US3654714A

US3654714A - Steam-air garment press

Info

Publication number: US3654714A
Application number: US76029A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L North
Original assignee: FORENTA Ltd
Current assignee: FORENTA Ltd
Priority date: 1970-09-28
Filing date: 1970-09-28
Publication date: 1972-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-11

Abstract

A steam-air garment press, such as a utility press or legger. A horizontally extending buck is provided comprising a perforated metal top plate joined to a metal base member and defining a cavity therewith. A porous metal pad is provided on the outer surface of the top plate, and a heating element is provided in the cavity carried on the inner surface of the top plate for continuously heating the top plate and pad. Elongated, flattened, perforated tubes are carried on the outer surface of the top plate under the pad for selectively injecting steam into the pad for outward flow therethrough thereby to heat and moisten a garment thereon. A blower communicates with the buck cavity and a heating element is provided in the blower air stream for heating the air delivered thereby, the heated air entering the cavity and flowing outwardly through the top plate perforations and the pad thereby to dry the garment thereon. An unheated head plate formed of relatively thin perforated metal is provided with means for selectively moving the head plate between active and inactive positions, the head plate in its active position lightly engaging the garment on the buck with only sufficient pressure to retain the garment thereon during the steam injection and hot air flow.

Description

United States Patent North 3,654,714 [45] Apr. 11, 1972 [54] STEAM-AIR GARMENT PRESS William L. North, Morristown, Tenn.

Forenta, Limited, Kincardine, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 76,029

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl ..38/l6 [51] int. Cl. ..D06l71/34 [58] Field of Search ..38/l4-20, 27-36,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner- Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin Att0rneyl-lood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Coffey [57] ABSTRACT A steam-air garment press, such as a utility press or legger. A horizontally extending buck is provided comprising a perforated metal top plate joined to a metal base member and defining a cavity therewith. A porous metal pad is provided on the outer surface of the top plate, and a heating element is provided in the cavity carried on the inner surface of the top plate for continuously heating the top plate and pad. Elongated, flattened, perforated tubes are carried on the outer surface of the top plate under the pad for selectively injecting steam into the pad for outward flow therethrough thereby to heat and moisten a garment thereon. A blower communicates with the buck cavity and a heating element is provided in the blower air stream for heating the air delivered thereby, the heated air entering the cavity and flowing outwardly through the top plate perforations and the pad thereby to dry the garment thereon. An unheated head plate formed of relatively thin perforated metal is provided with means for selectively moving the head plate between active and inactive positions, the head plate in its active position lightly engaging the garment on the buck with only sufficient pressure to retain the garment thereon during the steam injection and hot air flow.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 5 PATENTEUAPR 11 I972 3,654,714

sum 3 [IF 5 ooooonooooo OOOQOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOOQ OOooO/ouooueooagaoooaoaoooa [o ovooon'ooooooaoooooooeoooo0 p OO7IOOQOOOOOOQOQOOOQDOQDQO ooaaoooooooouoooooaoaocaooao ooo'no INvE Nrore: WILLIAM L.. NORTH,

ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3,654,714

sum u 0F 5 FIG] S L OID STEAM SEPARHTOR EN STEAM VALVE |NJECT\ON srm PS STEAM b5 IN I lab supx HEATING b4 Com v Duc'r HEATING colt-s h 3 5 DAMPER DOOR CYUNDER I74 "'7 DAMPER CHECK STEAM :xHAusr VALVE TEAP B WER lbb BLOWER AIR lNLET HEATING COIL I N VEN TOR WILLIAM L.. NORTH,

ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDAPR I 1 I972 FILTER SE PARATOR AIR IN LEFT CONTROL LEVER SHEET 5 OF 5 FIG!) I BLOWER 2h: J ZIZ SOLENOID M s VALVE RIGHT bl CONTROL F-SOT F DOT LEVER 1 SWITCH v fwncu 150 22s 22b 15b T I38 214 I 208 HEAD cLoslNs I mo VALVE I we Q A lab I x I I I I CYLINDER 0b 1 I l I TIMING CYLINDER 222 1 2oz MAN. I I 204 200 CONTROL I CYLINDER CYLINDER INVENTOR'.

WILLIAM L.. NORTH,

ATTORNEYS.

