US2311569A - Ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16,1943. M, PATCH 2,311,569

momma MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 19ss 1 s Sheets-Sheet '1 W l" '1 pJ/S "A I INVENTOR.

Feb. 16; 1943. A. J. PATCH IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AZ]? J Paid/a,

Arnie/v5? 'Feb. 16, 1943. A. J. PATCH I IRONING MACH-NE Filed Nov. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet s a I I INVENTOR. 4A Z7922 Jfijc z,

Patented Feb. 16, 194-3 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFHCE IRONING liIACHINE Allen J. Patch, Ripon, Wis.

Application November 29, 1938, Serial No. 243,014

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines, and pertains more particularly to a machine of this character constructed for domestic use and intended and adapted to be capable of use for ironing, pressing and steaming garments and other articles, fabrics, and in fact substantially any and all articles or items of materials that may require or may be desired to be ironed, pressed, steamed or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an ironing machine of the roll and shoe type having a support for the roll and roll driving mechanism, and a support for the shoe, with means for mounting and moving said roll and driving mechanism as a unit to move the roll into operative position with respect to the shoe.

Another object is to provide an ironing machine having operator actuated means, such as a treadle, a knee operated lever, or other manually actuatable means, for causing relative movement of the ironing elements, which manually actuatable means is so constructed and mounted and associated with the other parts that a minimum exertion of physical force is required to accomplish a full operative pressure between the machine parts and separation of the elements is accomplished substantially automatically by withdrawal or removal of the manual actuating force.

Still another object i to provide novel manually actuatable mean for effecting this relative movement of the ironer elements which is so constructed that the elements will be quickly adanced to a proximate position by the initial application of manual force, and then the major movement of the manually actuatable means is available for accomplishing and creating progressive pressure between the ironer elements to accomplish the desired ironing or pressing force upon the articles or items being operated-upon by the use of the machine.

Still another purpose is to so construct and mount and associate the ironing element portions, and the operating and control means therefore, that separation of the roll and shoe is effected automatically immediately the manual actuating force is withdrawn or removed, thus obviating the possibility and danger of the roll and shoe being left or remaining unintentionally in contact or engagement A further object is to provide a machine of thi character having roll operating means together with means for disconnecting and releasing the roll operating means whereby the roll may be freely turned and rotated by hand when for pressing and other operations.

Still a further object lies in the provision of a support for the shoe yieldably movable in predetermined relation and in relation to the roll when in contact with the shoe, so that variations in the thickness of articles or material passing between the roll and the shoe may be accommodated both as such variations may occur circumferentially around the roll and longitudinally of the roll.

Another object is to so mount the shoe that it can be readily and conveniently and expeditiously moved and adjusted, when not in operative relation with respect to the roll, to a position to expose the face thereof for waxing or cleaning, or for use of the shoe in steaming and in other operations.

Still another purpose of my present invention is to provide an ironing machine of this type which is easy and convenient to operate, which requires a minimum of electric current for operation when in use, and which is of simple and inexpensive and yet durable construction, so that while it is adaptable and adequate to meet all requirements for ironing, pressing, steaming and like operations as ordinarily performed in the home, it may be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost to thus meet domestic requirements.

With the above and other objects in view,

, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements and association of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing machine embodying the features of the invention Fig. 2 is a fragmentary partial vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the roll and shoe separated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 but showing the roll and shoe in cooperative relation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 i a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary partial vertical section taken on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line Ifl-lfl of Fig. 8.

To drive the roll a motor is mounted below the housing and is connected to a drive mechanism or gearing within the housing. The connection between the motor and the drive mechanism is such that when the roll is moved away from the shoe the connection is broken. Thereafter the gearing is disengaged from the roll so that the roll may be freely turned by hand when positioned away from the shoe. The connection between the motor and the drive mechanism is preferably a belt which is caused to become disengaged'from the motor by the movement of the housing relative to the motor. There is also means provided to move the motor relative to the housing to effect disengagement of the belt so that rotation of the roll may be stopped when the roll and shoe are in cooperative relation. The roll and shoe thus may be used for pressing as well as for ironing.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the supporting structure is essentially a table having a top 20, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, supported by the legs 2|. These legs 2| can be conveniently formed of sheet metal stampings, or of any other desired material, and are preferably provided with rollers or casters 22 to permit the machine to be easily and readily moved. These rollers or casters can be of any desired and approved form and type, mounted as may be required, and various forms or types of stop means or mechanism, many of which are Well known, can be employed to retain the supporting table structure in desired positions to which it has been moved. The table top 23 is preferably and conveniently made of substantially elongated rectangular form with its longest dimension extending from side to side, or crosswise, and above this table top are positioned the ironing roll 23 and a generally arcuate shoe 24. The roll and shoe are mounted and disposed to extend substantially longitudinally or crosswise of the table with the shoe preferably disposed rearwardly of the roll.

