US2672811A - Laundry marking machine - Google Patents

Description

March 1954 w. J. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE 3 Wis-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1950 INVENTOR. WKLLIAM J. KEUPER BY M ,me

HIS AT ORNEY March 23, 1954 w. .1. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1950 INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. KEUPER HIS ATTNEV March 23, 1954 w KEUBEB LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1950 3 Sheets-311a 3 HIS ATTQfi EY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE William John Keuper, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The National Marking Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 1, 1950, Serial N 0. 165,533

22 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in laundry marking machines and, more particularly, to improvements in the operating mechanism for these machines.

In present day commercial laundries, each piece of laundry contained in a particular customers bundle is usually marked with a permanent, identifying laundry mark before it is sent to the laundry room for washing. This is generally accomplished by examining each piece of laundry as it is removed from the freshly opened bundle to see whether or not it bears the proper laundry mark. If it does, it is classified into a truck or thrown onto a conveyor, as the case may be, and the next piece is removed from the bundle and examined. If the piece selected is not provided with the correct mark it is placed over the platen of a laundry marking machine on which the customer's mark has been previously set up and the machine is operated so as to cause the proper mark to be imprinted thereon. The piece is then thrown into a truck or onto a conveyor and the next piece of laundry is removed from the bundle and examined. This procedure is continued until the entire bundle has been processed.

Inasmuch as the laundry marking machines installed in commercial laundries are constantly in use, it is essential that they be of simple, sturdy construction in order to insure long life and a minimum of maintenance and repair. With this objective in view I have provided a powerdrive mechanism for laundry marking machines which is sturdy, reliable in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture. This mechanism consists of a single-acting fluid cylinder for operating the inking mechanism of the machine, and a double-acting fluid cylinder for rocking the printing head to and from printing position. Both cylinders are connected with a two-position slide valve which is operable to control the flow of fluid to and from the cylinders in such a way as to automatically cause the type to be inked and the head to be rocked to and from printing position. In one position of the valve, fluid Will be simultaneously admitted to both of the cylinders whereby the inking mechanism will be operated and the printing head will be rocked from normal position to printing position. In the other position of the valve, the fluid in the cylinder for the inking mechanism will be released and the delivery of fluid to the cylinder for the printing head will be reversed so as to cause the head to be rocked from printing position back to normal position. The valve is settable to either of these positions by means of a pair of solenoids one of which is efiective, when energized, to move the valve to said one position, and the other of which is effective, when energized, to move the valve to said other position. The first-mentioned solenoid is adapted to be energized by the simultaneous depression of two push-button switches located one on either side of the printing platen of the machine, while the second-mentioned solenoid will be energized when a normally-open switch is closed by the printing head as it moves into printing position. In this way, the energization of the secand-mentioned solenoid always follows as a result of the energization of the first-mentioned solenoid and, hence, the return movement of the printing head from printing position to normal position is automatically effected.

In order to enable the speed of operation of the printing head to be controlled as desired, and also to provide time for the inking of the printing type before the head moves into printing position, I have provided a throttling valve in the fluid supply line for the double-acting cylinder which operates the printing head whereby the flow of fluid to this cylinder is retarded and the speed of operation of the printing head is re-' duced to the extent desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, sturdy operating mechanism for laundry marking machines which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry marking machine having fluid-pressure operated means for operating the inking mechanism and the printing head, and a valve settable to one position for causing the type to be inked and the printing head to be moved to printing position and to another position to cause the printing head to be returned to normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type set forth in the preceding object wherein manually controlled means is provided for setting the control valve to one position, and automatic means is provided for setting the valve to another position upon movement of the printing head into printing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry marking machine having a fluidpressure operated inking mechanism and a fluidpressure operated printing mechanism, and a pair of manually operable switches located one on either side of the printing platen of the ma- Another object of the invention-is;to-provide a laundry marking machine having a reversible,

fluid-pressure operated device for moving theprinting head from normal'position to printing position and a valve for reversing the deviceysa-id valve being operated in responseto the movement;

of the head into printing position whereby the head will be automatically returned from printing position to normal position.

ilfith thcse and other: objects inrview aswill more iullyz appear iirom the following detailed description of'onc embodiment of; my invention, I shall proceedto describe-my .invention in 0011-. IlQGBlOnnWlth the accompanyingdrawings, forming; part oi this specification, in which:

Fig- 1 isa side; elevation of the laundry mark-. ing machineshowing thev parts in their. normal positions.

Fig. is .v a iragmentary viewof. the inking mechfll fim Qfi thegmachinc, showing the mechanism m fidwllq inking position.

s-;as ide;elevation oithe machine with ingwheadgmoved to printing position.