STEAM-AIR GARMENT PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Conventional utility and leg presses employed in the garment maintenance and manufacturing industries commonly comprise a stationary buck and a press plate movable between a pressing position in engagement with the buck and an inactive position spaced therefrom. In such conventional presses, the buck commonly comprises a metal body covered by a porous fabric pad. Provision is made for continuously circulating steam through passages in the buck body thereby to preheat the buck, for selectively injecting steam through perforations in the buck body for outward flow through the padding thereby to heat and moisten the garment thereon, and for selectively applying a vacuum to the buck body perforations thereby to cause the garment to adhere to the surface of the buck. The pressing head of such conventional presses is similarly continuously heated by steam flowing through passages therein, and provision is made for selectively injecting steam through perforations in the pressing head. Foot pedal-actuated valves are typically employed for injecting buck steam and drawing the buck vacuum, and a manually actuated valve on the pressing head is employed for injecting the head steam. One or more fluid power cylinders are typically employed for moving the pressing head between an active position in pressing engagement with the buck and an inactive position spaced therefrom. In all such prior presses known to the present applicant, the pressing head in its active position applies substantial pressing pressure on the buck.

In such prior utility and leg presses, both the buck body and the pressing head comprise pressure vessels with the attendant necessity for compliance with code requirements, substantial boiler capacity is required for supplying steam to both the buck and the pressing head, and the press operator is required to work in a hot environment by reason of the continuous heating of both the buck and the pressing head. Further, a vacuum system is required, and fluid power cylinders of substantial size are required in order to provide the high pressing pressure. Further, the employment of the heated pressing head and high pressing pressure presents a safety hazard in that it is possible for the operator to be burned and/or have his hand crushed and thus, certain States have required two-hand control for such presses.

Employment of high contact pressures frequently results in undesirable shine and moire. Further, high contact pressures between the buck and pressing head result in appreciable garment wear, particularly in the case of synthetic fabrics and permanent press garments. Further, the use of vacuum tends to produce undesired wrinkles in the garment.

It has been found that high contact pressures between the buck and pressing head are not necessary for high quality garment finishing, including the provision of sharp creases where desired, the basic requirement for garment finishing being heating and moistening the fabric thereby to relax the fibers, followed by drying the garment in its desired form or shape. U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,621 to Harry D. Forse discloses apparatus for finishing coats, jackets, and the like. The apparatus disclosed in that patent employs a buck for shaping the shoulder, neck and collar regions of the garment, provision being made for continuously heating the buck, for selectively injecting steam through perforations in the buck for outward flow through the padding thereon, and for either causing air to flow outwardly through the passages and padding or alternatively inwardly therethrough. The pressing head employed with the apparatus of the Forse patent is not heated and is formed of relatively thin, light, perforated material. That head or grid plate when in its active position lightly engages the garment on the buck merely to retain the same thereon during the steaming and air flow operations.

