BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ironing presses are an alternative to hand held irons for pressing garments and other fabric items. Ironing presses generally include a fixed lower ironing panel on which the garment is placed and a movable upper press soleplate for applying pressure to the garment between the upper press soleplate and the ironing panel.

Heretofore ironing presses were manually operated in that closing of the press and application of pressing force was manually applied to a handle connected to the upper press soleplate. This required at least one hand to be removed from the garment to close the ironing press and to apply pressure to the garment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ironing press which is motor driven thereby enabling hands free operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power ironing press which applies a generally constant pressure regardless of garment thickness to ensure good ironing effect.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a power press with a safety release mechanism to allow separation of the upper press soleplate and the lower ironing panel to enable garment removal in the event of power failure.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a power press with a hands-free water spraying system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A power press comprising: a press bed;

a lower ironing panel secured to said press bed and having a generally horizontal upper face; a press arm pivotably mounted to said press bed; an upper press soleplate secured to said press arm and movable with said press arm between a closed position adjacent said lower ironing panel and an open position away from said lower ironing panel; a spraying device for spraying water at said upper surface of said lower ironing panel; and an actuator acting between said press bed and said press arm for pivoting said press arm and said upper press soleplate between said open and said closed positions.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a power press according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of a power press according to the present invention with a portion of the press bed cut away to illustrate the actuator; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a press bed and part of a press arm according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a safety release lever according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a base of a spraying device according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a top plan view of a spraying device according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an isometric view of a piston rod according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a sliding fork according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a front elevation of a power press according to the present invention showing details of the piston activator;

Figure 11 is an exploded and cut-away view of certain parts contained in an upper press sole plate of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a water reservoir and pump associated with the alternate embodiment; Figure 13 is a detailed cut-away view of a cam and associated components employed in the alternate embodiment; and Figures 14 through 20 illustrate different cam follower positions for the cam of Figure 13.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A power press is generally indicated by reference 20 in figures 1, 2 and 10. The power press 20 includes a press bed 22 which acts as a base for the power press 20. A lower ironing panel 24 is secured to the press bed and has a generally horizontal upper face 26.

A press arm 28 is pivotably mounted to the press bed 22 by means of a pivot pin 30 extending through the press arm 28 and journalled into supports 32 extending upwardly on both sides of the press bed 22.

An upper press soleplate 34 is secured to the press arm 28 and movable therewith between an open position shown in dashed outline in Figure 2 and a closed position shown in solid outline in Figure 2. In the closed position the upper press soleplate 34 is adjacent the lower ironing panel 24. In the open position the upper press soleplate 34 is away from the lower ironing panel 24 to allow garments to be removed from or placed on the lower ironing panel 24.

A spraying device 36 is mounted adjacent an outer end of the upper press soleplate 34. The spraying device 36 includes a nozzle 38 generally directed at the lower ironing panel 24.

An actuator indicated generally by reference 40 in Figure 2 acts between the press bed 22 and the press arm 28 to pivot the press arm 28 and upper press soleplate 34 between the open and closed positions.

The activator 40 includes a motor 42 connected to a first shaft 44 which is rotatable by the motor 42. A second shaft 46 is adjacent and generally axially aligned with the first shaft 44. The second shaft 46 is rotatably coupled to the first shaft 44 by a first coupling member 48. The first coupling member 48 includes some clearance to allow some axial movement between the first shaft 44 and second shaft 46 in the direction of arrows 50.

Any suitable coupling may be used for the first coupling member 48.

Illustrated in Figure 2 is a 'U' shaped slot in the end of the first shaft 44 which receives a generally rectangular tongue at the corresponding end of the second shaft 46. Other suitable couplings such as cooperating splined members or a socket which registers with a similarly shaped prong.