Fig-. 4 i a-irontview ofthecontrol valve and oi ztlielsolen ds which-are provided for. operating the-val e- Figs. 5 and 6 are; schematic views showing the air connections-tome control .valve and the air cylinders; and; thewelectr-ical connections to l the utton switches and thesolenoids. In Fig. 5.. l artsalfe showninthe-positions which they Q e e as th prin in eadm ves into printin YQ 'QA tII YL ABSUMB after the printin een etnrried tQ'FQQXFIIlfll- PQSitiOHg. ess qwn m ail. tth 'd awinssthelaundry marking machine comprisesva base ltliiwhichis d-W- h a he ght s ac d. upsta ding. ar s ...rm e hewm: which; a th ir'upner ends. .7 --aati ar axle it on. eh. the-printing head isjournaled for rocking.

movements. The printing head is comprised oiy a, mit fy sas di ide ate wz w ic re co nsfi e itssl her b ti r de it; and Hi anriaise bylan. axle 1 lon which a series of disc-likeprintl s ember i er ro a yiou led: Ea of; the. members it; has secured thereto a gear wheelie. which lies in mesh with a scar tilnjour salad? iot'r on bou an ax1e,.-2;t p orted bet t eenwthe side plates i l; Eaohgear-fiil; has

secured thereto a smaller gear 22 which liesin mesh with the gear teeth of a sec tor.23g which. is rotatably. journaled, on an. axle -.?.!l supported bee teemhe. d a i a h; sec or is nic videduvith .agsettinglever 2. on the upper end of whichismounted-a fingerpieceZt which projects abovethe surfiaceof a curved, keyboard cover plate-Knot shown); This cover plateis provided with; a plurality; of -e1ongated: slots for receiving therupper errds of levers soas: to enable the sect rs to. be; adjusted rearwardly frommtheir no ch -swam it onsh -u oflfinee 12332 525? efnrinti e-memb s l fiiwi k whilein Eie. .e..-th r;are shown; in th M Oil be adjusted from an initial, or non-printing position, to a selected printing position as the levers are adjusted rearwardly, through the medium of gears i9, 28 and 22. Thus, any one of a plurality of printing type 21 provided on the periphery of each of the members 13 may be moved to the printing line by suitable adjustment of the lovers 2s. When the printing head 13 is rocked counterclockwise about-the axle 12 from the positionshownin Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the type 2? will be pressed against a printing platen 28 seated within a recess provided in the upperrendzof an arm 29 formed on the forward end of the base It. This platen is formed oi apiece of rulrber'or other suitable, resilient materialwhioh isxsubstantially square in crosssecirlon'and of'suiiic'ient length to underlie all of the. printing members I 8.

Booking movement of the printing head 13 from its 'normal position, shown in Fig. 1, to its printing position, shown in Fig. 3, and return, is effected-by means ofia donb1e-acting airicylinder 3 5 :which Zia rprovided. with -tha lisuali pistonito which is connected a piston .roditMFfig; 3?. The outer end of the piston.rodcis.providediwitha portionaof rsduced diameter onvwhichfis amounted a .compressicnuspring 31; The outertendpfatlie piston rod 35 passes. through Fa zbore provided: :ln a bSlLZSfiJDf. square cross-section whichis:;;oivotal'ly. supported between the sideplates :l t 'by. screws 39 (only one shown). The pistonirodztfirisheld in. place 7 within tha here by :means' of :a knurled thumb- .sorew .and axlocklrnut'. 4hzwhichzlare screwed-onto, threads provided on the outenend (withered 36. In this manner; a zresilientcomi nection is provided between the piston rod 13 6 and the bares, the spring 3.1 being compressed be-a tweenthe, bar: and the shoulder-.iormedxon the piston rod '35 at the: placewhere the portion: =01 reduced. diameterrbegins.

At its.v lower end, the cylinder 35 is-provided with a vcleviswhich is pivotallyponnectedbymeans-of a=pivot pin 41' to anupstandingaear 4 6. iorrned on 111161133188 .1 0 of :the machine: Bysuitablycontromng the flow-of airto and-fronithe opposite. ends of. the air: cy1ind'er.-3 t the pie. ton rod 36 may be projected out of or retracted ,the cylinder 55; and so= cause the printing -to- .be rocked iromnormal positiorrto printing position and returns The printing type-2i are adapted to be inked at. theoutset of each printing operation Lot thev machine byrmeans. ofean inkingldevice-which will now be described-.1; shown. in .Figs. 1,,.2 and- 3, this. device includes an ink pad -eonstructedof. felt another suitable ink-absorbentmaterial; which isamcunted. onan inkingheael 5I.-,. head is. preferably of the same. general construe. tion as-the one shown and described; in .U..S..Pat.- ent'No; 2,085;-32 5, -issued-June 29,193. 1, .to Charles Fzl-Miller and entitled Inking'Device for Marking; Machines; i Asdisclosed by this-patent a quantity .of. liquid ink of suitable. type iscontained a reservoir. pnovidedinthe. lower. part of .the -.head-. 5 t. and. isfied up to. the inking. pad 50 by. means, ofa feeding wick provided, within thelheadv As further describedfin. theater-omen tioned-patent, and as; illustrated: in-theeaocom. panying drawingsthe inking. head. 5 I is secured; to; a framevfibwhich, in; turni-issupported rch pivotal movement. between the. lower. ends: .ofsa. pair of links .53. (onlyone-shown}. which are piv-n oted. at 54. to the frame. At .-i,ts upper==end, -eaclr linkis is pivotall connected; at 55. to one on theeside; plates. ML; of. themrinting, lilaohx link is also provided with an elongated slot 56 which cooperates with a shouldered screw 51 mounted on the end of a lever 58. The frame 52 is also connected with the levers 58 by links 59 which are pivoted at their lower ends to opposite sides of the frame 52 and, at their upper ends, to the levers 58. Each lever 58 is pivoted at 60 on a triangularly-shaped bracket 6| secured to the axle II. by means of a clamping bolt 62. The forward end of each lever 58 is resiliently urged upwardly by a spring 63 tensioned between the lever and the side plate [4 so as to maintain each of the screws 57 in the upper end of its associated slot 56 as shown in Fig. 1.