It is therefore desirable to provide a type press, such as a utility or leg press, incorporating certain of the desirable features of the apparatus of the aforesaid Forse patent including the use of an unheated, light head plate with very light contact pressure with the buck, injection of steam and air through the buck, and the elimination of vacuum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention in its broader aspects, a steam-air garment press is provided comprising a generally horizontally extending buck mounted on a frame, the buck comprising a perforated metal top plate joined to a metal base member and defining a cavity therewith. A porous metal pad is positioned on the outer surface of the top plate, and means are provided in the cavity for continuously heating the top plate and pad. Means are provided for selectively injecting steam into the pad for outward flow therethrough thereby to heat and moisten a garment on the buck, and means are provided for selectively admitting hot air under pressure to the cavity for outward flow through the top plate perforations and the pad thereby to dry the garment. An unheated head is provided formed of relatively thin porous material, and means are provided on the frame for selectively moving the head between active and inactive positions, the head in its active position lightly engaging the garment on the buck with only sufficient pressure to retain the same during steam injection and hot air flow.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved garment press.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved steam-air garment press employing an unheated head.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved steam-air garment press, such as a utility press or legger, wherein steam and hot air are selectively injected through the buck and employing an unheated head with very light contact pressure between the head and buck.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing a utility or leg press incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the buck with the top plate removed taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the top plate of the buck taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the top plate of the buck with the metal pad removed;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the head taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the steam system employed in the embodiment of the previous figures; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the control system employed in the embodiment of the previous figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawing, the improved press of the invention indicated at 20, generally comprises a buck assembly 22 mounted on a frame 24, a head as sembly 26, actuating mechanism 28 for the head, and a heated air supply 30. Frame assembly 24 comprises a base 32 for sup porting the press on supporting surface 34, four upstanding legs 36, and upper frame 38 supported by legs 36. Buck assembly 22 is adjustably supported above upper frame 38 by a pair of upwardly extending post members 40 and suitable threaded fasteners 42, as best seen in FIG. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, buck 22 is longitudinally elongated, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 through 7, and has its outer surface transversely outwardly curved, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Buck assembly 22 comprises a top plate 44 formed of relatively thin, perforated, sheet metal and being transversely outwardly curved, as shown. Top plate 44 is mounted on base member 46 also formed of relatively thin sheet metal, base member 46 having a bottom wall 48 and upstanding side walls 50 and defining cavity 52 with inner surface 54 of top plate 44. A pair of transversely spaced-apart, longitudinally extending stiffening members 56 are secured to bottom wall 46 within cavity 52. Threaded fasteners 42 for mounting buck 22 on posts 40 have their upper ends secured to bottom wall 48 of base member 46.

A steam heating coil 58 of serpentine configuration is supported on inner surface 54 of top plate 44 and in contact therewith by means of suitable clamps 60, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Steam heating coil 58 has its opposite ends 62, 64 extending downwardly through openings in bottom wall 48, as best seen in FIG. 4. Three longitudinally elongated, transversely spaced-apart, flattened, perforated tubes 66 are provided extending longitudinally on upper surface 68 of top plate 44 and having their ends 70 secured thereto, as by soldering at 72. Steam lines 74 in buck cavity 52 extend upwardly through openings in top plate 44 and are respectively connected to perforated tubes 66 adjacent their ends 70, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Steam lines 74 are joined by a manifold connection 76 to which steam line 78 is connected having its end 80 extending downwardly through an opening in bottom plate 48, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

A metallic pad 82 is supported upon upper surface 68 of top plate 44 and covers perforated tubes 66. Pad 82 is preferably formed of steel wool, a Monel pad being preferred. An impervious binding 83, such as tinfoil, is provided around the perimetral edge of pad 82 so that steam injected therein, as will hereinafter be described, will not blow out around the edge of the pad but will all be directed upwardly through the pad. A suitable fabric cover 84 covers pad 82 and is secured in conventional fashion to the bottom of the buck, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Air duct 86 depends from bottom wall 48 adjacent its rear end 88 and communicates with cavity 52 through opening 90 therein. Conventional blower 30 has its discharge end 92 connected to duct 86 for delivering air thereto and to cavity 52. Steam heating coils 94 are positioned in duct 86 for heating the air flowing therein, and in the illustrated embodiment, another steam heating coil 96 is positioned adjacent the air inlet opening of blower 30 for further heating the air delivered by the blower.

I-Iead assembly 26 comprises head plate 98 which, in its active position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, covers buck 24, head plate 98 being outwardly transversely curved to conform to the curvature of buck top plate 44 and pad 82. Head plate 98 is formed of suitable relatively thin, porous sheet material, such as perforated aluminum, perforated fiberglass, or fabric. The perimetral edge 100 of head plate 98 is attached to tubular frame element 102. Frame element 102, in turn, is attached to supporting

frame structure

104, 106. Head assembly 26 is moved between its active position, as shown in FIGS. 2' and 3, and its inactive position, as shown in dashed lines 26a in FIG. 2, by actuating mechanism 28.

Mechanism 28 comprises an arcuate lever member 108 having its lower end 110 pivotally connected to frame 24, as at 112. Another lever member 114 is pivotally connected intermediate its

ends

116, 118 to outer end 120 of lever 108, as at 122. Supporting

frame structure

104, 106 of head assembly 26 is adjustably mounted on end 116 of lever 114 by means of suitable threaded fasteners 124.