To efiect relative movement between the roll and shoe to move them into and out of cooperative relation, the preferred embodiment of the invention has the roll movable toward and from the shoe. To this end, the roll is supported at one end by a housing 25 extending upward through an aperture 25 in the table top adjacent one side edge thereof. The housing is somewhat arcuate in form and extends upwardly and rearwardly toward the shoe. The housing is supported at its lower end on bracket 21 pivoted on a horizontal axis under the table top. The bracket 21 is preferably in the form of a plate having an elongated rear edge mounted on a pivot pin 28 of substantial length to give ample support. The pivot pin 28 is carried at its ends in widely spaced bearings 30 secured to the underside of the table. The pivot pin 28 extends parallel to the roll axis and is located preferably directly below the contacting portions of the roll and shoe so that the roll at the time it moves into engagement with the shoe is moving in a substantially horizontal direction. With this construction, the swinging movement of the housing is upwardly through the aperture 26 in the table top while the roll moves rearwardly into cooperative relation with the shoe.

One of the prominent features of the invention lies in the means for effecting the relative movement between the roll and shoe. Said means is so constructed that by a simple swinging movement of the foot rearwardly of the machine, the roll is brought into cooperative relation with the shoe and then adequate pressure therebetween is effected without great effort upon the part of the operator. Preferably a treadle, comprising a cross bar 3| (see Figure l) suspended at its respective ends by a pair of arms 32, is utilized to receive the motion of the foot. The arms 32 are carried at the ends of a rock shaft 33 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 8) journaled in bearings 34 secured to the underside of the table top 23. The rock shaft 33 extends crosswise of the table and thereby permits the cross bar 3| of the treadle to swing from front to rear of the table in moving the roll toward the shoe. It will be understood that the treadle mechanism is only illustrative of manually actuatable means, and that various other forms and types and construction of foot, knee, or other manually actuatable operating or control means can be employed.

Connecting the treadle and the housing is a means which is so constructed that, on moving the treadle rearwardly, the roll is quickly brought into engagement with the shoe. The subsequent movement of the treadle, which constitutes a large part of its total movement, is utilized to increase the pressure between the roll and shoe. Thus, a relatively large range of movement is employed to effect such pressure, and in consequence, very little effort on the part of the operator is required. While various types of means could be employed to accomplish this result, in the present instance the means connecting the treadle and housing is a compound toggle, or a pair of interconnected toggles, one connected to the treadle and the other to the housing. Both of said toggles are so arranged that they move toward their straightened position at the same time so that the mechanical advantage gained by one is multiplied by the mechanical advantage gained by the other. Thus, the pressure exerted by the operator is multiplied sufficiently to produce a large pressure between the roll and the shoe without great effort on the part of the operator.

As shown in the drawings (see Figs. 2, 3 and 8), the toggle connected to the treadle comprises an arm 35 secured to the treadle rock shaft 33 for movement therewith and a link 35 pivotally attached at one end to the free end of the arm 35. The other toggle, connected to the housing, comprises an arm 40 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9) pivotally attached to the housing as by a pin 4| threaded into one wall of the housing, and an arm 42 pivotally connected to the arm 40 by a pivot pin 43. The arm 42 is carried on one end of a horizontal rock shaft 44 journaled in a tubular member 45 attached to the underside of the table top by clamps 46. At the other end of the rock shaft 44 is secured a lever 41 connected to the link 36 of the first toggle by a pivot pin 48.

By moving the treadle rearwardly, the arm 35 and the link 36 of the first toggle, and the two arms 40 and 42 of the second toggle tend to straighten, thus moving the housing 25 upwardly and rearwardly and moving the roll into engagement with the shoe. With this construction, if either one of the toggles were permitted to move slightly beyond its straightened position, the roll would remain in engagement with the shoe, even though the foot pressure on the treadle were not maintained. It is preferred, however, to limit the movement of the toggles in such a manner that neither of them will become fully straightened, or in other words that no part of the linkage or toggle mechanism shall pass a dead center or be otherwise capable of such movement as to be likely to become locked or jammed. It is thus necessary for the operator to keep her foot on the treadle, or to apply operating force to the manually actuatable means, only so long as she wishes to keep the roll in engagement with the shoe, and as soon as she removes her foot from the treadle or withdraws or releases the manual actuating force, the weight of the roll and housing cause the roll to swing away from the shoe. It is therefore apparent that, from the standpoint of safety, the roll and shoe may be immediately disengaged merely by the instinctive act on the part of the operator of removing her foot from the treadle.