The ink pad 50 is moved from the position shown in Fig. l, where it lies out of contact with the printing type 21, to the position shown in Fig. 2, where it lies up against the type, by means of a single-acting air cylinder 68. This cylinder is provided with the customary piston to which is connected a piston rod 59 the upper end of which is provided with a conical point which seats in a conical recess provided in the underside of a horizontal arm I0. The arm I is se-, cured to a hub II which is fast on a shaft I2 journaled in a boss 13 formed integrally with the base I0. Also secured to the hub 'II and lying on the same side of the shaft I2 as the arm I0, is a second horizontal arm 14. This arm is provided on its outer end with a recess in which is i seated a pin I5 mounted on the bottom of a U-shaped frame I6. The upwardly extending side arms ll (only one shown) of this frame are provided at their upper ends with elongated slots 18 within which are received pins I9 mounted in the brackets 5|. The upper end of eacharm I? lies beneath a finger 90 provided on the rear end of each of the levers 58. Thus, when air is admitted to the lower end of the air cylinder 68, the piston rod 69 thereof will be moved up- 5 wardly so as to lift the outer ends of the arms I0 and T4. The frame I5, which rests on top of the arm l4, will thereby be elevated and the side arms I? thereof will engage against the bottom surfaces of the fingers 80 on the levers 53 and 4 cause the latter to be rocked counterclockwise about their pivots 60 against the tension of the springs 63. The screws 51 will be moved into the lower ends of the slots 56 and the links 59 will be moved down thereby causing the frame 52 to be rocked clockwise about its pivot 54 and the ink pad to be moved up against the type 21 as shown in Fig. 2. Ink will thereby be applied to the face of the printing type located at the printing line. When the printing head is now swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the ink applied to the type will be transferred to the article of laundry held in position above the platen 28 by the operator of the machine.

As the printing head moves from normal position (Fig. 1) to printing position (Fig. 3), the inking head 5| will be retracted to the position shown in Fig. 3 where it will lie out of the path of the printing members I0 as they move down against the platen. This retraction of the inking head results from the fact that the levers 58 are supported on stationary pivots 50 so that a shortening effect of the levers 58 is produced as the head moves downwardly and the links 53 will consequently be swung counterclockwise about their pivots 55 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Also, as the printing head moves downwardly, the fingers will move away from the upper ends of the arms 11 thereby permitting the screws 51 to be moved back into the upper ends of'the slots 56 by the springs 03 as shown in Fig. 3. Prior to the return movement of the printing head from printing position to normal position, the air cylinder 68 will be vented to atmosphere and the piston rod 69 will be returned to its normal, retracted position by means of a suitable return spring I54 (Fig. 6). The frame I6 will thereupon be permitted to move downwardly under the influence of gravity so, that the upper ends of the arms II will again lie in their lowered positions as the printing head returns to normal. Hence, the inking head 5| will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 at the conclusion of each printing operation. In this 5 position of the inking head, the ink pad 50 lies out of contact with the printing type 21 whereby the members I 8 may be freely rotated upon manipulation of the finger pieces 26 so as to permit a new laundry mark to be set up on the printingmembers I8.

As best shown in Fig. 3, means is provided. whereby all of the setting levers may be restored. to their normal positions in a single operation- This means consists of a resetting bar which is attached at either end to a pair of side arms; 95 located on opposite sides of the printing head. Each arm 86 is journaled at its lower end for rotation about the axle 24 and the upper ends of the arms are connected by a cross bar 81. By grasping the bar 87 and pulling it forward, the rod :55 will be swung forwardly so as to engage the finger pieces 25 of all of the setting levers which have been adjusted rearwardly and thereby move the levers to their forwardmost positions. The resetting device is normally held in its rearward position, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of a latch 88 which is pivoted at 89 on a bracket 90 secured to the printing head. The latch is provided with a tail 9| which may be manipulated in order to release the latch from the bar 35 and permit the resetting device to be swun forwardly. The latch 88 is provided for th purpose of preventing the inertia of the resetting device from carrying it forward when the printing type strike against the platen. Forward movement of the bar would cause the setting of the printing members to be changed and thereby result in an improper mark being printed on the next operation of the machine.