A third shaft 52 is rotatably coupled at an inner end 54 to a second end of the second shaft by a swivel coupling 56 such as a 'U' joint. The swivel coupling 56 allows the second shaft 46 to rotate the third shaft 56 despite some angular misalignment therebetween. The third shaft 52 is threaded at least part way along its length as shown by reference 58.

The threaded part 58 of the third shaft 52 threadedly engages a threaded boss 60 pivotably mounted to the press arm 28 to move the threaded boss 60 along the third shaft 52 and in turn cause the press arm 28 to pivot relative to the press base 22 in the direction of the arrows 62 in response to rotation of the third shaft 52.

The motor 42 is activated by depressing an activating switch 64 to move the activating switch 64 to a first position to cause the motor 42 to rotate in a first direction in which the press arm 28 and upper press plate 34 move toward the closed position. A first limit switch 66 senses when the press arm is in the closed position to stop rotation of the motor 42.

Releasing of the activating switch 64 allows the activating switch 64 to move to a second position which causes the motor 42 to rotate in a direction opposite the first direction thereby moving the press arm 28 and upper press plate 34 to move toward the open position. A second limit switch 68 mounted between the press bed 22 and press arm 28 senses when the press arm 28 and upper press soleplate 34 reach the open position to stop rotation of the motor 42.

A pressure sensor generally indicated by reference 70 is provided to activate the first limit switch 66 when a predetermined force has been attained between the upper press soleplate 34 and lower ironing panel 24. In this manner the pressure exerted on a garment placed between the upper press soleplate 24 and ironing panel 34 is determined by the pressure sensor 70 rather than by the thickness of the garment.

The pressure sensor 70 includes a disc 72 extending substantially about and secured to the second shaft 46. The disc 72 is movable with the second shaft 46. The pressure sensor 70 further includes a spring abutment 74 secured to the ironing press bed 22 and extending substantially about the second shaft 46. The second shaft 46 is slidable through the spring abutment 74.

A spring 76 extends between the disc 72 and the spring abutment 74.

The spring 76 allows movement of the disc 72 toward the spring abutment 96 in response to pressure between the upper press soleplate 34 and the lower ironing panel 24 which is transmitted along the second shaft 46. As the disc 72 moves toward the spring abutment 74 it will eventually strike the first limit switch 66 to activate the first limit switch 66 at a force predetermined by the length and spring constant of the spring 76.

A manually operable safety lever 78 in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is mounted to the press bed 22 to enable the upper press soleplate to be moved away from the lower ironing panel should the motor 42 fail to operate. The safety lever 78 acts against an outer end 80 of the third shaft to press the third shaft 52 and second shaft 46 toward the first shaft 44 against the force of

the spring 76. A handle 82 in Figures 2 and 4 is provided as part of the safety lever 78 to assist in actuating the safety lever 78.

The spraying device 36 and its operation are further illustrated in Figures 5 through 10. The spraying device 36 has a water reservoir 84 with a filler orifice 86. A cylinder 88 fluidly communicates with the water reservoir 84 through an inlet 90. A first one way valve 92 is mounted between the water reservoir 84 and the cylinder 88 to permit fluid (i.e. water) flow from the water reservoir 84 into the cylinder 88 while inhibiting fluid flow from the cylinder 88 back into the water reservoir 84.

A nozzle 90 fluidly communicates with the cylinder 88 through an outlet 92. A second one way valve 94 is provided between the cylinder 88 and the nozzle 90 to permit fluid (i.e. water) flow from the cylinder 88 into the nozzle 90 while inhibiting fluid (i.e. water or air) flow from the nozzle 90 back into the cylinder 88.

A piston 96 is slidably received by the cylinder 88. A piston activator generally indicated by reference 98 is provided and is responsive to movement between the press arm 28 and the press bed 22 to move the piston 96 into the cylinder 88 as the press arm 28 begins to move from the open position to the closed position.

