GB2180265A - Device for smoothing garments - Google Patents

Abstract

In the smoothing of garments (1) by means of steam and hot air,the garment (1) is pulled onto a shaped body and stretched. Since different values of the stretching device have to be set manually in each case for various fabrics or for various sizes of garments (1), its proposed to make the bust (10) and/or the hem-holding device (30) mechanically essentially infinitely adjustable, with stretching-force measuring devices being advantageously arranged in such a way that the stretching devices can be adjusted as a function of the admissible fabric-stretching force of the garments (1). Stretching cylinder 45 (Figure 4) moves carriage 44 about until the holding force of electromagnet 51 (Figure 6) is exceeded, thereby stretching the hem. Bust lock 10 is then raised by stretching device 81 (Figure 9) and the garment steamed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for smoothing garments The invention relates to a device for smoothing garments, in particular outer garments, according to the preambleofClaim 1.

Devices of this type are used during the course of manufacture (ready-made manufacture) of garments forsmoothing the latter, also called finishing, in particular in the manufacture of outer garments in the form of blouses, dresses, shirts and the like. In this case, the garments are nowadays smoothed ortre ated as a rule in treatment chambers, the shaped bodies with the pulled-on garments being conveyed mechanically into and out of the treatment chambers.

The hem-holding device located at the lower end of the shaped body is used in particularfor holding the lower edge or hem of the garments during theirtreat- ment, with the hem being stretched before the actual holding operation, in particular in the direction ofthe side seams of the garment. For this purpose, the hem-holding device can be adjusted manually in stages in accordance with the garment sizes orthe like. This procedure is time consuming and also has the disadvantage that adjusting or stretching takes place without allowance forthe fabric-stretching forces permissible on the different fabrics ofthe diverse and dissimilar garments. This also applies accordingly to the vertically adjustable bust (shoulder support) ofthe shaped body.

The object of the invention, in the case of a generic device, is therefore to improve the shaped body in such a way that the adjusting of the bust (shoulder support), and in particularofthe hem-holding device ofthe shaped body, is at least less time consuming and/or less labour-intensive.

This object is achieved by the characterising features of Claim 1.

Asthebustand/orthe hem-holding device are mechanically essentially infinitely adjustable, the stretching forces admissibleforthevarious garments andcorrespondingtothedifferentfabricscan be easily set and reproduced during stretching. The required saving in personnel is a results of, in particular, the mechanical adjustability.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is char acterized in that the bust and/or the hem-holding de- vice are equipped with stretching-force measuring devices. These stretching-force measuring devices are arranged in such a waythatthe bust and/orthe hem-holding device can be adjusted as a function of the admissible fabric-stretching force ofthe garments. By the stretching force being measured and then the adjustment of the bust orthe hem-holding device being controlled, the operator no longer needs to watch whether the garment put on corresponds in size to the garment treated beforehand, because the device automatically sets the correct stretching values.

The hem-holding device and/or the bust can be advantageously adjusted by means of an electromechanical and/or an electropneumatic adjusting device. During this procedure, the bust is adjusted in height and the hem-holding device is adjusted in its diameter. Electromechanical or electropneumatic adjusting devices ofthistype have proved to beespecially robust in operation, during which they do nevertheless work quickly.

In a further preferred embodiment ofthe invention, in which the hem-holding device and/orthe bust are adjusted by means of electropneumatic adjusting devices, it is of advantage if the adjusting devices (both for the bust and for the hem-holding device) have at leastoneworkingcylinderwhichcan be acted upon on both sides by compressed air. At least one positioning valve is arranged in the compressed-airsupp- ly line for the working cylinder, which positioning valve can allow the working cylinder to both extend and retract and is also suitableforarresting theworking cylinder, which can be acted upon on both sides, in any position of its stroke possible per se.It is possible, by means of such a commercially available positioning valve, to carry out in a simple mannerthe desired control of the stretching or adjusting devices.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the hem-holding device has a pair of shaped stretching pieces which can be moved apart and around which the hem ofthe garment can be placed. In this embodiment, it is not necessary as a rule to attach further movable shaped stretching pieces, in particular if these shaped stretching pieces essentially have asemicircularcrosssection.

