fluid pressure is introduced into the intermediate space to expand the element and sealing means is provided about the peripheries of the rigidportions to prevent leakage of the fluid medium.

Figs. 1 and 2 are similar in that each shows a pressing bed having a base portion Ill supported on members II, and a movable portion I2 on which is arranged a yielding padding comprising springs I3 and a fabric covering I4 which is held taut by carding wire strips I5.

In Fig. 1 the base portion has upstanding edge flanges I6, about the periphery of which are suitably secured vertically spaced yielding strips or cushions I'Iand I8. These strips are preferably made of rubber having soft and yielding qualities. A substantially horizontal flange I9 extends outwardly from the periphery of movable portion I 2 in position to lie between cushions I1 and I8. Preferably the flange I9 is at all times in contact with cushions I? and I8. A conduit 2| serves to conduct fluid pressurefrom a source not shown to the space 22 between the base and movable portions of the pressing element.

Upon introduction of sufficient fluid pressure to space 22 the portion IE will move upward to apply ironing pressure between the pressing members. The cushioning and sealing strips I1 and I8 are made sufliciently deep and resilient to permit the vertical movement of flange I9 necessary to supply final pressure to the pressing members, while at all times sealing space 22 against leakage.

The construction in Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the movable portion I2 has a downwardly extending flange 23 about its periphery, which is horizontally spaced from an upstanding flange 24, which extends about the periphery of the base portion II]. An endless flexible sealing strip 25 is suitably secured between flanges 23 and 24 and effectively prevents any loss of fluid, while permitting relative movement of the upper and lower portions of the pressing element toward and away from each other. This expansion of the pressing element is controlled by fluid pressure introduced by conduit 2| into space 22. a

The pressing members of Figs. 1 and 2 are wasteful of fluid pressure in that the entire chamber 22 must be filled to create heavy pressure. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification in which fluid pressure is conserved bybeing confined in a tubular member extending about the periphery of the movable portion. To expand the pressing member this tube only need be supplied with fluid pressure.

Fig. 3 shows a pressing bed having a base portion 26 supported on members 21. The base portion has upstanding edge flanges 28 shaped to support a flexible tube 29 which is connected by a conduit 39 with a suitable source of fluid pressure. A movable portion 3| is provided with a downwardly extending flange 32 which has a trough-shaped edge 33 to'overlie and conform to the shape of tube 29. The portion 3| is provided with a grille 34 which supports a perforated plate 35 spaced from the bottom 36 to form a drainage chamber 37 which communicates with one or more suitably-located drains 38. -Wherethe drain passes through the base portion 25 it is provided with a suitable bearing 39 to permit drain 38 to slide upwardly and downwardly as the -pressing member expands and contracts. -Surmounting the perforated plate 35 are springs 40 supporting a fabric cover 4! Moisture from the press ing operation thus passes through'cover M and perforations of plate 35 into-chamber 31 and drains away through conduit 38.

The drainage conduit 38 may serve the additional purpose of maintaining registration between portionsZE and 3l as the-pressing element expands and contracts. To this end drain 38 may be made sufficiently strong and rigidly secured to portion 3!.

The expansion of the-pressingmember or Fig.

3 is controlled by the admission of fluid to tube 29 and it will be apparentthatpressure will be evenly distributed about the-periphery of movable portion 3i.

The modification of Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 and represents my invention asapplied to a pressing head. A chest 42 is suitably suspended from a head support 43 as by means of a stud 44. A spring 45, confined between the head 46 of stud 44 and the head support, serves to bias chest 42 in an upward direction. A rigid frame 41 'may be retained in alignment with-chest 42 by stud 44 or otherwise. Coacting trough members 48 and as are secured to the-frame ll and chest 42 respectively. Between the trough members is a tube 5% which confines fluid pressure supplied thereto through conduit 5| from a source not shown. If chest 42 is heated the tube 51] is protected from direct transmission of heat by heat insulators 52 between trough members 48 or 49 and the tube 58. A suitable coacting bed 53'is supported on member 54.

In operation, chest 42 and bed 53 are locked in engagement and heavy pressure is applied by admitting fluid pressure to tube '50 to expand it. This pressure will be distributed evenly about the periphery ofchest 42. Upon deflation of the tube spring 45 will move chest 42 toward the head support 43 to separate the pressing members.

What I claim is:

. 1. A pressing element comprising, a fixed por tion,. a movable portion, said movable portion having a pressing bed and a drainage space heneath said bed, means for trapping fluid pressure between said portions to control the movement of said movable portion, said means being engageable with said portions and expansible in a direction normal thereto,.and a drainage conduit passing through said fixed portion and com municating with said drainage space, said drainage conduit having a rigid connection with said movable portion and a bearing in said fixed portion, whereby said conduit serves to maintain substantialregistration between said portions.

2. .A pressing element comprising rigid portions arranged for relative movement toward and away from each other, a tubular member supporting one portion at its periphery only on the other portion, said tubular member being expansible in a direction normal to said portions.

3. A pressing element comprising 'a-rigid support for a pressing surface, a base-member, a tubular member :between and 'engag'eable with said base member and support and --positioned solely'atthe peripheryof said support,- said tubular member being expansible inia directionnormal to the general plane ofsaid pressing surface, and fluid means for expanding said -tubu1ar member.

4. A pressing element comprising, a pair 'of rigid frames separated by a tubular member, said member being expansible by fluid pressure in a direction substantially normal to the general 'planeof said frames, said member birfgp'o'sb tioned adjacent the periphery only-of-one ofes'aid frames, and'yielding means urging said frame's toward each other.

5. A pressing element comprising, 'a pair of heated rigid frames separated by a ubular- -memb er, said member -beingexpansibie "flui sure in a direction substantially normal tothe general plane of saidframes, -heat ;insu1ating members -between said tubular n'iember arid s'aid frames, and fluid means for expanding #said tubular member.

6. A pressing element comprising 'a 'rig'id support for a pressing surface,-a base membenhollow means between and engageable With-said base member and support and positioned-solely at the periphery of said support, sai'd h'oliow means being expansible in a direction normal'to the general plane of said Epre'ssing 'sul'face, rand meansfor supplying motive fluid to-saidhoilow means.

7. A pressing element comprising rigid portions arranged for relative movement toward *andaway 'from each other,-one of. said portionstsupporting a pressing surface,'a tubular member-supportingoneportion on'the otherrportion withthe axis of thetubular'member lying in a plane parallelito the pressing surface, and said tubular memb'er being expansible in a directionnormal =ton th'e GEORGE 'W. JOHNSQN.

Images