Short Sleeve Presser Expander

Abstract

An expander presser apparatus for short sleeve shirtlike garments is provided having a pair of telescopic spring-tension-expanded sleeve-pressing assemblies that are retractably mounted to extend from armpit positions of a garment-receiving upright frame of a finishing machine that has a permeable fabric form into which steam and dry air are introduced.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application deals generally with a shirt pressing machine such as disclosed in U. S. application Ser. No. 869,830, filed Oct. 27, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,900.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION O

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to improved apparatus for finishing the sleeves of a short sleeve shirtlike garment and particularly, to a presser expander for the sleeves of a short sleeve garment. A phase of the invention deals with apparatus for providing a one-operation improved finishing of the sleeve portions of a shirtlike garment.

2. Description of the Art

The above-mentioned application discloses a machine for finishing laundered or dry cleaned shirtlike garments which employs an expandable permeable fabric form into which a mixture of hot air and dry steam are introduced. The machine has a pair of sidewise outwardly projecting gripping or clamping arm assemblies R which are adjustable to clamp the cuff or edge portions of either a long sleeve or to be short sleeve garment. Such clamping assemblies have been found to highly satisfactory particularly for long sleeves, but it has been determined in processing short sleeves, due to the closeness of the gripping action to the shoulder or armpit portions of the garment, that there has been some tendency to wrinkle the material such that a hand pressed touching-up operation may be required.

The present invention thus pertains to an improved apparatus that is adaptable for use with a machine such as set forth in my above-mentioned application, that is especially suitable for finishing the sleeves of short-sleeved garments, and that operates in such a manner that the sleeves are both expanded and pressed under the action of an application of steam and dry air coming from open armpit ends of the fabric form and the action of a pair of expander assemblies or units that are positioned within the sleeves and effect an oval-shaped resilient outward expanding action thereon. This provides a much improved finishing-pressing of short sleeve portions of a garment. It entirely eliminates any need for touch-up pressing such that the complete finishing of the garment may be effected in one operation.

The apparatus of the present invention provides for an increased or higher temperature application of heat to the sleeve portions through the usage of a staggered tier or assembly of open-end tubular members that define a heat chest at an upper end of the machine. Steam is moved through a closed coil system from the head of a steamer in the base or stand part of the apparatus to the heat chest, while live steam and hot air are being moved upwardly within a permeable fabric or nylon form and at the heat chest are subjected to further warming heat before they are moved outwardly through armpit openings into the sleeves of the garment. The pair of expander-presser units or assemblies within the sleeves simultaneously apply a flexible expansion-shaping-pressing force internally to the sleeves while they are being finished by the application of the steam and hot air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of structural parts of the apparatus of the invention but broken-away for purposes of simplicity from the standpoint of a mounting base, a steamer head, steam and air supply means, and a permeable garment bag or form. In this figure, a pair of sleeve expander-presser assemblies are shown in a sidewise-outwardly extending relationship such as would normally be employed when a short sleeve shirtlike garment is to be finished.

FIG. 2 is a view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 1 but showing the sleeve presser-expander assemblies in a retracted, out-of-the-way or inward positioning with respect to armpit ends of a collar, shoulder and chest plate member of the apparatus. In this view, steam supply tubing and upper chest parts have been omitted, since they are illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a side section in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line IIA--IIA of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in the position illustrated in such figure and on the same scale as such figure.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged vertical fragment showing details of the construction and mounting of a fluid motor means shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 for moving the pair of sleeve presser-expander assemblies between their inner and outer positions.

FIG. 3B is a slightly enlarged vertical fragmental view, partially in section, showing details of the construction of a heat chest assembly, also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective elevation particularly illustrating a bifurcated connector head member or clevis for operating members of the sleeve presser-expander units.