In the machine presently being described, the initiation of a printing operation is effected by the simultaneous depression of two push-buttons I00 positioned on either side of the platen 28 where they may conveniently be operated by the palms of the operators hands while holding an article of laundry above the platen 28. Each push-button controls a normally open switch located Within a housing till which extends across the front of the machine and is provided with a pair of mounting lugs 99 by means of which it may be secured to opposite sides of the arm 29. When the push-buttons are simultaneously depressed, the switches controlled thereby will be closed and a solenoid I02 will be energized (see, also, Figs. 4 and 5) and cause a plunger I03 thereof to be projected outwardly. The end of the plunger H33 lies adjacent the left-hand end of the core I04 of a spool valve I05. As shown in Fig. 4, the body of the valve I05 is supported at either end by brackets I06 secured to the base I0 of the machine. The right-hand end of the core I04 lies adjacent the end of a plunger I01 of a second solenoid I08. When the solenoid I02 is deenergized and the solenoid I08 is: energized, the plunger I01 will be projected outwardly and ammonia the -core HM -of-the valvewill beshifted toward the left as'viewed in -Fig. 4. The core I04 is provided on either endw-ithscrew threads on which are screwed lim-i-t 'stops 109'." The inner faces of the stops 109 are adapted to contact with the end of the valve bodyandthereby determine the position ofgthe coreat either-end of its stroke. By a suitableadjustment of-the stops I09 on the ends-of the core 104, the end positions ;of-the core may be adjusted as desired. When the solenoid I Il Z energized upon depression-ofpushbuttons IUGQ-ithe core -|;El4 -=will be moved toward the right "until the liin-it sto J09 strikes --against the end of the valv body. With the core H34 in this position, air irom a supplyd-ine I t2 will flow into "thev'a'lve I05 from whence itwillbe-del-ivered to a line H3 connected with -the lower end of-air cylinder 33 and fto a line 1 l4 connected to one side "of a throttling valve H5 Afterpassing thrbiigh the 'throttl'ingneedl valve M5, the air is conducted through a short line H6 i-ntothe lower end of the doubl'e-acting-air oylinder-35. The 'upper end of this cylinder is connected by a line l H with the valve Hi5 and, when the valve core is 'in the position shown in Fig. 5, the line H I 'will be communicatively connected with an exhaust orvent lin'e H8. As a 'consequencethe piston rod 69 'of th air cylinder -fiii-will-be moved upwardly and the inking head 5! will be rocked to the po'sition'shown in Fig. zs as to'causein-king of the printingtype L 21. At the same time, the piston rod 36 of the double-acting air-cylinder 35 will be moved upwardly so as to rock-the printing head about the axle i2 -and cause the printing "type located at the printing line to be moved downwardly against the platen as shown in Fig. 3. The rapidity with whichthe printing head is swung about the axle [2 -by the air-cylinder '35 Will be dterminedby the setting of the'throttle valve H5. This valve is provided witha 'thu'r'nb'screw IIS Whichmay-he screwed in or'out 'todec'rease o'rihcreasetlie rate of--fiow of air through the valve. The-machine'is-preferably 'operat'ecl'hyusing relatively high pressure all" iii'the supply line 1 I? SO that the piston "f the air cylinder E3,'wvhich movesonly-a short dis-- tance, Will-be'niov'ed"quicklylto its upper limit of travel. I Byuse of the throttling valve H5, the speed with 'vvhioh'th'e printing head -isrocked from normalposi'tion to printing position may be"reduced sufiicie'ntly 'to insure that the type will i be inked before any appreciable "movement of thep'rinting head has taken place. Also, the reductionin spe'ed'of operation of .theprinting head'by valve 1 will serve to preVeritany-serious hammering of the printing type againstthe platen is. e

As the printing head moves into printing position, a plunger [22 mounted on the left-hand side plate l4 will engage the operatingplung er I23 of a microswitch 1124 supported on a bracket ('25 secured to'the left-hand. arm E-l of the machinehase. The contacts-of the switch iiare 'norr'nally open but will be closed by the pliing'er tfi just'prior to theengag-ementpf the printing 'type with the platen 28. Closure of this switch will cause the solenoid Hi8 -to --be ener ized and, assumingthat the operator has released the push-buttons 1- 30, the core iM-aoi the spool "valve-will be shifted to the left as viewed in Figw and thereby causethe line 1 i=3 (Fig. l) -to-be coininunicativelyconnected with the ventd'ine 'liil and so' permit thetpisten rod ee of air cylinder into "return to itsn-o'rmalepdsition. At-the-same tima air from =the snppiy 8 line l ll-will be supplied to thelinewllil connected with the upper end of an cylinder $35 while the line H4, connected with the :bottom of the cylinder; 'W'i11 be-communica-tively :connected with the vent line H 8; Hence-the piston rod of -thedouble-acting-air cylinder 35 will be drawn inwardly so as to return the printing head from printing @position to normal position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the plunger 42-2 isenoun'ted for sliding movement in a :bracket lllasecu-red to'the outerfaoe ofithe left-hand side plate M; A compression spring 4-2! .-is confined between an enlarged head providedon the lower end of the plunger and the lower edge Of'lJhB br-achet and acts to resiliently urge plunger downwardly. Units uppenend, the plunger 'is threaded to receive anut lit -which engages with the upper edge of-the bracket and resists downward movement .of the plunger under the urgency ofthe-spring L21. Byqneans-of the nut 'l'iiRJth'e plunger 4-22 may be adjusted to a position'where it will cause the contacts oftthe switch i 'ZLi "to close just before the-printing type engage With the platen .2 3 Further downward movement of the head will cause the spring {22-2 to be compressed and-thus prevent-minty to the-microsviitch 24. I