A pair of stationary shaped pieces are advantageously attached between the movable shaped stretching pieces, on which stationary shaped pieces come to lie the front and the back of the garment. So that vertical forces can also be applied effectively to the garment, it is of advantage if clamping faces are also arranged opposite the shaped pieces, which clamping faces can betightened onto the shaped pieces while the garment is clamped in. Fortightening down the clamping faces, electropneumatic devices (clamping cylinders) are again especiallysuitable here.

Control becomes especially simple if the clamping cylindersforthe shaped stretching piecesortheir clamping faces and also the clamping cylinderforthe clamping face of one of the two stationary shaped pieces are connected in parallel and can be actuated simultaneously via common actuating means. The second clamping cylinderforthe clamping face ofthe other stationary shaped piece can advantageously be actuated separately. As a result ofthis arrangement, the garment can first of all be pulled overthe bust and then firmly clamped at the hem in the area of the button row by closing the front clamping face. The remaining clamping faces are then actuated (simultaneously) only after the final stretched condition of the hem-holding device is reached.

In a particularly simple and robust embodiment of the device according to the invention, the shaped stretching pieces are movably arranged (on a lever) over a defined area in the direction of the resulting stretching force. Moreover, preadjustable holding means are provided with which the movable shaped pieces can be fixed in position in such a way that, when a set stretching force is exceeded, they move into operative connection with a transmitter interrupting the stretching movement. This simple device therefore enables the stretching force admissible for the fabric to be preset, so that the stretching operation is interrupted by arresting the stretching cylinder when the transmitter is actuated.

The mechanically adjustable hem-holding device advantageously comprises two stretching carriages which, via an endless pulling cable deflected via rollers, can be moved in opposite directions to one another and are essentially linearly guided. This simpie device guarantees absolutely synchronous working ofthe stretching carriages, pulling in opposite directions, or of the shaped stretching pieces attached thereto, so that the garment on the hemholding device cannot be pulled outofshape.This pulling cable is advantageously in operative connection with the above mentioned working cylinder.

Work is furtherfacilitated if a central, programmable control device is provided by means of which the adjusting devices and if necessary the clamping cylinders are controlled. The remaining treatment programme (steaming, drying) is also advantageously controlled with this control device, which treatment programme of course may only begin afterthe garment has been stretched, and after the completion of which the tension has to be removed from the garment so that the latter can be removed, finish-treated, from the device.

Further advantageous features of the invention emergefromthefollowing exemplaryembodiments which are described in greater detail with reference to illustrations, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective representation ofthe device with the housing, but without the housing front wall, Figure2 shows a diagrammatic front view of the device, Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic plan view along line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, Figure 4shows a diagrammatic front view of the hem-holding device, Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the device according to Figure 4, Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic sectional representation ofthe shaped stretching pieces with holding means, to an enlarged scale, Figure 7shows a block circuit diagram of the hem holding/stretching device, Figure 8 shows a block circuit diagram ofthe hold ing means according to Figure 6, and Figure 9 shows a front view similarto that accord ing to Figure2, but with a bust-adjusting device repre sented sectionally.

As shown in Figure 1, the device according to the invention for smoothing garments is arranged in a treatment chamber 2. The device has a shouldersup port in theform of a bust 10 which is arranged on a longitudinal stretching device 80. At its fastening point, the longitudinal stretching device 80 is sur rounded by the hem-holding device 30 which con sists of stretching clamps 40 located on the right and left and also a rearclamp32 and a front clamp 36. The entire arrangement is located on a frame 31.

As shown in Figure 2, the frame 31 sits on aturnt- able 90, so thatthe device can easily be turned about its vertical axis for slipping on the garment 1 orfor removing it.

On the right and left, upwardly projecting support columns 24 are attached to the frame 31, on which support columns 24 sit, in each case displaceably, lever locking devices 23 having coupled holding levers 22. At their ends, the holding levers 22 have sleeve clamps2l,sothatthesepartstogetherformsleeve holders 20 to which the sleeves of the garment 1 can be fixed.