Lever member 108 is actuated between an erect, active position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and a lowered, inactive position, as shown in dashed lines at 108a, by main pneumatic cylinder 126 having its piston rod 128 pivotally connected to bracket 130 on lever 108 and its bottom end 132 pivotally connected to base 32, as at 134. Lever 114 which carries head assembly 26 is actuated between closed and open positions by pneumatic head cylinder 136 having its piston rod 138 pivotally connected to end 118 of lever 114 and having its bottom end pivotally connected to bracket 130. Snubber 140 is provided carried by base 32 and having its actuating lever 142 coupled to lever 108 by link 144.

Head actuating mechanism 28, which has heretofore been employed in utility and leg presses and which thus does not form a part of the present invention, is of the so called clear buck or fall away head type, i.e., head assembly 26 in its inactive position is disposed rearwardly of and generally below the level of buck assembly 22, as shown in dashed lines 26a, thereby providing a completely exposed or clear" buck surface in order to facilitate initial placing of a garment thereon. With head actuating mechanism 28 in its retracted position, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, extension of main cylinder 126 will pivotally raise lever 108, lever 1 l4 and head assembly 26 until head'assembly 26 is in spaced, confronting relationship with buck assembly 22. At this point, head closing valve 146 is actuated by further movement of lever 108, which, in turn, causes extension of head cylinder 136 thereby pivotally moving lever 114 so as to close head assembly 26 bringing head plate 98 into light engagement with the upper surface of buck assembly 22, the contact pressure between the head plate 98 and the buck surface being only sufficient to retain the garment in position on the buck during the steaming and drying operations which are to be hereinafter described.

A conventional pan assembly 147 is mounted on upper frame 38 beneath buck assembly 22 to receive portions of garments which may hang the buck. Manually actuated control levers 148, 150 extend forwardly from frame 24 beneath pan 147, being pivotally mounted on frame 24 as at 152. Suitable electric foot-actuated control switches 154, 156 are provided supported on floor 34 and connected to the machine by flexible cables 158a.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 8, steam inlet line 158 is provided adapted to be connected to a boiler for continuously supplying steam to the press 20. Steam line 78, which is coupled to perforated tubes 66 by steam line 74, is coupled to input steam line 158 by solenoid valve 162, steam line 160 and steam separator 159. End 62 of buck heating coil 58 is directly connected to input steam line 158. Steam heating coil 94 in duct 86 is serially connected with end 64 of buck heating coil 58 and with blower air inlet heating coil 96, exhaust end 164 of blower heating coil 96 being connected to steam exhaust line 166 by a conventional trap 168 and check valve 170. It will thus be seen that steam from steam input line 158 continuously circulates through buck heating coil 58, duct heating coil 94 and blower heating coil 96, while steam is selectively admitted to perforated tubes 66 by solenoid valve 162. A damper door 172 is provided in duct 86 and actuated between open and closed positions by pneumatic cylinder 174.

It will now be seen that with steam continuously flowing through steam coil 58, buck top plate 44 and metal pad 82 are continuously heated so that pad 82 is at all times at a temperature substantially above 212 F. Thus, when solenoid valve 162 is actuated thereby to admit steam to perforated tubes 66 which inject steam into pad 82 for outward flow therethrough and through cover 84 into the garment on the buck for heating and moistening the garment, condensation of the steam is prevented and further, any condensate which may remain in

steam lines

74, 78 and 160 and which is forced from perforated tubes 66 by actuation of solenoid valve 162 is revaporized by the heated metal pad 82. It is a requirement that no water be injected into the garment on the buck and thus that no steam condensation occur any place from the cover 84 back to input steam line 158, and it will be observed that the continuously heated metal pad 82 prevents such condensation while still being sufficiently porous so as to permit the passage of steam and air therethrough.