The piston activator 98 includes a base member 100 to which the cylinder 88 is mounted and which includes a sliding fork 102 mounted thereto and slidable therealong. A piston rod 104 extends between the piston 96 and the sliding fork 102. A cable 106 analogous to a bicycle cable is mounted in the base 100 and has a first end 108 secured to the sliding fork 102 for causing the sliding fork 102 to move toward the cylinder 88. A second opposite end 110 of the cable 106 opposite the first end 108 is secured to an actuating arm 112 in Figure 10.

A spring 114 extends between an inner end of the cylinder 88 and the piston 96 to urge the piston 96 out of the cylinder 88.

The actuating arm 112 is pivotably mounted to the press bed 22. A rotating cam 116 in Figure 10 is mounted to the activating arm 112 and rotatable therewith.

A swing cam 118 is secured to the press arm 28 and pivots therewith.

The swing cam 118 has a projection 120 which presses against a corresponding projection 122 on the rotating cam 116 as the press arm 28 is initially moved from the open position toward the closed position. Pressure of the swing cam 118 against the rotating cam 116 causes rotation of the rotating cam 116 and in turn the actuating arm 112 to pull the cable 110 and in turn slide the sliding fork 102 toward the cylinder 88.

Releasable engaging means are provided between the piston rod 104 and the sliding fork 102 such as prongs 120 in Figure 8 which extend radially outwardly from opposite sides of the piston rod 104. The piston rod 104 is rotatable about its axis between an engaged position in which the prongs 120 extend across sides 122 of the sliding fork 102 and a disengaged position in which the prongs 120 line up with a slot 124 in the sliding fork 102. In the engaged position, the prongs 120 abut against the sliding fork 102 to cause the piston rod and in turn the piston 96 to move into the cylinder 88 in response to movement of the sliding fork 102 toward the cylinder 88. In the disengaged position the prongs 120 line up with the slot 124 to avoid being acted upon by the sliding fork 102. In this manner spraying can be turned on or off by the operator of the power press 20.

Rotation of the piston rod 104 about its axis between the engaged and disengaged position may be effected by a handle 126 engaging a groove 128 in the piston rod 104.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a steam generator may be associated with the upper press soleplate 34. A suitable steam generator is illustrated by reference 130 in Figure 11 and described below with reference to Figures 11 through 20.

A labyrinth plate 172 is disposed between the upper press soleplate 34 and an upper cover plate 174. Plate 172 contains pathways or cut out channels 168 which terminate in outlet holes 170 which are aligned with holes 162 in the platen. The formed labyrinth has a thickness of the order of one millimeter. The longitudinal edges of plate 172 are inwardly offset from the platen. The platen carries one or more electrically energized elongated heating rods 158 which are held in place by a plurality of clamps 161. Curved elements 175 integral with the cover plate 174 are positioned over the clamps so that heat emitted from the upper portions as well as the lower oportions of rods 158 is directed downward upon the plate 172 and platen upper press soleplate 34. This improves the efficiency of the system by concentrating the heat generated upon the plate and platen and increasing the rate of steam generated. If desired, another rod can be disposed along the opposite longitudinal edge of plate 172 and be supported by additional elements 175 in the same manner.

When water is pumped dowardly (in a manner described below) through pipes 156 into the center of channels 168, water droplets in the channels are forced by their affinity to the heated surfaces to advance through the labyrinth gaining heat and deteriorating in size and are converted to steam prior to emission via holes 170. Consequently steam is discharged through the platen openings. The force of discharge of steam is generated by the thermodynamic pressure of the process.

Water to be converted to steam is stored in a water tank 164 located in the press. The tank can be filled by an inlet port 176 located in the top of the tank and can be drained through a stop-cock type valve located at the bottom of the tank. The tank can be formed of transparent plastic so that the water level can be determined visually. Water pump 166, when its piston 188 is appropriately actuated, pumps water out of the reservoir via discharge line 190 and a discharge tee 192 to pipes 156.