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragment in elevation on the scale of FIG. 4 and showing details of the construction of an intermediate cross member of the frame structure of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged side view in elevation through one of the sleeve presser-expander units or assemblies of the construction of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; in this figure, two telescopic parts are shown in their maximum outward, spring-pressed positions such as accomplished when steam and hot air are being supplied to finish a garment and its sleeves.

FIG. 7 is an outer end view in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views in elevation on a slightly reduced scale from FIGS. 6 and 7, and respectively taken along the lines VIII--VIII and IX--IX of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 6, but showing the parts of a sleeve presser-expander unit or assembly in their innermost or fully collapsed telescopic positioning with respect to each other as accomplished by a fluid motor acting against spring tension; this view illustrates the location of the parts of each of the assemblies when a garment is being positioned on the machine over its fabric bag for finishing and also after completion of a finishing operation when the garment is to be removed.

FIG. 11 is a greatly reduced front view in elevation showing a short sleeve shirt positioned on apparatus of the invention while being expanded-pressed thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It will be understood that the apparatus disclosed herein will be carried on a base and frame structure similar to that fully described and set forth in my above-mentioned application, and will also be used with a permeable fabric bag or nylon form such as also disclosed therein. The apparatus herein disclosed has been designed and constructed so that it may be used with or adapted for use with an overall machine structure such as illustrated in said patent. It enables the cuff gripping means of such a machine to be used for longer sleeved garments when the short sleeve expander assemblies of the present disclosure are in their retracted position of FIG. 2, and enables the use of the short sleeve expander apparatus of the present disclosure by inactivating the outwardly positioned, upwardly extending sleeve clamping assemblies disclosed in said patent.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a stationary upright frame support structure 10 is shown which is adapted to be secured in a conventional manner to a base or stand part of a machine and to receive a permeable fabric bag thereover. With particular reference to FIG. 1, the frame structure 10 has a pair of horizontally spaced-apart upright members 11 that are secured together at their upper ends by a cross-extending bar, head piece or uppermost member 12, and that are reinforced along their lengths by cross-extending brace members 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, and by a centrally disposed brace and guide member 14 (see also FIG. 5), all of which are secured thereto as by weld metal to form a unitary structure. A collar, shoulder and chest plate member 15 of hollow construction and a suitable metal material such as aluminum is secured to project downwardly over the upper ends of the frame members 11 and to enclose the uppermost member 12. An upwardly-shortened, tiered or stepped assembly of short-length tube members 16, as of rectangular or square section (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 3B) are secured in alignment on the member 12 to define an open-end, hollow, heat pick-up chest assembly for concentrating and directing heat from the upper end of an enclosed steam coil system C. The system C employs a pair of finned, steam-conducting, tube members that extend vertically longitudinally along the frame structure 10 and that are connected at their upper ends by a pipe loop 18 which extends through the tubular heat chest assembly 16. The enclosed steam system C corresponds to the system disclosed in FIG. 18 of my above-mentioned patent, in that hot steam is introduced through one of the tubular members, is passed upwardly along the inside of the frame 10, and cooled steam is then returned through the other upright tubular member. This enables the provision of a greater heat in the upper portion of a permeable fabric expander form B (see FIG. 11) which fits downward over the shoulder plate or shell 15. The open armpit ends of the form B will thus supply a more intense heat into the short sleeves of a garment S and into the end areas defined by a pair of sleeve presser-expander units or assemblies A.

The assemblies A are simultaneously operated to move them from a retracted position of FIG. 2 to an expanded, outwardly extended position of FIG. 1 by actuating means which, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, may comprise a reversible or reciprocating fluid or air motor 20 that is mounted on a forwardly outwardly extending shelf 21 carried by the upright members 11 and lower cross member 13. The motor 20 has a piston rod 23 that is shown mounted (see FIG. 3A) by the clamping action of an endwise-weld-secured, plug-like collar 22 and a nut 22b. The weld metal is designated w. It will be noted that the nut 22b is mounted on an outwardly threaded stem portion 22a to grip the outer end portion of shelf 21 through which the stem portion extends. The extreme outer end of the piston rod 23 is threaded to receive a mounting nut 25 that is weld-secured on the forward end portion of a short length connector piece or member 24. A second mounting nut 25a is weld-secured on the back end portion of the connector piece 24 (see FIGS. 2A and 3) to receive the lower, threaded end of a forwardly positioned, upwardly extending primary, lower or main drive rod or member 26. The motor 20 is employed to move the drive rod 26 between the full line upper position and the dot and dash line lower position of FIG. 3. The lowermost position is reinforced by abutment of the connector piece 24 with a stop platform 19.