It will be observed that actuation of blower 39 forces heated air into buck cavity 52, outwardly through the perforations in top plate 44, and outwardly through metal pad 82 and cover 84 into the garment for drying the same following the injection of steam therein. It will further be seen that with head assembly 26 in it active position in which head plate 98 applies very light contact pressure upon the working surface of buck 22, such pressure being only sufiicient to retain the garment in position thereon during the steaming and blowing operations, the perforation in head plate 98 permits outward flow of the steam and air therethrough. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the contact pressure is on the order of one pound per square inch as contrasted with about four pounds per square inch contact pressure in the case of prior utility and leg presses.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an automatic programming control system 176 is provided for press 20. Air input line 178 is adapted to be connected to a source of high pressure air and has a conventional filter and separator 180 and regulator 182 connected thereto. Toggle valve 184 actuated by control lever 148 couples regulator 182 to control cylinder 186 and damper door cylinder 174. Actuation of control lever 148 opens valve 184 thereby to extend damper door cylinder 174 to open damper door 172 in duct 86, and extends piston rod 187 of control cylinder 186. Piston rod 187 is connected to actuate

valves

188, 190, 192 and 194, extension of piston rod 187 opening valve 188 and closing

valves

190, 192 and 194. Opening of valve 188 couples main cylinder 126 to regulator 182 through conventional check valve 196 thereby extending main cylinder piston rod 128 so as to raise lever 108, lever 114 and head assembly 26, as above-described. When lever 108 approaches its erect position, as above-described, head closing valve 146 is actuated thereby coupling head cylinder 136 to regulator 182 through valve 188, regulator 198 and metering valve 199. Extension of head cylinder piston 138 closes head assembly 26 on buck 22, as above-described. Regulator 182 may be set, for example, to 80 psi, and regulator 198 may be set, for example, to 30-35 psi.

Opening of valve 188 by extension of piston rod 187 of control cylinder 186 also applies air to timing cylinder 200 through a normally open, manually actuated valve 202 and a metering valve 204, thereby initiating timed extension of piston rod 206 of timing cylinder 200. Timing cylinder piston rod 206 is connected to actuate cam assembly 208 having

cams

210 and 214 thereon. Upon extension of timing cylinder piston rod 206, cam 210 first actuates microswitch 212 to energize solenoid valve 162 to admit steam to perforated tubes 66, thereby injecting steam into pad 82 and into the garment on the buck. In a specific embodiment, cam 210 actuates microswitch 212 thereby to inject steam for a period of about two seconds. Upon completion of the desired steam injection period, continued extension of timing cylinder piston rod 206 causes deactuation of microswitch 212 and deenergization of the solenoid valve 162 thereby to terminate injection of steam by perforated tubes 66, and next causes cam 214 to actuate microswitch 216 to energize blower 30. In a specific embodiment, cam 214 actuates microswitch 216 to energize blower 30 for a period of about ten seconds. In that specific embodiment, duct and blower heating coils 94, 96 heat the air delivered by blower 30 to a temperature on the order of 290 F. Upon completion of the desired period of operation of blower 30, continued extension of timing cylinder piston rod 206 causes cam 214 to deactuate microswitch 216 thereby to terminate operation of blower 30.

Timing cylinder piston rod 206 is also coupled, as indicated by dashed lines at X to activate toggle valve 184 to its closed-exhaust position immediately following deactuation of blower microswitch 216. Closing of valve 184 terminates the application of air to damper door cylinder 174 thus closing damper door 172, and terminates application of air to control cylinder 186 thus causing retraction of its piston rod 187, closing of valve 184 coupling control cylinder 186 and damper door cylinder 174 to exhaust 218. Retraction of control cylinder piston rod 187 closes valve 188 and opens

valves

190, 192 and 194. Closing of valve 188 terminates application of air to main cylinder 126 and head cylinder 136 thus initiating retraction of their

respective piston rods

128, 138. Opening of valve 190 couples head cylinder 136 to exhaust 220, opening of valve 192 couples main cylinder 126 to exhaust 222, and

opening of valve 194 couples timing cylinder 200 to exhaust 224. Valve 190 is arranged to be opened slightly in advance of the opening of valve 192 so as to permit head assembly 26 to be lifted off of the buck by retraction of head cylinder 136 prior to rearward and downward movement of the head assembly by retraction of main cylinder 126, thus preventing the possibility of wiping the garment off the buck when the head is retracted.

It will now be seen that with the automatic control system 176 in operation, momentary actuation of control lever 148 will automatically provide a three step cycle of operation, i.e., in the first step head 26 is actuated to its active position, damper door 172 is opened, and steam is injected into the metal pad 82 and the garment on the buck for a desired period of time, such as two seconds; in the second step the injection of steam is terminated and hot air under pressure is applied to the garment through the buck for a desired period of time, such as ten seconds; and in the third step the air flow is terminated, damper door 172 is closed, and head assembly 26 is retracted to its inactive position.