As shown schematically in Figure 3, the hemholding device 30 is arranged all around the longitudinal stretching device 80. It has two stationary shaped pieces or pressure faces 33 and 37 to which clamping faces 34 and 38 are allocated in opposite positions (on the outside). The clamping faces 34 and 38 can be pressed onto the stationary faces 33 and 37 via hydraulic clamping cylinders 35 and 39.

On the right and left of the longitudinal stretching device 80 are located shaped stretching pieces 41 to which clamping faces 42 are likewise allocated in opposite positions (on the outside). The clamping faces 42 can be pressed onto the shaped stretching pieces 41 via clamping cylinders 43. The shaped clamping pieces 41, together with the clamping faces 42 and their clamping cylinders 43, can be moved outwards in the direction of the arrow draw in Figure 3. A possible end position of the shaped stretching pieces 41 is indicated in broken lines.

In this connection, the shape ofthe stationary shaped pieces 33 and 37 and also the movable shaped stretching pieces 41 is selected such that an ellipse essentially results in the plan view, so thatthe hem 4 of a garment 1 can be pulled onto the hemholding device 30.

The shaped stretching pieces 41 ortheir mounting are described in greater detail below with reference to Figure 4. As can be seen from the illustration, the clamping cylinders 39forthe clamping face 38 are fixed in a stationary position on the fixed frame 31.

The fixing of the stationary shaped piece 37 is not shown in this illustration.

Guide rollers 47 and 48 are arranged symmetrically to the centre axis ofthe device, which coincides with the longitudinal stretching device 80, around which guide rollers 47 and 48 is stretched a pulling cable 46.

Arranged beneath the pulling cable (see Figure 5) thus formed is a stretching cylinder 45 which isfirmly connected to the pulling cable46via a strap. If the stretching cylinder 45 extends its piston (shown in broken lines in Figure 4), the pulling cable 46 is moved clockwise; if the piston rod of the stretching cylinder 45 retracts, the pulling cable 46 moves anticlockwise.

Symmetricallytothetwo Iinearlengthsofthepull- ing cable or between them, stretching carriages 44 are longitudinally displaceable on corresponding guides (not shown), and in fact parallel thereto. One of the stretching carriages 44 is in clamped connection with the "forward-running" part of the pulling cable, and the other carriage 44 is in clamped connection with the "backward-running" part.

If the piston rod of the stretching cylinder 45 is now moved, the two stretching carriages 44 move in opposite directions to one another, and by exactly the same amount.

The shaped stretching pieces 41 are mounted on the stretching carriages 44 in a mannerwhich is described in greater detail further below. The clamping faces 42 are pivotably fixed on the stretching carriages 44 opposite the shaped stretching pieces 41.

Moreover, clamping cylinders43 are articulated on the stretching carriages44, the piston rods of which clamping cylinders 43 are in operative connection with the clamping faces 42. If the piston rods ofthe clamping cylinders 43 retract, the clamping faces 42 are pressed onto the shaped stretching pieces 41 so that a garment hem 4 located between these parts is held.

The arrangement of the shaped stretching pieces 41 on the stretching carriage 44 is described in greater detail belowwith reference to Figure 6. In this arrangement, both stretching carriages 44 are equipped in the same way.

The shaped stretching piece 41 is articulated on the stretching carriage44via a lever joint49 and a lever 50. In the position shown in Figure6,theshaped stretching piece 41 is tilted outwards by about 6"to the vertical. In this position,the end of the lever 50 sits ontheyokeofan electromagnet 51 which is firmly fixed on the stretching carriage 44. The lever 50 also has an extension which passes beyond the lever joint 49 and on which one end of a spring 54 engages, the other end of which is connected to the stretching carriage 44. At the same time, the spring 54 is pretensioned in such a waythatthe arrangement assumes the position shown in Figure 6 without external forces (compensation of the leverweight).

If forces (towards the right in Figure 6) act on the shaped stretching piece 41, the lever 50 can pivot about the lever joint 49 and assumes the position shown in Figure 6 in broken lines. In this position,the end of the lever 50 actuates a switch 52 which is likewise attached to the stretching carriage 44.

The control ofthe hem-holding device 30 is described in greater detail belowwith reference to Figure7.