To limit the movement of the toggles the second toggle, comprising the arms 40 and 42, is constructed so that it cannot move to a straightened position. To this end, the arm 42 is bifurcated as at 50 (see Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 9) to receive the arm 40 therein, and a screw is threaded into the arm 42 to abut against an extension 52 on the lower end of the arm 40. By adjusting the screw 5!, abutment thereof with the extension 52 may limit the straightening movement of the second, which in turn limits the movement of the first toggle as well as the movement of the roll toward the shoe.

Movement of the roll away from the shoe is limited, as by mounting a roller 53 (see Figs. 2 and 9) on the pivot pin 48, which connects the lever 41 and link 36, for abutment by the bracket 21 carrying the housing. The roller 53 is preferably made of resilient material such as rubber to cushion the fall of the bracket 21 when the treadle is released.

The shoe 24 is supported so that the pressure thereon by the roll is held fairly uniform and yet the shoe is resiliently supported so that articles varying in thickness may be properly accommodated. Preferably the support for the shoe is resilient in character to yield to some extent when the roll is moved rearwardly by the toggles heretofore described. In the preferred embodiment, the shoe support comprises an arm, indicated generally at 60 (see Fig. 8), having a first portion Bl extending rearwardly under the table top from a pivot 62. The pivot 62 is parallel to and closely adjacent the pivot 28, about which the roll swings, in order that the shoe and roll may swing in substantially the same arcuate path. From the rear end of the first portion SI of the arm 6!), a second portion 63 extends upwardly through an aperture 64 in the table top to support the shoe at its upper end.

To resiliently hold the arm 60 against swinging movement a lug 65 is provided on the rear end of the first portion GI, and through the lug 65 extends a bolt 66. Surrounding the lower end of the bolt 66 is a coil spring 61 bearing at its upper end against the lug 65 and at its lower end against a washer 68 secured in place by nuts 69 by which the spring pressur may be adjusted. The bolt 66 extends upwardly through the table top and is adjustable relative thereto to adjust the position of the shoe without changing the pressure of the spring 61 whereby the shoe may be adjusted to compensate for different thicknesses of packing of the roll padding. To this end, the bolt 66 is carried by a sleeve 10 threaded into a plate 1| secured to the table top. A noncircular flange 12 may be provided on the upper end of the sleeve 10 so that it may be readily turned to adjust the bolt 66 up and down.

The shoe is supported on the upper end of the arm 6?} in a manner which permits the shoe to adjust itself to articles varying in thickness, and also which permits the shoe to be moved to a position where the ironing surface is fully exposed so that it may be conveniently waxed. For this purpose, the shoe is attached to a U-shape clip 13 (see Figs. 8 and 10) which straddles a boss 14 on the upper end of the arm 68 and is pivoted thereon by means of a pin 15. The weight of the shoe tends to move it downwardly, while a torsion spring 16 is provided to urge the shoe upwardly. Thus, the shoe may yield with a swinging movement upwardly or downwardly to accommodate an article to be ironed varying in thickness in the direction of its movement past the shoe.

To accommodate an article differing in thickness at the respective ends of the roll, the shoe is so supported that it may swing so that its ends are differently spaced from the roll. To this end, the middle portion of the U-shape clip 13 is arcuate in form, as shown at 11 in Fig. '10, and is attached to the shoe by a pair of vertically spaced rivets 18 (see Fig. 8). The respective ends of the shoe thus have a limited range of movement toward and from the roll due to the yieldability of the metal.

For waxing, the shoe may be swung upwardly about the pivot 15, when the roll is out of cooperative relation with the shoe, so that its ironing surface faces upwardly. To support it in this position, a pin 19 extends through the boss 14 and slightly beyond the opposite faces thereof to serve as an abutment for the arms of the U- shape clip 13 when it is swung rearwardly. When the shoe is swung to the position with the ironing surface disposed upwardly and is supported by pin 19, the iron is conveniently disposed to give access thereto for use in steaming and in other operations.