As previously mentioned herein, the spring provide-:1 on the upper end of the. mnrodfiii for the 'tlouhie acting lair cylinder provides a resilient connection het-weenltheepiston .rod and. printing-head it. I will he seen that when the piston rod isprojected upwardly tolnioye the head from normal position to'iprinting position, thespring "3'1 will be compressed when ii t supplied to the air cylinder'tfh due to the menace the pririting head. When the printing type contact "the platen"'28, thespring Eli will nlbe compressed so as to forcethetypefirmly st the platen 'an'd thereby cause a inc't imprint of "the type to be produced on thearticle of 'l'aundry'heltl'over the platen. 0n the return "stroke, the printing head will he moved upwardly'un'tilthe piston rod 3'8 reaches the li'rnitof its downward travel within cylindervihereupbnit 'Will'ibe'hro'righfito a and the spring Zi'i "will absorb the inertia of the printinghe'ad and h'rihgit to'a smooth "stop. "Th'e'prin'ting head will he resiliently held in its normal 'position,as shownfini'l igfil, by me ms of atens i'o'n "springifill Whichis stretcheh hetW'eenthe'upper-end oftapost I31 "mounted on thebas'e ofth'eimachine and the bar 3.53 to' vhiol'i thepisto'n ro'ci'fi'tisconnected. The spring .2353 i's'fstretohed "as the" printing head is 'moved out of normal "position and will "thereby overcome thetendeney or the head to fall "gravity printing {position Whenthepressure inithe supply line fl z'drop's tozero"asis'aptfto happen during the night. Movementof'the'head into "printing position undersuchc'onditions would, of course, cause thesolen'oid I it to be continuously energizeda nd would result in overheating of "the solenoid.

"Referring now to Figs3'5a1id.Gf'oithe drawings wherein the electrical and pneumatic pircuits' of the chine are schematically illustrated, it will be ohserved thatin Fig. 5 the air cylinders and solenoids are shown in the ,.positions-vkhich they occupy afterthe-spuslnhuttons Hill I have been 'clepressedand released -and after the printing-head has -heen=rocked-=.to apoint where-the printing type iiefjustwahove athe, platen butiprior--to the" ciosu1 e :of" the s'witchi B24! bytthe plunger 1 t'ZZ' m'ounted on tnezpriritmgzhead. .aIn

Fig. 6 of the drawings, the air cylinders and solenoids are shown in the positions which they occupy after the switch I24; has been closed and again opened, and after the printing head has been returned to normal position. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the electrical energy for operating the solenoids and its is obtained from a source of electrical current to which wires i355 and lilfi are connected. The wire I35 is connected with one terminal of a normally open switch itl which is adapted to be closed upon depression of one of the pusln buttons 193. The other terminal of the switch I 31 is connected to one of the terminals of a normally open switch I38 which is to be operated by the other push-button Hit. The second terminal of the switch is con nected by a line lilil with one terminal oi the solenoid mi. The other terminal of this solenoid is connected by a wire Hit with the input Wire I36. Hence, when both push-buttons are depressed by the operator of the as he holds an article of laundry above the platen 28, both switches ltl' and Hill will be closed and the solenoid I52 will be energized and its plunger its will be projected outwardly. or toward the right, so as to cause the core Hit of the valve Hi to be pushed to the right-hand limit of its travel as determined by the limit stop H19. With the core ms in this position, it will be observed that air from the supply line I I2 may flow through the passages It! and M2 provided in the valve body. The ldl and M2 are in communication. with a central. bore provided in the valve body within which the core ltd is slidably mounted. The core its is provided with three sections of reduced diam.- eter which are separated from on another by a pair of annular sealing rings Iii-ii and Ms which are of the same diameter as the ends of the core HM. When the core is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the ring M3 will be so positioned as to cause the passage Hi! to be coimnunicatively connected with a passage Hi5 provided in the body of the valve. The latter passage is connected with the lines H3 and H t and, thus, air may flow from the supply line H: into the lower ends of the air cylinders 35 and Bil. It will also be noted that the sealing rings M3 and I44 are so positioned as to cause passages i i? and M1, provided in the body of the valve, to be communicatively connected with one another. Inasmuch as the passage M6 is connected to the vent line Ill! and the passage ll is connected to the line ill which, in turn, is connected with the upper end of the air cylinder is, air will be permitted to escape from the upper end of the cylinder 35 as the piston thereof is forced upwardly by air entering the lower end of the cylinder. It is further to be noted that air from the supply line H2 may flow through the line H3 into the lower end of the air cylinder 53 without restricton so as to cause the piston rod 69 of this cylinder to be quickly moved through the short distance necessary to cause operation of the inking mechanism. However, the flow of air into the bottom of the double-acting air cylinder 35 is restricted by the needle valve H5 so that the piston rod 36 will move more slowly than the piston rod 68 and, for this reason as well as by reason of its longer stroke, will require much more time to move from its fully retracted position to itsfully extended position than does the piston rod 69. The printing type 21 will therefore be inked at the very outset,

iii

of the printing operation before the printing head iii has moved downwardly any appreciable distance.