Asfollowsfromthisdrawing,theclampingcylinders 43 are connected in parallel with the clamping cylinder 35 and can also be pressurized via two valves 63 and 64 by a compressed-air device 60 having a pressure reducer 57 connected on the output side. At the same time, the valves 63 and 64 are controlled by a central control device 70 via electric control lines 73 and 74.

The working cylinder 39 which presses the clamping face 38 onto the stationary shaped piece 37 is controlled via separate valves 61 and 62 which are connected to the control device via independent control lines 71 and 72.

The stretching cylinder 45 for separating the shaped stretching pieces 41 is connected to a pneumatically controllable positioning valve 68. In this respect, the positioning valve 68 is controlled by the control device 70 via valves 65 and 66 and the electric control lines 75 and 76 and is designed in such a way that the piston is moved out of the cyl inder 45 when a signal is sent along one of these control lines and is moved into the cylinder 45 when a signal is sent along the other control line. When the two control lines 75 and 76 are not loaded, the piston of the stretching cylinder 45 is arrested in the position which has just been reached.

The function ofthe automatic stretching adjustment of the hem-holding device 30 is described below in greater detail with reference to Figure 8. As follows from this illustration, the electromagnet 51 is supplied with current via lines 78/92/77. At the same time, an adjustable resistance Rp (and in series with this resistance a fixed resistance R) is connected into the lines 77/92. A current flowing from the mains part 53 via the line 79 and 77 can now be set with respectto its current intensity via the adjustable resistance Rp, so that a preselected holding currentflowsthrough the electromagnet 51. This holding current now de termines the force with which the lever 50 is held in place on the yoke ofthe electromagnet 51.If the force acting on the shaped stretching piece 41 exceeds the holding force of the electromagnet 51, the lever 50 pivots downwards (against the tensile force of the spring 54) and actuates the switch 52. The switch 52 is connected tothe control device70 via connecting lines 79/91. Finally, a relay 55 is provided in the control device 70 for switching on the holding magnet 51.

The functional mode or operating mode of the device according to the invention is described below in greater detail. First of all, the operator pullsthe garment 1 onto the bust 10 and places the hem 4 overthe stationary and the stretching-carriage shaped pieces 33 and 41. The automatic operation begins afterthis manual activity. In this operation, the control device 70 is engaged by actuating a switch (not shown). The control device 70 first actuates the valve 62, so that the clamping face 38 closes and the hem 4 ofthe garment 1 is clamped in the area of its button row.

The control device 70 then switches on the valve 66 in such a way that the positioning valve 68 is actuated and the stretching cylinder 45 extends. The two stretching carriages 44 with the shaped stretching pieces 41 aretherebymovedapartviathepulling cable 46. As a result of the stretching carriages 44 moving apart, the hem 4 of the garment 1 is stretched by the shaped stretching pieces 41, namely until the force acting on the shaped stretching pieces 41 ex ceedstheholdingforceoftheelectromagnet5l, which holding force is set bythe resistance Rp. The switch 52 is actuated as soon as the lever 50 "drops off" from the holding magnet5l.Theswitch52trans- mits a corresponding signal to the control device 70 via the lines 91 and 79.Atthis signal,the control device 70 switches off the valve 66, as a result of which the positioning valve 68 is brought into the holding position and the stretching cylinder45 is arrested in the position reached atthetime. At this moment, the valve 64 is also controlled by the control device 70 so that the clamping cylinders 35 and 43 not yet actuated are actuated and the clamping faces34 and 42 are closed.

Atthis moment, the longitudinal stretching device 80 which will be described later in greater detail is also actuated by the control device 70 via connections not shown here. Once all stretching operations are complete, the control device 70 then initiates the treatment programme; the garment is steamed and dried, etc. Once the treatment programme is finished, thevalve 65 is actuated for a certain time bythe control device 70, as a result ofwhich the positioning valve 68 is acted upon by compressed air in such a way that the piston rod ofthe stretching cylinder45 retracts and the shaped stretching pieces 41 move into their "closed" position.At the same time, the corresponding measures with respect to the longitudinal stretching device 80 are talcen via connecting lines (not shown here), so thatthe garment 1 is essentially relieved again oftension. Subsequently, the valves 61 and 63 are controlled by the control device 70 so thatthe clamping cylinders 35 and 39 and the clamping faces 34,38 and 42 open and release the hem 4 ofthe garment 1 so that the operator can remove the garment 1.

