Abstract: The invention pertains to an ironing system including an ironing board and an iron operated on a top surface of the ironing board in the process of ironing a fabric on the ironing board. Included in the system is a device for keeping the electric cord of the electric iron a distance above the ironing board so that the electric cord cannot interfere with a fabric that already has been ironed. The device also keeps the electric cord of the iron from being singed or burned by the hot sole of the iron. The device includes a tensioned coil spring through which the electric cord passes to the iron as it is kept in an elevated position. The coils of the tension coil spring are close and adjacent to each when the coil spring is in a rest position. A slight extension of the tension coil spring will induce a retracting force in the spring so that the electric cord will be withdrawn into the tension spring coil and away from the iron.

Abstract: In the disclosed system, if the frequency of input signals exceeds a value suitable for a load, the input signals and output signals are stored and compared in a comparator while locking of a phase locked loop is delayed by a loop filter that allows the output of the VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) to increase or decrease only at rates slower than given rates. When the input signals end after the loop locks, the filter delay causes the VCO to keep producing signals which are passed until the comparator recognizes that the number of output signals equals the number of input signals. If the input signals end before the loop locks, a logic circuit causes the VCO frequency to keep rising until another comparator indicates that the number of output signals has reached one-half the input signals.

Abstract: A synchronous motor is driven by applying cyclical or digital data through a phase locked loop whose loop filter integrates with a time constant equal to or greater than the inertial delay of the motor from start to its operating speed. According to one embodiment, the frequency output of the phase locked loop is further controlled with a digital rate multiplier whose phase effects are minimized by operating the VCO at a multiple of the input frequency and feeding the VCO voltage back through a frequency divider. According to another embodiment, the frequency control is obtained with a preliminary phase locked loop with a normal filter but a high frequency VCO whose feedback is divided by a value n, and then dividing the output of the main loop by m. Suitable counters may be used to stop and start the drive.