Peripheral guard control for a garment finishing press

A safety guard apparatus for movement of a support lever arm attached to a press head of a press machine powered by a source of pneumatic power providing pneumatic fluid flow to operate the press head between inoperative and operative positions controlled by at least one actuatable valve, comprising:

• a guard bar connectable to a connector means, said guard bar is manipulated by an operator to move said connector means for activation of the at least one actuatable valve being in pneumatic communication with the pressurized fluid flow system of the press machine for transmission of pneumatic fluid for movement of the press head between an inoperative position to an operative position, said guard bar is configured to encircle the press head, said guard bar is disposed to be moved in advance of movement of the press head between said inoperative and operative positions;
• an operator-responsive mechanism interposed between said connector means and the at least one actuatable valve, said operator-responsive mechanism including at least one pivotable connection and a means for connecting disposed between said connector means and the at least one actuatable valve, said means for connecting is reciprocated upon said guard bar being moved in advance of movement of the press head, thereby said operator-responsive mechanism is responsive to the movement of said guard bar and said press head between inoperative and operative positions to activate the at least one actuatable valve for regulation of the transmission of pneumatic power to operate the press head between inoperative and operative positions, said operator-responsive mechanism further including:
• an activation system disposed to be reciprocated by said means for connecting, said activation system positioned to actuate the at least one actuatable valve between inoperative and operative valve positions, said activation system including:
• an activation frame having a first end that is reciprocated about a pivot attached at said first end to a structural member of the press machine, said activation frame having a second end reciprocated between a raised and a lowered position, said activation frame second end supporting a roller means disposed to reciprocate against a lever arm attached by a pivoting connector to the structural member of the press machine, said lever arm is spring tensioned to maintain contact against said roller means of said second end;
• the at least one actuatable valve including a first and a second pressure control valve positioned proximate to said first end of said activation frame, said first and said second pressure control valve being actuated between respective open and closed configurations as said activation frame is reciprocated, said first and said second pressure control valves are in pneumatic communication with the pressurized fluid flow system of the press machine;
• and
• a stop member being positioned within said activation frame, said stop member restricts the reciprocating motion of said activation frame between said raised position and said lowered position of said activation frame;
• whereby actuating of said first and second pressure control valves between respective open and closed configurations regulates the pneumatic fluid flow pressure applied to the support lever arm for movement of the press head between inoperative and operative positions.

In a press machine powered by a source of pneumatic power and having a structural member supporting a support lever arm attached to a press head wherein the operation of the support lever arm and the press head between operative and inoperative positions is controlled by at least one actuatable valve in communication with the source of pneumatic power, the improvement comprising:

• an operator responsive mechanism responsive to the movement of the press head between its operative and inoperative positions and interposed between the press head and the at least one actuatable valve;
• a guard bar manipulated by an operator between operative and inoperative positions, said guard bar is supported by a pivotable connector means connecting to said operator responsive mechanism disposed to reciprocate the at least one actuatable valve, said guard bar is disposed by said pivotable connector means to move ahead of movement of the press head between said inoperative and operative positions;
• at least one connector attached at a first end to said connector means, said at least one connector is reciprocated in response to movement of said connector means, said at least one connector having a second end disposed to extend downwardly from said connector means;
• an activation frame connected to said second end of said at least one connector, said activation frame is reciprocated at a first end about a pivot end upon manipulation of the guard bar between operative and inoperative positions;
• said activation frame having a second end reciprocated between a raised and a lowered position, said activation frame second end supporting a roller means disposed to reciprocate against a lever arm attached by a pivoting connector to the structural member of the press machine, said lever arm is spring tensioned to maintain contact against said roller means of said second end;
• and
• the at least one actuatable valve including a first and a second pressure control valve positioned proximate to respective corners of said pivot end of said activation frame, said first and second pressure control valves being actuated between operative and inoperative positions for control of pressurized air provided by the source of pneumatic power, said first and second pressure control valves operate to move the press head as said activation frame is reciprocated, said first and second pressure control valves are in pneumatic communication with the source of pneumatic power of the press.

A safety guard apparatus for movement of a support lever arm attached to a press head of a press machine powered by a source of pneumatic power to operate the press head between inoperative and operative positions controlled by at least one actuatable valve, comprising:

• a guard bar connectable to a connector means, said guard bar is manipulated by an operator to move said connector means for activation of the at least one actuatable valve for movement of the press head between inoperative and operative positions, said guard bar is extended from said connector means to encircle the press head, said guard bar is disposed to be moved in advance of movement of the press head between said inoperative and operative positions;
• an operator-responsive mechanism interposed between said connector means and the at least one actuatable valve, said operator-responsive mechanism including at least one pivotable connection and a means for connecting disposed between said connector means and the at least one actuatable valve, said operator-responsive mechanism is responsive to the movement of said guard bar between inoperative and operative positions to activate the at least one actuatable valve for regulation of the transmission of pneumatic power to operate the press head between inoperative and operative positions;
• and
• an activation system positioned to actuate the at least one actuatable valve between inoperative and operative valve positions, said activation system connectable at a pivotable connection to said means for connecting, said activation system reciprocated by said means for connecting upon manipulation of said guard bar by the operator;
• whereby said inoperative and operative valve positions regulate the pneumatic pressure applied to the support lever arm attached to the press head for movement between inoperative and operative positions;
• at least one connector attached at a first end to said connector means, said at least one connector is reciprocated in response to movement of said connector means, said at least one connector having a second end disposed to extend downwardly from said connector means;
• an activation frame connected to said second end of said at least one connector, said activation frame is reciprocated at a first end about a pivot end upon manipulation of the guard bar between operative and inoperative positions;
• said activation frame having a second end reciprocated between a raised and a lowered position, said activation frame second end supporting a roller means disposed to reciprocate against a lever arm attached by a pivoting connector to the structural member of the press machine, said lever arm is spring tensioned to maintain contact against said roller means of said second end;
• and
• a first and a second pressure control valve positioned proximate to respective corners of said pivot end of said activation frame, said first and second pressure control valves being actuated between operative and inoperative positions for control of pressurized fluid provided by the source of pneumatic power, said first and second pressure control valves operate to move the press head as said activation frame is reciprocated, said first and second pressure control valves are in pneumatic communication with the source of pneumatic power of the press.

A method of operation of a peripheral guard system for controlling pneumatic power to a piston and cylinder means for movement of a press head in relation to a pressing surface of a garment press activated by pneumatic fluid flow provided by a source of pneumatic power, comprising the steps of:

• manipulating a guard bar encircling the press head, said manipulating step moves said guard bar in advance of movement of the press head by the piston and cylinder means between an inoperative position and an operative position;
• transmitting movement of said guard bar by a connector means extending to an activation system including an activation frame connected by said connector means extending from said guard bar, said activation frame is reciprocated upon said step of manipulating said guard bar between operative and inoperative positions, said step of transmitting linking the movement of said activation system between a first position and a second position with the movement of said guard bar between said inoperative position and said operative position;
• and
• actuating at least one valve means in pneumatic communication with a source of pneumatic power, said step of transmitting linking the movement of said activation system including said reciprocated activation frame with actuating of said at least one valve means for transmission of pneumatic power to the piston and cylinder means for repetitive movement of the press head between said operative position and said inoperative position;
• wherein said step of manipulating initiates reciprocation of said activation system for actuation of the at least one actuatable valve for control of pneumatic fluid flow to repetitively move the press head between positions alternating between inoperative and operative positions.