The shoe is preferably heated by an electrical heating element embedded in the shoe and controlled by a switch 81) (see Figure 1) mounted on the table top 2.0 in a convenient location adjacent the housing 25.

In the operation of ironing, the roll is adapted to be rotated, and for this purpose is carried on a shaft 8! (see Figure 1) extending outwardly from and supported by the housing 25. To drive the shaft 8i, an electric motor 82 is provided which drives the shaft through a drive mechanism or gearing, indicated generally at 83, located within the housing 25.

The construction of the gearing 83 and its connection with the motor 82 and shaft 8| is such that rotation of the roll stops when it moves out of cooperative relation with the shoe and starts again when the roll and shoe are moved into cooperative relation. Preferably both the connection between the motor and the gearing and the connection between the gearing and the shaft 8| are rendered ineffective when the roll and shoe are separated, the former connection first and thereafter the latter connection, in order to avoid having to disconnect the gearing from the shaft under load and to completely free the roll so that it may be readily turned by hand, without the gearing, when the roll and shoe are separated.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection between the motor and gearing is by means of a belt 84 (see Figs. 3 and 4) the connection being rendered ineffective by effecting relative movement between the motor and gearing to loosen the belt. The belt 84 connects a pulley 85 on the motor and a pulley 86 carried on a shaft 81 constituting part of the gearing and journaled in the housing 25. To loosen the belt, the motor is so supported that movement of the housing 25, in moving the roll toward and from the shoe, effects the relative movement between the two pulleys 85 and 88.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the motor is supported at its front by a pair of links 90 suspended from a relatively fixed pivot 9|, a pin 92 connecting the links 99 to the motor. The rear end of the motor is carried on a pin 93 supported by a pair of brackets 94 secured to the underside of the housing-supporting bracket 21. The pin 95 is located substantially directly below the pivot 23 about which the housing 25 and its bracket 21 swings. Thus, the movement of the motor and its pulley 85, when the roll is moved toward the shoe is substantially forwardly. The direction of movement of the pulley 86 carried by the housing is, however, chiefly upwardly so that the distance between the two pulleys 85 and 86 is changed when the roll is moved toward or away from the shoe, thereby tightening or loosening the belt. Thus, the gearing will be driven by the motor when the roll is in cooperative relation with the shoe, and the connection therebetween will be rendered ineffective when the roll is moved away from the shoe.

The belt 84 is preferably a V-type. But with this type of belt, there is a tendency when the belt is loosened to assume a circular form, thus causing the belt to tend to remain in contact with both pulleys. This tendency is so great that some power would be transmitted by the belt, even though it were loose. There would also be some tendency, because of the looseness of the belt, for it to run oil the lower or motor pulley.

For these reasons, the invention includes means for holding the belt substantially at its normal position, when the roll is separated from the shoe, said means insuring disengagement of the belt from the motor pulley 85 and reengagement therewith when the roll is moved toward the shoe. As shown herein, said means comprises a pair of guide pins 95 (see Fig. 3) flanged on their outer ends and located on opposite sides of and adjacent the motor pulley 85. The pins 95 are movable with the housing 25 and for this purpose are carried by a plate 99 secured to the housing supporting bracket 2! and extending downwardly. The lower end of the plate 95 is notched as at 97 to fit around the motor pulley with the pins 95 mounted on the plate at oppo site sides of the pulley.

The plate 96 and the motor have substantially the same horizontal movement, since the plate 95 and the motor, by its brackets 94, are carried by the housing-supporting bracket 21. The plate 95 also has a substantial upward movement since the plate is horizontally spaced from the pivot 28 for the housing-supporting bracket 27. The motor, however, has practically no vertical movement because of its mode of support. The guide pins 95 therefore move up relative to the motor pulley 95 when the belt is tightened, causing the motor pulley to engage the belt. When the housing 25 swings down, the pins 95 move with it, preventing the belt from assuming a circular form and causing the belt to remain substantially in its normal state, thereby loosening it from the motor pulley 85. The pins 95 thus prevent the belt from being driven by the motor pulley when the roll is separated from the shoe and also hold the belt in proper position for reengagement by the pulley.

As a further means to prevent the belt from assuming a circular form when the roll and shoe are out of cooperative relation, a cover I28 is provided for the belt and pulley 85, which is so shaped as to fit fairly closely around the pulley 86. The cover I28 thus prevents that portion of the belt adjacent the pulley 95 from spreading outwardly to assume a circular form, and by this arrangement the belt is prevented from becoming displaced from pulley 88.