An integral arm 177 of the upper press soleplate 34 is secured to lever 178. Lever 178 is connected via a connecting link 186 to a proportioning lever 184 adjacent one end of the lever 184 which is pivotable about stationary support 179. The other end 177 of lever 184 slidably engages the

piston 188 of water pump 166. The piston is internally spring biased in such manner that the spring action forces an increase in the pump cylinder volume and therefore draws water into the pump cylinder by vacuum action. Thus, the pump is automatically charged with water. The pump is actuated by causing the piston to move inwardly into the cylinder against the force of the spring whereby water is pumped into pipes 156 as described.

A stop 187 on piston 188 limits the movement of the lever end 177 in one direction. The lever end 177 is normally biased in the opposite direction by the action of spring 189. The end of piston 188 remote from the pump engages the upper part of a vertical cam follower 182. Follower 182 has a projecting prong 181 which engages the contoured periphery 183 of a stationary cam 180 secured to the press bed 22 typically in the region of the supports 32. Follower 182 is pivotally secured at its lower end to a stationary support 185 which is part of the press arm 28.

In use, the activator 40 (in Fig. 2) is used to raise the upper press soleplate 34. Clothing or other fabric article to be pressed is placed upon the upper face 26 of the lower ironing panel 20. The activator 40 is then used to lower the upper press soleplate 34 onto the lower ironing panel 20. Lever 178 is not touched at this point. The pressing action begins as the upper press soleplate 34 is lowered and continues until the article is squeezed between the upper press soleplate 34 and the lower ironing panel 20.

The purpose of the cam and cam follower is to control the timing of steam generation so that enough time elapses to allow steam discharged from the holes 163 to dissipate across the platen and thereby permeate the article thoroughly before completion of the squeezing action. If the dissipation time is not sufficient, or too late, some portions of the article will not receive sufficient steam and the subsequent pressing operation will not be satisfactory. On the other hand if the dissipation time is too early, steam will be dissipated above and will not permeate the article.

To this end, the pump is actuated during a predetermined interval t between the instant of time T1 at which the downward movement of the upper press soleplate 34 is initiated and the instant of time T2 at which the

article is squeezed between the upper press soleplate 34 and the lower ironing panel 20. The duration of the interval t is less than the duration of the interval between T2 and T1, that is the interval (T2-T1).

The control of the timing of pump actuation is illustrated in Figs. 14 to 20. The peripheral edge of the cam 180 has a vertical region 132, a curved lobe region 134 and an inclined region 136. The pump is actuated only during the interval of time in which prong 182 engages the curved region 134. Thus, at time T1, the prong is at first separate from the cam and gradually moves toward the peripheral edge as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Interval t begins when the prong engages top of region 134 as shown in Fig.

16 and continues as the prong rides down along region 134, as shown in Fig.

17 and then reverses and moves upward along region 134 as shown in Fig.

16 and returns to the top of the region as shown in Fig. 18 at which point interval t ends. The prong then is disengaged from the cam as shown in Fig.

19 and returns to the original start position at time T2 as shown in Fig. 20. In this arrangement, the interval t can be modified so that interval t terminates at time T2.

The cam and follower action described above occurs when upper press soleplate 34 and lever 178 move together. The operator can operate lever 178 independently of the upper press soleplate 34 to provide an additional burst of steam at any point in the press cycle. When the lever 178 is raised, the actuating lever 184 causes the cam follower to pivot and move the prong into engagement with any adjacent portion of the peripheral edge of the cam whereby the pump is actuated to pump an additional amount of water into the steam chamber and is converted to steam. The benefit of this feature is to provide additional wetting of the fabric to further relax wrinkles or to "liven" high pile fabric without pressing.

By rotating control knob 138, the initial position of pivot of the actuating lever 184 can be varied to control the length of interval t and thus regulate the period and amount of steam generation.

The above description is intended to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Variations to the structure described above may be apparent to those skilled in such apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims set out below. It is intended that any variations within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims be deemed to fall within the scope of this patent.