In operating the laundry marking machine herein shown and described, the operator merely strikes the push-buttons its a sharp blow with the palms of his hands when he wishes a printing operation to be effected. Consequently, by the time the printing head is moved downwardly far enough for the plunger iii to close the contacts of the normally open switch E24, the push-button switches l3? and H38 will again be opened as indicated in Fig. 5. When, now, the downward mov .nt of the head causes the normally open svtch. 524 to' be closed, current will be permitted to fiow through the wire I35 and wire Hill to one of the terminals of the switch lid. The other terminal of this switch is connected by a wire it! to one terminal of the solenoid the other terminal of which is connected by a wire with the supply wire ass. The solenoid ltd will therefore be energized and, the solenoid lib". being deenergized, the plunger Hill of the solenoid Elli! will be projected outwardly, or toward the left as shown in Fig. 6, so as to move the core wi l toward the left until it is stopped by the limit stop m9 engaging against the end of the valve body. In this position of the core, it will be noted that sealing ring wi l is in such a position as to cause the passages Hi2 and Ml to be communicatively connected with one another whereby air from the supply line H2 may flow through the valve and into the line ll'l connected with the upper end of the double-acting air cylinder 35. the same time, the passages Mid and its will be ccinmunicatively connected by virtue of the positions of the sealing rings Mil and M4 whereby the lines H3 and lid will be connected with atmosphere through the vent line Hi3. As a result, air will be permitted to escape from the lower end of the cylinder 35 as the piston rod 3t? moves downwardly in response to air under pressure being admitted to the upper end of the cylinder. Also, air will be permitted to escape from the lower end of the cylinder 68 and a return spring lfi l, provided within the cylinder, will restore the piston and piston rod 69 to their normal positions. The printing head is will thereupon be returned to its normal. posi tion and the U-shaped frame it will be perinitted to return under the influence of gravity to its lowerposition as shown in Fig. 1. Consequently, the inking head lil will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 after the printing head has reached its normal position. The machine.

will now be ready for another printing operation and may again be operated by the simultaneous depression of push-buttons Hid.

Inasmuch as the double-acting air cylinder 35 participates in a slight rocking movement about the pivot M, relative movement will occur between the cylinder and the valve Hi5 and it is therefore desirable that the air lines H4 and i ll be constructed in whole or in part of flexible type of air hose which will yield in response to the movement of the air cylinder during a printing operation.

A brief recapitulation of the operation of the laundry marking machine hereinbefore described will now be given. As previously described in the early part of this description each customer of the laundry is usually assigned a mark which is to be stamped on each of the articles contained aevami I! through the laundry'. 'For this purpose, setting levers of the-marking machine are: adjusted by manipulation of finger pieces 26 soxas: to cause" the proper laundry marlr: to'be'set up" on the type 21 located at the; printing line. The first article to be marked is then grasped by the operator with bothhands' and held over the: platen- 28" with theheels of the hands located above the push-buttons H10. 'Both push buttons are simultaneously struck a sharp blow with the heels of the hands whereuponfthe solenoid H12 will be energized and the core [M ofthe valve moved toward. the right from the position shown in Fig. 6 to theposition shown-in Fig.5. with the valve core-in' thisposition; air under pressure will be admitted to-the lower ends of the cylinders 35 and. 68' and the upper end' of the cylinder 35 will be vented to: atmosphere. 1 The rapid upwardmovernent' of the piston rod69cf the air cylinder 68' will-cause the 'inking head St to be rocked quickly to the positionshown in Fig.- 2 and- "cause a the pad 50 to be 1 pressed against thep'rinting type 21 located-at the printing line. At the same time-the printinghead l3-wil1comthence to move downwardiytoward printing position. During downwardmovement of the printing head, the inking head it will be drawn rearwardly't'o'wa'rd the fully retraotedpositionshown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. J ust-prior to the time that the printing type make contact with the article of laundry held abovethe platen 28, the plunger I22 will" engagewith the upper end of the plunger-l-23 oi the-"mioroswitch i 24 and cause the contacts thereof to-be closed. Solenoid I98 will thereupon be energized and, solenoid I02 now being deenergizeclfthe core H34 of the spool valve will be rn'oved'to'the left to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the valve core is in this position, 'the'lower ends of the cylinders '35 and 68 win be vented to atmosphere While air from the supply line [l2 will bedelivered to the upper end of the cylinder '35 through the line H1. As a oonsequanoathe U-fshaped frame 76 (Fig. 1) will be permitted 'toreturn to its lowered position under the influence of gravity and the printing head 13 will be returned to its normal position. l he various parts'of the machine will now lie in theposit'ions shown in Fig. 1 and will remain in these positions" until the next article of laundry to be-markedhas been placed over the platen 28- and the push-buttons 100 depressed. After all of the articles contained in the particular bundle under consideration have been impressed with the properlau'ndry mark, the setting levers '25 may allbe returned to their normal or forward p'ositionsby the operators releasin the latch 88 and pulling forward on the cross bar 8! whereuponthe'b'ar 85'will pick up all of the finger pieces2'6 and m'ovethem 'to their forward positions. Thecross bar 81' is then moved rearwardly whereupon the bar 85 will again be engagedby the latch "blw'hich will drop down over the bar under the influence of "gravity and hold it in its rearward position as shown in Fig. 3'. A newlaundry'mark for the next customers bundle may now lae set .u on the machine bymeans' of "the setting "levers, the printing members I 8 being freely "rotatable at this time since the ink pads t'lies out or contact therewith as shown-in Fig. '1.

I am aware that an air-drivenoperating mechanism for laundry listing machines of "the type les ed here is susoeptible of-lcons iden able variation withou 1 eparting'hom' thespirit of l ny lhve'fition; and; taster-ere;

I2 verrtion broadlmiasz indicated by the appended claims.