The gearing 83 is arranged to reduce the speed of the roll shaft 8| to that suitable for the roll. Preferably the gearing comprises a pinion I (see Figs, 3 and 4) carried on the pulley shaft 81 and meshing with a spur gear I 9|. Rotating with the spur gear I 9! is a pinion I02 meshing with a spur gear I93 mounted on the end of the roll shaft 8| within the housing 25. In order to insure proper lubrication of the gearing, the housing 25 may have an intermediate transverse wall I94 providing a chamber for the gearing in which oil may be placed.

When the roll is separated from the shoe, it is desirable to be able to rotate the roll by hand. If the drive for the roll were rendered ineffective solely by loosening the belt, it would be necessary in turning the roll by hand to also turn the gearing. In the preferred construction, this is rendered unnecessary by disengaging the gearing from the roll shaft. To this end, the spur gear I9I and its coaxial pinion I92 are axially shiftable so that the pinion I92 may be moved into and out of mesh with the spur gear I93 on the roll shaft.

To accomplish such meshing and unmeshing, means is provided which is actuated upon movement of the housing and which is so timed that unmeshing takes place following the loosening of the belt to avoid unmeshing under load. The means herein shown comprises a shifter lever I95 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The lever I05 is generally substantially U-shape with its intermediate portion in a vertical position and journaled in hearings in the transverse wall I34 of the housing and a transverse ledge I139. The upper arm of the lever I95 extends adjacent the axis of the spur gear HM and has its end bent upwardly to enter a groove I9! in a collar I98 rigid with the spur gear IOI and its pinion I 92. Thus, by swinging the lever I95, the pinion I92 will be moved into and out of mesh with the roll shaft gear I03.

In order to swing the lever automatically on moving the roll toward and from the shoe, the lower arm of the lever extends adjacent the pivot pin 43 connecting the two arms 40 and 42 of the second toggle, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7. The

pin 43 is provided with a rounded head III] in engagement with the lever I05 and serving as a cam to swing the lever to unmesh the pinion I02. The lower arm of the lever I05 is bent into an arc, as shown in Fig. 3, to follow the path of the head I I and is also bent, as shown in Fig. 7, to effect disengagement of the pinion I02 and gear I03 at the desired time. The pinion I02 and spur gear I03 are thus positively unmeshed. The lever I05 is held in engagement with head III) of the pin 43 preferably by yieldable means so that, on moving the pinion I02 into mesh it may delay slightly in case the teeth of the pinion and spur gear are not alined. To this end, a coil spring III is secured at one end to the housing 25 and at its other end to the end of the lever I05 to yieldably hold the lever in contact with the pin head I I0. Thus, when the second toggle is moved away from its straightened position to separate the roll from the shoe, the pinion I02 is positively unmeshed from the gear I03, and when the roll is moved toward the shoe, the spring I I I yieldably urges the pinion I02 into mesh.

In order that the lever I05 may be readily assembled in the housing 25, and in order that the two arms of the lever may have the proper angular relation to each other and be properly spaced, the lever may be conveniently made in two parts which are inserted in a connecting sleeve H2 and secured in proper relation by set screws. The sleeve II2 also serves to properly position the lever vertically by providing a shoulder to rest on the ledge I06 in the housing.

In the ordinary domestic use of the machine herein disclosed, it is desirable to be able to use the machine for pressing as distinguished from ironing. That is, it is desirable to be able to utilize the roll as a non-rotating member for pressing articles against the shoe instead of rotating the roll to move articles past the shoe. It is also desirable at times to be able to stop rotation of the roll during ironing to permit the heat of the shoe to dry out an article. To accomplish this, the drive for the roll, which normally becomes effective when the roll and shoe are moved into cooperative relation, is interrupted by means which preferably is independent of the toggles.

In one suitable form, as shown herein, said means is operable to loosen the belt 84 from the motor pulley 85 and thereby interrupt the drive of the roll. To this end, the pivot ill (see Figs. 3 and 5) which carries the pair of links 90 supporting the front end of the motor 82 is shiitable vertically to raise the motor, thereby disengaging the motor pulley 85 from the belt. For this purpose, the pivot III is carried by the rear end of a pair of spaced levers II3 pivoted intermediate their ends on a fixed pin I I5 supported by a pair of spaced brackets II4 attached to the underside of the table top adjacent the front edge. Connecting the front ends of the levers I I3 is a pivot pin III; having an enlarged intermediate portion Ill. The latter has a transverse aperture to receive a push rod H8. The push rod II8 extends upwardly through an aperture I20 in the table top and is provided with a knob I2I at its upper end. By depressing the knob I2I, the levers II3 lift the front end of the motor.