The longitudinal stretching device 80 is described in greaterdetail in Figure 9. Thisfirstofall consists of a guide tube 81 having an essentially rectangular cross-section which, with a guide 84 and an antirotation device 82, is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a piston rod 83. The piston rod 83 belongs to a longitudinal stretching cylinder 85, the cylinder base 86 of which is fixed nonrotationally on the frame 31. The piston rod 83 and the guide tube 81 are connected to the shoulder support 10. If compressed air is suppliedtothe longitudinal stretching cylinder 85, the piston rod 83 extends and pushes the bust 10 upwards (together with the guide tube 81). In this device, just as in the hem-holding device 30, appropriate transmitting meansareadvan- tageously provided which limit the longitudinal stretching force to a defined extent. The control means, which were described in greater detail only forthe hem-holding device 30 with reference to Figure 7, are of identical construction.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve-stretching devices are also designed in such a way that a certain preadjustable tensile force is not exceeded during the stretching ofthe garment 1 and is held constant during the actual treatment.

Claims (13)

1. Deviceforsmoothing garments, in particular outer garments by means of steam and hot air, having at least one shaped body (steam billet) onto which the garments can be pulled, consisting of at least one upper, vertically adjustable bust (shouldersupport) and a lower, adjustable holding and stretching device for the hem of the garment (hem-holding device ), characterized in that the bust (10) and/or the hemholding device (30) is/are mechanically essentially infinitely adjustable.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in thatthe bust (10) and/or the hem-holding device (30) are equipped with stretching-force measuring devices (51,52) in such a way that they can be adjusted as a function of the admissible fabric-stretching force ofthe garments.

3. Device according to one or more ofthe preceding Claims, characterized in that the hem-holding device (30) and/or the bust (10) is/are adjustable by means of an electromechanical and/or an electropneumatic adjusting device (45/85).

4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in thatthe adjusting devices have at least one working cylinder (45/85), which can be acted upon on both sides by compressed air, and also at least one positioning valve (68), arranged with respecttothework- ing cylinder (45/85) in the compressed-air supply line, for arresting the working cylinder (45/85), which can be acted upon on both sides, in any position of its stroke possible perse.

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in thatthe hem-holding device (30) has at least one pair of shaped stretching pieces (41)which can be moved apart and around which the hem of the garment (1) can be placed.

6. Device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the hem-holding device (30) has a pair of stationary shaped pieces (33,37) which are arranged between the movable shaped stretching pieces.

7. Device according to one of Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that clamping faces (34,38,42) which can be tightened down (clamping cylinders 35,39,43) opposite one another are allocated to the shaped pieces (33,37,41).

8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the clamping cylinders (43) forthe shaped stretching pieces (41) or their clamping faces (42) and also one of the clamping cylinders (35) forthe clamping face (34) of a stationary shaped piece (33) are connected in parallel and can be actuated simultaneously via common actuating means (valves 63 and 64), whereas the second clamping cylinder(39) forthe clamping face (38) of the other stationary shaped piece (37) can be actuated individually via separate control means (valves 61 and 62).

9. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in thatthe shaped stretching pieces (41) are movably arranged (level 50) over a defined area in the direction of the resulting stretching force and can be fixed in position with preadjustable holding means (electromagnet 51) in such a waythatthe shaped stretching pieces (41), when a set stretching force is exceeded, move into operative connection with a transmitter (switch 52) interrupting the stretching movement.

10. Device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in thatthe mechanically adjustable hem-holding device (30) comprises two stretching carriages (44) which, via a deflected (rollers 47 and 48) pulling cable (46), can be moved in opposite directions to one another and are essentially linearly guided.

11. Device according to Claims 4 and 10, characterized in that the working cylinder (45) is in operative connection with the pulling cable (46).

12. Device according to one or more of Claims 3 to 11, characterized in that the adjusting devices (45,85) and also if necessary the clamping cylinders (35,39, 43) are in control connection with a programmable control device (70).

13. A device for smoothing garments substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.