Control lever is coupled to actuate valve 226 which couples head cylinder 136 to head closing valve 146 through needle valve 225, bypassing regulator 198 and metering valve 199, thereby to apply greater air pressure to head cylinder 136 so as to apply greater contact pressure on the garment, if desired. If manual operation of the press is desired, valve 202 is manually closed thereby disabling timing cylinder 200. Actuation of control lever 148 will again actuate toggle valve 184 to cause actuation of main cylinder 126 and head cylinder 136, as above-described, thereby to move head assembly 26 to its active position. Foot switch 156, which bypasses microswitch 212, may then be actuated to energize solenoid valve 162 to inject steam into the garment for the desired period of time, and foot switch 154, which bypasses microswitch 216, may then be actuated to energize blower 30 thereby to supply hot air to the garment for the desired period of time. Upon completion of the manually controlled steaming and drying operations, control lever 148 is again actuated thereby to actuate toggle valve 184 to its closed-exhaust position causing closing of damper door 172 and return of head assembly 26 to its inactive position, as above-described. It will readily be understood that buck 22 need not have the pronounced outward curvature shown, but may be essentially flat. Further, while

heating elements

58, 94 and 96 are shown and described as being steam coils, it will readily be seen that they may be electric heating elements or coils containing another heated fluid, such as hot oil.

It will now be seen that the improved press of the invention completely eliminates the vacuum source previously required for conventional presses. Complete elimination of head steam, and the employment of steam coil 58 for continuously heating buck top'plate 44, in contrast with prior constructions employing heavy castings with large passages therein through which steam was continuously circulated, greatly reduces the steam boiler capacity required for the press, elimination of the head steam further substantially reducing the heat to which the operator is exposed. The employment of very light head contact pressure substantially reduces the size of the pneumatic cylinders required, thus reducing the air compressor capacity. Further, the employment of an unheated head and very light head contact pressure contributes to safety since the operator cannot be burned by head steam or sufier a crushed hand. The effort required to operate foot pedals used on prior presses is greatly reduced since electric foot switches are employed which further can be located for operator convenience. Complete elimination of the heated head and elimination of the conventional buck casting with steam passages therein substantially reduces any prior problems of compliance with pressure vessel requirements, the only pressure vessel employed being the continuous tubing, preferably copper, forming the serially connected buck and air heating coils 58, 94 and 96. Importantly, elimination of the heated head, the very light contact pressure employed, the elimination of vacuum, and the injection of steam and hot air into the garment solely through the buck eliminates shine and moire, eliminates vacuum wrinkles in the garment, and provides creases and presses which are as sharp and as permanently put in as those provided with prior conventional presses, but with substantially less garment wear due to the greatly reduced head contact pressure. These factors render the press of the invention particularly suitable for use with certain synthetic fabrics when the fibers tend to break under repeated, high pressure pressings, and also for use on permanent press trousers wherein the creases tend to break due to repeated high pressure pressing.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A steam-air garment press comprising a generally horizontally extending buck mounted on a frame; said buck comprising a perforated metal top plate joined to a metal base member and defining a cavity therewith, said top plate having an outer surface and an inner surface exposed to said cavity, a porous metal pad on said outer surface of said top plate, and means in said cavity for continuously heating said top plate and pad; means for selectively injecting steam into said pad for outward flow therethrough thereby to heat and moisten a garment thereon: means for selectively admitting hot air under pressure to said cavity for outward flow through said top plate perforations and pad thereby to dry said garment; an unheated head formed of relatively thin porous material; and means on said frame for selectively moving said head between active and inactive positions, said head in said active position thereof lightly engaging said garment on said buck with only sufficient pressure to retain said garment thereon during said steam injection and hot air flow.

2. The press of claim 1 wherein said admitting means comprises a duct communicating with said cavity through said base member, a blower having its air discharged end connected to said duct, and at least one heating element positioned in the air stream of said blower for heating the air delivered thereby.