Having.v thus describedimy invention, what I claim. as'new. andruseiul and desire to. secure by UnitedStates Letters Patent,'is:

1.111 a laundry. marking machine having a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a printing head pivoted on said frame for rocking movement from anormal position to a, printing position' andvbackagain, and a plurality of settable, type-bearing elements on said head adapted to make an imprint onmateria1 held on said platen when said head'is rocked from normal position to printing position, the combination of an inking device for applying ink to the type locate-cl at the printing-line, said device being movable from a non-inking position in which it lies out of contact with saidelements, to an inking posi-- tion in which it lies in contact with the type located at the printing line; a single-acting, selfrestoring, first'fluid-pressure motor for moving said device from non-inking position to inking position; a double-acting fluid-pressure motor operable in one direction to rock said printing head from normal position to printing position and in another direction to rock said printing head from printing position to normal position; a control valve settable to one position to cause both of said motors to be energized so as to eiiect inking of the type and rocking of the head to printingposition, and to another position to cause said first motor to be tie-energized and said second motor to be reversed so as to restore said head to normal position; manually controlled means iormoving said valve to said one position; and automatic means for moving said valve to said other-position upon movement of said head into printing position.

2. The combination reoited'in claim 1, including means, actuated by said printing head as it is rocked on said frame, for withdrawing said inking device from the path of travel of said type-bearing elements as the latter move into engagement with the material held on said 1 platen.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said manually controlled means includes a solenoid and a manually operable switch for controlling the energiz'ation' of said solenoid, and wherein said automatic means includes a sole no'id and a switch operable by said printing head as it moves into printing position for causing said last-mentioned solenoid to be energized.

4. In a laundry marking machine having a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a printing head pivotedon said frame for rocking movement'from a normal position to a printing position and back again, and a plurality of settable, type-bearing elements on said head adapted to make an imprint on material held on said platen when said head'is rocked into printing position, the combination of an inking device for applying ink to the type locatedat the printing line, said device being movable from anon-inking position 1 in which it lies out of contact with said elements to an inking gpositi'on iin' which it lies in contact with the type located atthe printing line; a single-acting, self-restoring, fluid-pressure motor for moving said device from non-inking position to inking position; a reversible fluid-pressure motor for rocking said printing head on said frame to and-from printing position; a source of fluid :under pressure; a. valve-for controlling the flow of ifluidpfrom saidzsoume to said motors,

'said'walvehaviug an element settable to one -po-' sition to cause fluid from said source to be supplied to both of said motors whereby the type will be inked and the head will be rocked into printing position, and to another position to cause the fluid to be released from said first motor and the flow of fluid to said reversible motor to be reversed whereby said head will be restored to normal position; a first solenoid for setting said element to said one position; a second solenoid for setting said element to said other position; manually operable means for energizing said first solenoid and Causing said type to be inked and said head to be rocked to printing position; and a switch actuated by said printing head as it moves into printing position for energizing said second solenoid and thereby causing said head to be restored to normal position.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said manually operable means comprises a pair of push-button switches located one on either side of said platen.

6. The combination recited in claim 4, including means, actuated by said printing head as it is rocked on said frame, for withdrawing said inking device from the path of travel of said type-bearing elements as the latter move into engagement with the material held on said platen.

7. In a laundry marking machine having a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a printing head pivoted on said frame for rocking movement from an inactive position to an active position and back again, and a group of printing members on said head for making an imprint on material held on said platen when said head is rocked from inactive position to active position, the combination of a device for applying ink to said printing members, said device being movable from an inactive position in which it lies out of contact with said members, to an active position in which it lies in contact with said members; means for moving said printing head and said device from their inactive positions to their active positions and back again; a control device settable to one position for said moving means to move said printing head and said device irom their inactive positions to their active positions, and to another position for causing said moving means to move said printing head and said device from their active position back to their inactive positions; a first solenoid for setting said device to said one position, and a second solenoid for setting said device to said other position; manually controlled means for energizing said first solenoid and setting said control device to said one position; and means 1 operating automatically in response to the movement of said printing head into printing position for energizing said second solenoid and setting said control device to said other position.

8. In a laundry marking machine having a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a printing head pivoted on said frame for rocking movement from a normal position to a printing position, and a group of type-bearing printing members on said head for making an imprint on material held on said platen when said head is rocked to printing position, the combination of an inking mechanism for applying ink to the type located at the printing line when said head is in its normal position; a fluid-pressure motor for operating said inking mechanism; a fluidpressure motor for rocking said printing head from normal position to printing position; a source of fluid under pressure; means for causing fluid to flow from said source to both of said motors simultaneously; and means for retarding the flow of fluid from said source to said secondmentioned motor so as to enable said first-mentioned motor to operate said inking mechanism before said printing head is moved out of normal position by said second-mentioned motor.