The primary or lower drive rod 26 is positioned for "up" and "down" vertical movement, as accomplished by a valve-controlled operation of the fluid or pneumatic two-way cylinder or motor 20 for, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, moving the pair of sleeve expander assemblies A from a contracted-in positioning (see FIG. 2) with respect to the shoulder plate 15 to an outwardly expanded, sleeve-engaging position (see FIG. 1), and vice versa. The drive member 26 is slidably carried within mounting brackets 27 and 28 which are positioned to extend frontwardly outwardly from the cross-extending frame bracing members 13a and 14. The upper end of the rod 26 is also threaded and is provided with a pair of nuts 30 for mounting it in a through-extending relation within one end of a backwardly projecting, connecting piece or member 31 (see particularly FIGS. 2A and 3). A secondary, auxiliary or upper drive rod or member 32 provides a backwardly offset, upward extension of the drive rod 26 and, at its lower, threaded end is secured by a pair of nuts 33 to extend through the back end of the connecting piece or member 31. The secondary or auxiliary drive rod 32 is mounted for sliding movement within a bracket 29 that is secured to project from an upper, cross-extending reinforcing frame member 13c. The threaded upper end of the secondary or auxiliary rod 32 is adapted to be mounted within a threaded central bore portion 35a of a clevis member 35 (see FIG. 4). A nut 34 (see FIG. 2A) locks the rod 32 in a suitably adjusted position within the clevis 35.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the clevis 35 is, at each of its ends, provided with endwise-open, spaced-apart, slotted end portions 35b. Each slotted end portion 35b is adapted to receive a pair of side-positioned, downwardly, outwardly, inclined operating arm members 40 that, at their upper ends, are pivotally secured to the clevis 35 by a through-extending pivot pin 41. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there are opposite pairs of the operating arm members 40 which, at their lower ends, are pivotally secured to intermediate length portions of an associated, vertical, operating leg member 43 by pivot pins 42. Each operating leg member 43, as shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, is at its lower end pivotally mounted on a pivot post by a bolt 44 which carries a spacer sleeve 45.