3. The press of claim 2 wherein said heating element is positioned in said duct.

4. The press of claim 2 wherein said heating element comprises a first steam coil, said heating means comprising a second steam coil carried on said inner surface of said top plate, and further comprising a steam input line, said first and second steam coils being connected to said input line and continuously supplied with steam thereby, and a valve connecting said steam injecting means to said steam input line.

5. The press of claim 4 further comprising automatic control means for actuating said moving means, valve and blower in a predetermined sequence.

6. The press of claim 5 wherein said control means includes manually actuated means for initiating said sequence, said manually actuated means being coupled to actuate said moving means to move said head from said inactive to said active position, timing means for providing a predetermined timed cycle of operation, said manually actuated means being coupled to said timing means for initiating said cycle, said timing means being coupled to actuate said valve for a first predetermined time and to actuate said blower for a second predetermined time, said timing means being coupled to deactuate said moving means to move said head from said active to said inactive plglsition upon completion of said predetermined times.

. e'press of claim 6 further comprising a damper in said duct and actuable between open and closed positions, said manually actuated means being coupled to actuate said damper to said open position thereof, said timing means being coupled to actuate said damper to said closed position thereof upon completion of said predetermined times.

8. The press of claim 6 wherein said valve is a solenoid valve, further comprising manually actuated switches for selectively energizing said valve and blower.

9. The press of claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises a heating element carried on said inner surface of said top plate.

10. The press of claim 1 wherein said injecting means includes at least one perforated conduit carried on said outer surface of said top plate and covered by said pad.

11. The press of claim 1 wherein said injecting means includes a plurality of spaced, flattened, perforated metal tubes secured to said outer surface of said top plate and covered by said pad, and a steam line connected to said tubes for supplying steam thereto.

12. The press of claim 1 wherein said pad is formed of metallic wool.

13. The press of claim 1 wherein said head comprises a plate formed of relatively thin perforated metal.

14. The press of claim 13 wherein said top plate and pad are transversely outwardly curved, said head plate being transversely outwardly curved generally to conform to the curvature of said top plate and pad, said head plate having its perimetral edges secured to a frame element, said moving means being connected to said frame element.

15. The press of claim 1 wherein said buck is longitudinally elongated, said top plate and base member being formed of relatively thin sheet metal, said top plate and pad being transversely outwardly curved, said heating means comprising a heating element carried on said inner surface of said top plate; said injecting means comprising a plurality of longitudinally elongated, transversely spaced-apart perforated metal tubes carried on said outer surface of said top plate and being covered by said pad, and a steam line connected to said tubes for supplying steam thereto, said head comprising a plate formed of relatively thin perforated sheet material, said head plate in said active position thereof generally covering said buck and being transversely outwardly curved generally to conform to the curvature of said top plate and pad.

Claims

1. A steam-air garment press comprising a generally horizontally extending buck mounted on a frame; said buck comprising a perforated metal top plate joined to a metal base member and defining a cavity therewith, said top plate having an outer surface and an inner surface exposed to said cavity, a porous metal pad on said outer surface of said top plate, and means in said cavity for continuously heating said top plate and pad; means for selectively injecting steam into said pad for outward flow therethrough thereby to heat and moisten a garment thereon: means for selectively admitting hot air under pressure to said cavity for outward flow through said top plate perforations and pad thereby to dry said garment; an unheated head formed of relatively thin porous material; and means on said frame for selectively moving said head between active and inactive positions, said head in said active position thereof lightly engaging said garment on said buck with only sufficient pressure to retain said garment thereon during said steam injection and hot air flow.

6. The press of claim 5 wherein said control means includes manually actuated means for initiating said sequence, said manually actuated means being coupled to actuate said moving means to move said head from said inactive to said active position, timing means for providing a predetermined timed cycle of operation, said manually actuated means being coupled to said timing means for initiating said cycle, said timing means being coupled to actuate said valve for a first predetermined time and to actuate said blower for a second predetermined time, said timing means being coupled to deactuate said moving means to move said head from said active to said inactive position upon completion of said predetermined times.

7. The press of claim 6 further comprising a damper in said duct and actuable between open and closed positions, said manually actuated means being coupled to actuate said damper to said open position thereof, said timing means being coupled to actuate said damper to said closed position thereof upon completion of said predetermined times.

12. The preSs of claim 1 wherein said pad is formed of metallic wool.