9. In 'a laundry marking machine having a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a print ing head pivoted on said frame for rocking movement from a normal position to a printing position and back again, and a plurality of adjustable, type-bearing elements mounted on said head for marking material held on said platen when said printing head is rocked from normal position to printing position, the combination of a double-acting, fluid-pressure motor for rocking said head to and from printing position; a source of fluid under pressure for operating said motor; a valve settable to one position for causing said motor to move said head to printing position and to another position for causing said motor to return said head to normal position; manually controlled means for setting said valve to said one position so as to cause said head to be moved from normal position to printing position; and means, operating automatically in response to the movement of said head into printing position, for setting said valve to said other position so as to cause said head to be returned to its normal position.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said manually controlled means includes a solenoid and a. manually operable switch for energizing said solenoid, and wherein said automatic means includes a solenoid and a switch operable by said printing head as it moves into printing position for causing said last-mentioned solenoid to be energized.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said valve includes a core settable to one position by said first-mentioned solenoid so as to cause said printing head to be moved from normal position to printing position, and to another position by said second-mentioned solenoid so as to cause said head to be automatically returned from printing position to normal position.

12. In a laundry marking machine, the combination of a printing head movable from a normal position to a printing position and back again; a fluid-pressure motor operable in one direction for moving said head from. normal position to printing position and in another direction for moving said head from printing position to normal position; a source of fluid under pressure for operating said motor; 'means for controlling the flow of fluid to said motor so as to cause the latter to be operated in either direction, including a. device settable to one position for causing said motor to be operated in said one direction and settable to another position for causing said motor to be operated in said other direction; manually controlled means for setting said device to said one position to cause said head to be moved from normal position to printing position; and means, operating automatically in response to the movement of said head into printing position, for setting said device to said other position to cause said head to be moved from printing position to normal position.

13. The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said device comprises a valve having a core settable to either one of two positions.

14:. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said manually controlled means includes a solenoid for setting said core to said. one position and a switch for energizing said solenoid,

and-wherein saidautomatic means includes a solenoid for setting said core tdsaid other position and a switch operable by said printing head asit-movesinto printing position for energizing said last-mentioned solenoid.

15. In a laundry'markingmachine having a frame, a platerifixed on said frame, a printing head mounted on said frame for movement from a normal position to a printing position, and a group of printing members on said head for making an imprint onmaterial held over. said platen when said head is moved to printing position, 'the combination of a device'for applying ink to said printing members; a motor .for' operating said inking device'to cause ink to be'applied tos'aidprinting members at the outsetof a printingoperation; a reversible motor for movingsaidhead from normal position to printing position and back again; a device for controlling said inotors, said device being settableto one position. in which both of said motors willbe actuated so as to cause the printing members to be inked and 'the head to be" rocked intoprintingfpositio'n, and to another position in Which said rerversible motor will be reversely actuated so asto cause said headto be restored to normal position; manually controlled. means for setting said device to. said one position; and means, operating automatically in response to the movement of said head into printin'gposition, for setting said device to said other position. i

16. Thelaundry marking machine as recited inclaim .15 including means, actuated by said printing head as it is'moved into printing position, for Withdrawing said inking device from the path of travel of said printing members as the latter move towardsaid platen.

1'7. The laundr marking machine as recited inclaim 15 including a first solenoid for setting saiddevice to said one position, and 'a second solenoid for setting said device to said other position.

18.-"Il1e laundry marking machine as recited in claim 1 in which said manually controlled means includes a pairof normally open, pushbutton switches connectedin series with said 21.- In a laundry, marking machine having a framefa platen mounted-"011mm frame; a print:

h ad'pivotedon saidframe for rocking mo /ement' from a non-prlntingpositionto a printing. position, anld a plurality of adjustable type'ineii'i berg mounted-on said head for effecting ariiark ing operation of material held'o'n said platen wh'ensaid' printing head is rocked to printing position, the combination of an inking devi'ceior applying ink to selected type located in printing position, said device normally occupying a posi-' tion where it lies out of contact with said type, a supporting arm for said device pivoted atone endon said head andatthe other 'end'on said device, a control arm' pivoted on said frame eccentrically with respect to the'pivot for: said head and having its free end pivotally andsli d ably connected tosaid supporting" 'aimfa'liiik pivotally connected between the free end of said control arm and said inking device, power means for rocking said control arm aboutits pi ct'pn said frame to cause said link to" rock said inking device about "its 'pivot' onf'said supporting arm and into contact with the type locatedin printing position'tocau'se "the s'ame to be i ke'd, separate ewe -means for rocking said 101 1;} ing' head from nod-printing position to pririting position and causing said inking device to be withdrawnirom tl'ieity p'e' assaid supporting arm is rocked about 'its 'pivotpdsaid head by i t arm 22f The laundry marking machine of claim 21"wherein each pdwer'pieaiis recited therein comprises a fluid-pressure mater; and including in'cdmbinatioirtherewith, a source of fluid "under pressure, anda "for controlling the flo'iv' of fluid from saidsdurce to oth of'said motors in p edet rm n d sequenc WILLIAM J OHETKEUPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UN E STAT ATEN Number Name Date 1,063,189 Canine June 3, 1913 1,131,865 Putnam Mar. 15, 1915 1,516,528 Glass -1 Nov. 25, 1924 1,849,143 Granger Mar. 15, 1,932 2,355,930 Thorne Aug. 15, 1944 2,370,735 Keuper Mar. 6, 1945 2,353,}??? Wmse pt- 4, 19.4 2,l70,622 Keuper May 17, 1949 2,523,1 5! Carothers Nov. 7, 195,0

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