It will thus be apparent that an upward movement of the primary drive member 26 and of the extension or secondary drive member 32 will cause the clevis 35 to move upwardly and close the opposite pairs of arms 40 inwardly to, through the agency of side legs 43, move the pair of assemblies A from their outer positions of FIG. 1 to their innermost or retracted positions of FIG. 2. On the other hand, a downward movement of the rods 26 and 32 will effect an outwardly positioning movement of the units A (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 shows an assembly or unit A in its sleeve-expanding pressing position, while FIG. 10 shows it in a collapsed or sleeve releasing position, such as may be accomplished when the assemblies or units A are to be withdrawn towards the frame structure 10 or when a shirt is being mounted or removed from the machine.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, each unit or assembly A has a lower, inner, supporting expansion sleeve part 50 and an upper, outer slide expansion sleeve part 60 which are, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, of cylindrical or substantially rectangular, rounded-end cross-section taken endwise, and are of generally elongated elliptical shape having opposed planar wide side faces. The inner part 50 is also the main mounting part and, in this connection, has a backwardly extending, integral, mounting, support arm 51, a reinforcing, mounting, angle bracket 52, and a diagonal, supporting-reinforcing member 53, all of which are secured at their outer ends on an associated operating leg member 43 by nut and bolt assemblies 54. The upper end of the member 53 is secured to an intermediate knee or shoulder portion of the member 52 also by a nut and bolt assembly 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the part 50, like the part 60, defines an elongated, elliptical-like chamber, looking endwise from the back end of the assembly, with the parts in their cooperative telescopic or slidable relationship with respect to each other. The lower or supporting part 50 has a cross-extending, bottom-positioned, lower mounting plate member 55 and an associated upper mounting plate member 56 which are removably secured in position at their angle-shaped forward ends or flanges to the side wall of the part 50 to provide a bottom closure therefor by mounting screws 57. The upper floor plate member 56 has holes therethrough to bypass bolts 58 which are threaded through the lower plate member 55 and through threaded bores in a mounting foot portion of the bracket 52. A slide guide pin or rod 66 is, at its lower end, threaded for removable mounting on the under floor plate member 55 by means of nuts 67 to extend upwardly within a guide sleeve 65 that is weld-secured to a cover plate member 61 for the lower end of the part 60 to extend through it and through an associated upper closure plate member 62. It will be noted that the members 61 and 62 have angle-shaped end flanges which are removably secured within the upper reaches or mouth of the lower part 50 by mounting screws 63 and 63'. The screws 63' which are located behind the side wall of the lower part 50, are inset in order to slidably bypass the skirt portion of the lower part 50 thereover; the screws 63 are used to secure the flanges of the members 61 and 62 together at the open back end of the assembly or unit A.

An inward power stroke or collapsing movement of the part 50 with respect to the part 60 is accomplished by a fluid motor or cylinder, such as a pneumatic or fluid motor 70 which, at its upper end 70a, has a central slot, recess or groove therein to fit over an inwardly projecting lug 60a. The lug 60a is secured as by weld metal w to the inside of the upper wall of the part 60. The housing of the motor 70 extends downwardly through the cover or uppermost plate assembly 61 and 62 of the upper part 60. An angular-shaped mounting cup 74 receives the lower or forward end portion of the housing of the motor 70. The mounting cup 74 has a foot flange that is removably mounted on the underside of the cover or upper assembly 61, 62, by means of threaded bolts 75. The mounting cup 74 at its lower end has an inwardly extending flange portion that carries an internally threaded collar 76 which abuts a forward end of the housing of the motor 70 and securely maintains it in position within the mounting cup 74 and in tongue and groove locking engagement with the lug 60a. A gland nut 77 is threadably carried by the collar 76 and has a forwardly downwardly extending, inwardly offset, end portion for mounting an upper end of a spiral tension spring 79 thereon that converges in shape from its central area towards its opposite end portions. The mounting cup 74 carries a bearing sleeve 78 therein for slidably sealing-off and guiding a piston rod 72 that at its upper end carries piston 71 and at its lower threaded end is secured to the bottom plate assembly 55, 56 by a pair of nuts 73. The inner nut of the pair 73 serves as a positioning mount for the lower end of the spring 79.