When this means is released the weight of the motor tends to lower it to cause the motor pulley 85 to reengage the belt. To limit the downward movement of the motor, the push rod II8 has a shoulder II9 adapted to abut upwardly against a plate I22 secured to the top of the table and apertured to receive the push rod H8. In order to keep the roll from rotating without making it necessary for the operator to keep her hand on the knob I2I, the push rod I I8 may be maintained in its lowered position by inserting a reduced portion I23 thereon in an offset notch I24 opening into the aperture in the plate I22 through which the push rod extends. The reduced portion I23 of the push rod thus may be engaged in the notch I24 to hold the push rod down and thereby keep the roll from rotating.

Since the motor tends by gravity to move downwardly, the weight of the motor thereby creates the tension on the belt when in engagement with the motor pulley. This tension may, however, be adjusted by varying the position of the push rod I I8 relative to the lever H3 so that the shoulder IIQ on the push rod will abut against the plate I22 before the full weight of the motor is placed on the belt. To this end, the push rod H8 is threaded as at I25 into the enlarged portion III of the pin IIB connecting the push rod to the levers I I3, and thus provides an adjustment.

In order to cushion any vibration due to the motor, the pivot pins 9|, 92, 93 and HE are all provided with rubber bushings at their points of attachment to other members. The motor is preferably protected by a casing I23 attached to the underside of the table top and by a plate IZ'I at the end of the table between the two legs 2 I. Access to the gearing 83 within the housing may be had by removing a cover plate I29, held in place by screws or any other suitable fastenings.

In the operation of the present embodiment of the machine, the operator sits in front of the machine so that, by a simple swinging movement of her foot, the treadle may be pushed rearwardiy. Such movement of the treadle causes the toggles to swing the housing 25 about its pivot 28 and to move the roll into engagement with the shoe. The toggles are so constructed that the roll moves quickly into cooperative relation with the shoe, utilizing only a fractional part of the range of movement of the treadle for this purpose. Thus, the remainder of the range of movement of the treadle is available for creating pressure between the roll and shoe. During this latter part of the treadle movement, the spring 61 hearing against the shoe-supporting arm 60 resists movement of the roll but permits the shoe to yield.

Normally, the weight of the housing 25 and the roll tend to swing the roll away from the shoe. This feature is utilized in the present instance to effect automatic separation of the roll and shoe when the operator removes her foot from the treadle. The machine is thus safe to operate, since the roll cannot inadvertently be left in contact with the shoe, should the operator leave the machine for any reason. The toggles are prevented from moving to a completely straightened or other locked or wedged position by the screw 5| in the arm 42 of the second toggle so they will never become locked to prevent the weight of the housing and roll from so acting.

Simultaneously with the movement of the roll toward the shoe, the motor pulley is so moved relative to the pulley 86 that the belt 84 engages the motor pulley 85 and thereby causes the gearing 83 to be driven. The pivot pin 43 connecting the two arms 40 and 42 of the second toggles also moves at that time in such a manner as to permit the spring Hi to swing the lever I65 to throw the pinion I02 into mesh with the gear I03 on the roll shaft 8! If at the moment the pinion [E32 strikes the face of the gear 483, the gear and pinion are not properly alined to mesh, the spring I I permits delay, and since the pinion is turning, it will quickly move to a position where it may mesh.

When the operator removes her foot from the treadle, the weight of the housing 25 and the roll causes the housing to swing downwardly to loosen the belt from the motor pulley 85, while the movement of the housing causes the arms 4 and 42 of the second toggle to move away from the straightened position. The head H9 of the pin 43 connecting the two arms 4i) and 42 thereby moves to the right, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and positively swings the lever I65 to unmesh the pinion Hi2 from the roll shaft gear i3. Such unmeshing is timed to take place subsequent to the loosening of the belt from the motor pulley. Thus, the unmeshing of the gears takes place after the load is released from them so that the action requires little effort, and when the gears are unmeshed, the roll may be freely turned by hand.

When the belt is loosened from the motor pulley 85, the guide pins 95 and cover I28 maintain the belt in substantially its normal position so that its tendency to assume a circular form will not cause it to contact and be driven by the motor pulley. The pins 95 also hold the belt in proper position for reenegagement by the motor pulley.