A positive flow of air under pressure is supplied to the front end of the housing chamber of the motor 70 through a nipple fitting 80, a flow setting valve 81, an elbow 82, and a hose mounting adaptor 83 to positively move the piston 71 upwardly against the tension of the spring 79 when the part 50 is to be telescoped or moved upwardly within the part 60. The spring 79 normally, through the agency of its tension, will move the piston 71 and its rod 72 downwardly to the position of FIG. 6, and will continue to maintain such a positioning as long as a positive pressure flow of air is cut-off and the chamber of the motor 70 is being vented through the fitting 80. A flexible air supply tubing, line or hose 84 may be connected to the mounting adaptor 83 of each unit A and may alternatively through a suitable valve means, be supplied with air under positive pressure flow from a suitable source such as a storage tank of a compresser unit, or be exhausted to the atmosphere. As shown in FIG. 1, a downwardly-outwardly-extending, position-retention bracket 85 is mounted adjacent each end of the cross extending member 14 of the frame structure 10 to encircle each air tubing or line 84 and retain it close to the frame structure along its vertical side reaches.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, each unit A is somewhat flexibly carried by a strap metal support leaf or strap member 88 that extends within the open back end of the unit A and that is secured by weld metal w to the inside of the top wall of the upper part 60 to project at its opposite end portion within the shoulder plate member 15, A two-tiered, open-end, horizontally positioned, slotted guide sleeve, member or mount 89 is securely mounted on a top member of the heat chest assembly 16; one guide slot tier or portion is adapted to slidably-guidably receive the inner end portion of one flexible supporting strap member 88 and the other slot tier is adapted to, in a like manner, receive the inner end portion of the other flexible strap member 88. As a result, each unit or assembly A is carried on both an associated leg member 43 and a strap member 88. The lines or hoses 84 as well as the operating mechanism which includes the drive rod 26 and the leg members 43 are all adapted to be enclosed within a nylon or permeable fabric garment bag B, such as disclosed in my above-mentioned application.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a machine construction for finishing the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the construction has an upright frame for receiving a garment thereon and has means for positioning a garment on the frame and for supplying hot drying fluid internally of the garment; a pair of garment sleeve finishing units mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and each of said units having a pair of telescoping internal sleevelike pressing parts that are slidable into and out of an expandable and contractable relation with respect to each other transversely crosswise within and about the interior of a sleeve of the garment.

2. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, means positioned fully within the parts of each of said units and connected thereto for moving them alternately into a transversely crosswise expanded sleeve pressing position and a contracted sleeve releasing position with respect to each other.

3. In a machine construction as defined in claim 2, said means comprising fluid motor means for contracting the parts of each unit inwardly with respect to each other, and spring means for urging the parts of each of said units towards an outwardly expanded sleeve pressing position with respect to each other.

4. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having a substantially continuous hollow construction of elongated oval cross-extending shape within the sleeve of a garment.

5. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, an operating mechanism carried by said frame and connected to each of said units for moving them between a tranversely inwardly withdrawn position and a transversely outwardly extending position with respect to the frame, and internally positioned means within said units for expanding and contracting said parts transversely crosswise within sleeves of the garment.

6. In a machine construction as defined in claim 5, means mounting each of said units on the frame for their inward and outward movement with respect thereto, and said operating mechanism for moving said units being a lever mechanism operatively carried by the frame and connected to each of said units.

7. In a machine construction as defined in claim 6 said means for mounting each of said sleeve units being a guide member carried on an upper end portion of the frame, and a flexible strap member secured to each of said units and extending in a slidably-supported position within said guide member for transverse inward and outward movement with respect thereto.

8. In a machine construction as defined in claim 5, said operating mechanism for moving each of said units comprising a fluid motor, an upright drive rod assembly operatively connected to said fluid motor for actuation thereby, means mounting said drive rod assembly to extend substantially centrally upwardly along the frame for up and down movement with respect thereto, a connecting head secured to an upper end portion of said drive rod assembly, a pair of side-positioned operating legs, connecting arms between said head and said legs, and operating connections between upward end portions of said legs and each of said units.

9. In a machine construction as defined in claim 8, mounting portions extending from each of said units and secured to an associated one of said legs, a pair of inwardly extending flexible members, said flexible members being secured to an associated one of said units, and said flexible members being guidably slidably mounted on the frame and cooperating with said legs for supporting said units.

10. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, an upper guide mount carried by the frame and having open-end guide slot portions facing towards said units, each of said units having an upper and a lower part, straplike members secured to the upper parts of each of said units and mounted in a slidably guided position within said guide slot portions for in and out guided movement therealong, and an operating mechanism having connecting member means extending therefrom and secured to the lower part of each of said units for cooperating with said straplike members in carrying said units and in moving them transversely inwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame.

11. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having a pair of hollow telescopic parts, fluid motor and guide means operatively connected between said parts for moving them in one telescopic direction with respect to each other, and spring means connected between said parts for urging them in an opposite telescopic direction with respect to each other.

12. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having an outer hollow member part and an inner hollow member part mounted in a telescopic slidable relation with respect to each other for expandable and contractable movement within a sleeve of the garment, a fluid motor having a substantially cylindrical housing mounted within each side unit to extend from a wall of one part of said unit, said motor having a piston rod connected at its extending end to a wall of the other part of each said unit for moving said inner and outer parts towards an outwardly expanded relation with respect to each other, a spiral spring positioned about and along said piston rod and extending between the wall of the other part and a forward end of the housing of said motor for urging said inner and outer parts of each of said units towards an outward sleeve-pressing position with respect to each other.

13. In a machine construction as defined in claim 12, a guide sleeve carried by a wall of one of said parts, and a guide rod slidably positioned within said sleeve and carried by a wall of the other said parts for guiding said parts during their inward and outward expansive movement with respect to each other.

14. In a machine construction as defined in claim 13, said operating mechanism having a pair of leg members operatively connected thereto at their lower end portions and operatively connected to an associated one of said units at their upper end portions, and a pair of members extending from the upper end portions of each of said leg members and connected to a wall of one part of said pairs for supporting the units on said leg members.

15. In a machine for finishing a short sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the machine has an upright frame, a permeable garment bag extending along the frame and having closed-end sleeve portions, and an upper shoulder plate member for supportably suspending the garment bag; a pair of oppositely positioned sleeve finishing units, means mounting each of said units for transversely inward and outward movement with respect to the shoulder plate member and within the closed-end sleeve portions of the garment bag, and each of said units having a pair of sleevelike parts movable into and out of an expanded relation with respect to each other transversely within an associated sleeve portion of the bag for finishing the sleeves of a garment positioned on the bag.

16. In a machine as defined in claim 15, an enclosed steam pipe assembly extending upwardly along the frame, a heat chest positioned within the shoulder plate and having open end portions facing transversely towards said units, and a return pipe loop connecting upper end portions of said pipe assembly and positioned in a heat transferring relation with respect to said heat chest.

17. In a machine as defined in claim 15, means carried by each of said units for expanding and contracting them within the associated sleeve portion of the fabric bag, each of said units having a pair of telescopic parts, and said means for expanding and contracting said units comprising: a fluid motor operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units and adapted to impart a positive inwardly contracting movement thereto, and spring means operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units for urging the parts of each said pair into an outwardly expanded relation with respect to each other.

18. In a machine as defined in claim 17, means for positioning each of said units in a transversely opposed endwise position with respect to each other on the frame and for moving each of said units between a withdrawn position within and an outwardly extending position with respect to said frame and into and out of an operating position with respect to an associated sleeve portion of the garment when said units are in their extending positions with respect to the frame.

19. In a machine construction for finishing the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the construction has an upright frame for receiving a garment thereon and has means for positioning a garment on the frame and for supplying hot drying fluid internally of the garment; a pair of garment sleeve finishing units mounted on opposite sides of the frame, each of said units having internal sleeve pressing parts that are expandable and contractable with respect to each other within and about the interior of a sleeve of the garment, each of said units having a pair of telescopic parts of metal material and of hollow sleevelike construction, one part of each of said pairs being slidable within the other part, means carried by each of said pairs for resiliently urging the parts thereof into an outwardly expanded telescopic relation with respect to each other and into pressing engagement within an associated sleeve of the garment, and means within each of said pairs for positively moving them into an inwardly contracted telescopic relation with respect to each other when each of said units is being positioned within an associated sleeve of the garment and after an associated sleeve of the garment has been finished-pressed thereby.

20. In a machine construction as defined in claim 19, said means for expanding the parts of each pair being a tension spring, and said means for contracting them with respect to each other being a fluid motor.