To utilize the roll and shoe for pressing, as distinguished from ironing, or in order to temporarily hold an especially damp article against the heated shoe to dry it, the operator depresses the knob [2| on the push rod HB and causes the reduced portion I23 to enter the notch I24 in the plate 122 to lock the push rod in depressed position. Depression of the push rod swings the levers H3 and liitsthe front end of the motor, thereby disengaging the motor pulley 85 from the belt. The roll thereupon ceases to rotate. The position of the front end of the motor may be adjusted by threading the push rod up or down in the enlarged portion ill of the pin H6 connecting the levers H3, thereby adjusting the tension on the belt.

When an article varies in thickness in its direction of movement between the roll and shoe, the shoe may swing up or down on the pivot pin 75 at the upper end of the shoe supporting arm 69, so that the shoe may remain in contact with all parts of the article. Articles differing in thickness at the respective ends of the roll may also be accommodated, since the shoe is attached to its clip ?3 in a manner permitting the shoe to swing to a limited extent in a horizontal plane. For Waxing, the shoe may be swung upwardly about the pivot until the clip 13 rests against the pin 19 in the upper end of the arm 6i).

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel ironing machine which may easily be operated, since relative movement between the roll and shoe is effected merely by a swinging movement of the operators foot. The toggles are so constructed that adequate pressure between the roll and shoe is obtainable with but little effort on the part of the operator, since the roll is brought into contact with the shoe in the initial part of the foot movement, leaving a large part of such movement for creating progressive pressure. The roll 23, housing 25 and gearing 83 all move as a unit thereby aeirsco simplifying the construction and utilizing such movement to disconnect the motor from the roll. The construction utilizes gravity to move the roll away from the shoe, so that the roll and shoe cannot unintentionally be left in contact, and when the roll is so moved, it is free to be turned by hand. The shoe automatically adjusts itself to any variations in the thickness of the article being ironed, and is readily movable to a convenient position for waxing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a machine of simple and inexpensive construction which is readily adaptable for use in ironing, pressing, steaming and other operations, which has the parts thereof so constructed and mounted and associated that all functions and operations are under the immediate control of the operator, and yet an automatic release and return is provided to positively insure against the roll being inadvertently left in contact with the shoe or the operating means being left in driving connection, and that the machine can be operated with a minimum use or consumption of electric current and with a minimum of physical effort to accomplish the control.

While I have herein disclosed only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have shown and described only certain possible combinations and arrangements of the parts, it will be appreciated that many changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, arrangement, assembly and association of the parts and in the manner of operating and controlling the same, as may be required, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable roll, a shoe, means for moving said roll into and out of operative engagement with the shoe, a motor, a gear train operatively connected to the roll, a belt connecting the motor and gear train and adapted to be loosened to disconnect the motor and gear train upon movement of the parts in disengaging said roll, and means actuated by movement of said parts for disconnecting said gear train from said roll after the belt is loosened.

2. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable roll, a shoe, a housing supporting said roll and swingable to move the roll into and out of operative. engagement with the shoe, means for swinging said housing, a gear train within the housing connected to the roll, a motor mounted to effect movement relative to the gear train upon movement of the housing, a belt connecting said motor and gear train and adapted to be loosened by movementof the housing to disengage the roll from the shoe, and a device actuated by said means for disconnecting said gear train from the roll when the belt is loosened.

3. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a roll, a shoe, a swingable housing, a shaft extending from said housing for driving said roll, a gear mounted on said shaft within said housing, drive mechanism Within said housing including a pinion shiftable into and out of mesh with said gear, means for swinging said housing including a toggle located within the housing, said toggle comprising a pair of arms connected by a pivot pin, a U-shaped lever pivotally supported at its intermediate portion within the housing and having one arm for shifting the pinion and the other arm extending ad- 'acent the pivot pin of the toggle, and a spring for holding the last mentioned arm in contact with the pivot pin whereby movement of the toggle actuates the lever.

4. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a shoe, a rotatable roll, a housing supporting said roll, means for moving said housing to move the roll into and out of operative relation to said shoe, drive mechanism within the housing for rotating said roll, a motor having a pulley, a bracket carried by said housing and having a pair of arms extending on opposite sides of the motor pulley, a pair of pins on the respective arms, a belt connecting the motor pulley and the drive mechanism and confined against lateral movement by said pins, said belt being adapted to be tightened and loosened as the roll is moved into and out of cooperative relation to the shoe, a bracket carried by the housing for supporting the motor at one point, and relatively fixed means for supporting the motor at another point whereby upon movement of the housing the motor moves laterally of the belt with said pins but is held against movement longitudinally of the belt, said pins thereby holding the belt out of driving relation to the motor pulley when the roll is out of operative relation to the shoe.

5. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a table, a roll and a shoe positioned above the table and extending crosswise thereof with the shoe at the rear, a housing supporting the roll at one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said housing on a horizontal axis located under the table for movement of the roll toward the shoe, an arm having a first portion swingably pivoted on an axis closely adjacent and parallel to the pivotal axis of the housing and extending rearwardly and a second portion extending upwardly from the rear end of the first portion and supporting the shoe at its upper end, and adjustable resilient means coacting with the rear end of the first portion and resiliently opposing swinging movement of the arm.

6. An ironing machine comprising a supporting table structure, cooperating ironing portions above said table structure comprising a shoe member and a roll member, means pivoted beneath said table mounting said roll member swingably upon the supporting structure for bodily movement into and out of contact with said shoe member, operator actuatable means for moving said roll member into and out of contacting position, and resilient means urging said shoe member into yieldable contacting position.

'7. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a pair of cooperative roll and shoe ironing elements, said roll being relatively movable into and out of operative position with respect to said shoe, a wingably mounted structure supporting said movable roll, a toggle structure connected to said swingable structure, a second toggle structure connected with aid first toggle structure, and a manually actuatable treadle connected to said second toggle for effecting relative movement of said toggles whereby short travel of the treadle will accomplish initially great movement of the swingably mounted structure supporting the movable ironing element toward the ironing position for said element and then long travel of the treadle will accomplish short travel of the movable element and consequent increase of moving force as the elements are brought into ironing position.

8. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting structure, an ironing shoe carried by said supporting structure, an ironing roll, a housing swingably mounted on said supporting structure and by which housing said ironing roll is rotatably mounted in relation to be moved into and out of contact with the ironing shoe, a motor carried by said supporting structure, and belt drive means from said motor to said ironing roll the belt and housing being so constructed and arranged that swinging of the said housing tightens the said belt to cause rotation of the roll when the roll is in contact with the shoe and loosens the said belt to cause slippage of the belt and thereby disconnection of the drive to the roll when said roll is in the inoperative position.

9. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting structure, an ironing shoe mounted on said supporting tructure, an ironing roll, a housing swingably mounted on said supporting structure and rotatably carrying said ironing roll in position to be carried into and out of operative position with respect to the ironing shoe as the housing is swung, power means carried by the supporting means, power transmission means for said roll in said housing, means to swing said housing and consequently move the roll into and out of operative positions with respect to the ironing shoe, and means in the housing automatically connecting and disconnecting the drive to the roll as said roll is moved into and out of operative positions.

10. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting structure, an ironing shoe mounted on said supporting structure, an ironing roll, a housing swingably mounted on said supporting structure and rotatably carrying said ironing roll in position to be carried into and out of operative position with respect to the ironing shoe as the housing is swung power means carried by the supporting means, power transmission means for said roll in said housing, means to swing said housing and consequently move the roll into and out of operative positions with respect to the ironing shoe, means in the housing automatically connecting and disconnecting the drive to the roll as said roll is moved into and out of operative position, and a belt in the power connection from the power means to the roll driving means tightened by movement of the roll into the operative position and loosened to slip by movement of the roll away from the ironing shoe.

11. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting structure, an ironing shoe mounted on said supporting structure, an ironing roll, a housing swingably mounted on said supporting structure and rotatably carrying said ironing roll in position to be carried into and out of operative position with respect to the ironing shoe as the housing is swung, power means carried by the supporting means, power transmission means for said roll in said housing, means to swing said housing and consequently move the roll into and out of operative position with respect to the ironing shoe, means in the housing automatically connecting and disconnecting the drive to the roll as said roll is moved into and out of operative position, a belt in the power connection from the power means to the roll driving means tightened by movement of the roll into the operative position and loosened by movement of the roll away from the ironing shoe, and manually actuable means for moving said power means to loosen said belt.

12. An ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting structure, an ironing shoe carried by said supporting tructure, a housing swingably mounted on said supporting structure, an ironing roll rotatably carried by said housing and moved into and out of operative position with respect to the. shoe by swinging of said housing, manually actuatable means to swing said housing, power mean carried by the supporting structure, gear transmission means for said roll in 0

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