GB2212524A

GB2212524A - Ironing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2212524A
Application number: GB8826491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Brew; Joseph Brew; James Edward Brook
Original assignee: BREW BROTHERS
Current assignee: BREW BROTHERS
Priority date: 1987-11-13
Filing date: 1988-11-11
Publication date: 1989-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-11
Also published as: GB8726582D0; GB8826491D0; GB2212524B

Abstract

Ironing apparatus (2) comprising at least one hydraulic pump (4), a first ironing machine 6, a first hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement (8) for the first ironing machine (6), a second ironing machine (10), a second hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement (12) for the second ironing machine (10), a third ironing machine (14), a third hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the third ironing machine (14), the first ironing machine (6) having a pair of expanding cone members (18, 20) for ironing garment sleeve parts, the second ironing machine (10) having an ironing head (30) which is shaped for ironing garment body parts, and the third ironing machine (14) having an ironing head (30) which is shaped for ironing garment collars and garment cuffs. Heating may be by steam, electricity or air heated by being blown over the hydraulic pump. <IMAGE>

Description

IRONING APPARATUS This invention relates to ironing apparatus.

In garment cleaning establishments such for example as dry cleaners, garments to be ironed are usually ironed on ironing apparatus which comprises one or more large ironing machines. Small hand held irons as are used in homes are not large enough to cope with the volume of garments needing to be ironed in the garment cleaning establishments. The ironing apparatus in the garment cleaning establishments is pneumatically operated and it is very large and complex. Many interacting parts are employed and in addition to intricate working of these parts, much wear occurs. Difficulty can then be encountered in obtaining spare parts to replace the worn parts, and then in fitting the spare parts.

It is an aim of the present invention substantially to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, this invention provides ironing apparatus comprising at least one hydraulic pump, a first ironing machine, a first hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the first ironing machine, a second ironing machine, a second hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the second ironing machine, a third ironing machine, and a third hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the third ironing machine, the first ironing machine having a pair of expanding cone members for ironing garment sleeve parts, the second ironing machine having an ironing head which is shaped for ironing garment body parts, and the third ironing machine having an ironing head which is shaped for ironing garment collars and garment cuffs.

By producing hydraulically operated ironing apparatus, the ironing apparatus of the present invention can be produced to be simpler and more compact than existing pneumatic ironing apparatus. The use of hydraulics enables better leverages and pressures to be obtained than can be obtained with pneumatic operation.

Furthermore, the use of hydraulics enables the elimination of many complex linkages that are used on pneumatically operated ironing apparatus. The elimination of these complex linkages enables the ironing apparatus of the present invention to be produced in a more compact and efficient manner, thereby preventing much wear on parts and enabling the provision of ironing apparatus which is smaller than existing pneumatically operated ironing apparatus so that garment cleaning establishments can obtain more work space. The saving on space is particularly advantages in small dry cleaning establishments such as occur in many high streets where space is invariably at a premium.The ability to produce the ironing apparatus in a simpler, more compact and more efficient manner than known pneumatically operated ironing apparatus enables the ironing apparatus of the present invention to be produced more cheaply which is in itself a considerable commercial advantage.

Usually, the ironing head for the third ironing machine will have a first part which is shaped for ironing the garment collars, and a second part which is shaped for ironing the garment cuffs.

Preferably, there is one hydraulic pump for operating all of the first, second and third ironing machines. If desired, however, more than one hydraulic pump may be employed so that each of the first, second and third ironing machines could have their own hydraulic pump.

The single hydraulic pump is preferably housed in the first ironing machine. The housing of the hydraulic pump in the first ironing machine facilitates the provision of a compact overall design for the ironing apparatus. The hydraulic pump can however be housed where desired so that, for example, it could be housed outside the first ironing machine or it could be housed in the second or the third ironing machines.

Usually, the first, second and third piston and cylinder arrangements will each be provided inside their respective first, second and third ironing machines.

This enables the ironing apparatus to be produced in an especially compact manner. If desired however the first, second and third piston and cylinder arrangements could be located elsewhere such for example as outside their respective first, second and third ironing machines.

Preferably, the ironing apparatus is one in which the pair of expanding cone members is such that each cone member is in first and second parts with the first part being stationary and the second part being pivotable about a pivot point, and in which the first piston and cylinder arrangement is positioned above the pivot points.

The second part of each cone member will usually be spring biased towards it closed position.

Usually, each expanding cone member will have a pair of wires for providing creases in the garment sleeve parts.

Advantageously, the ironing apparatus is one in which the hydraulic pump is an electrically driven hydraulic pump which is housed in a bottom part of the first ironing machine, and in which a fan is provided adjacent the hydraulic pump for circulating warm air from the hydraulic pump upwards to facilitate drying of garments positioned on the pair of expanding cone members during use of the ironing apparatus.

Usually, the ironing head of the second ironing machine and the ironing head of the third ironing machine will both be operated by being moved downwardly from a raised inoperative position to a lowered operative position. In this case, the second and the third ironing machines preferably each have an on/off switch which is caused to move to an ironing head raising position in the event that the second or the third ironing heads should trap an operator of the ironing apparatus as they are lowered. The on/off switch thus provides a safety feature. Preferably, the on/off switch is a micro-switch. Whilst only one of the second and third ironing machines could be provided with this safety feature if desired, it is clearly preferable that both of the second and third ironing machines are provided with the safety feature.

The downward movement of the second and the third ironing heads is preferably effected by downwardly moving guard means on each of the second and the third ironing heads. The guard means will usually be in the form of a pull-down bar. The pull-down bar is preferably curved so that it is able to guard an operator from the second ironing head or the third ironing head.

Advantageously, the second and the third ironing heads are constructed for being heated by steam and/or electricity. The second and third ironing heads are thus preferably constructed during use so that they can be adapted to be heated either by steam or by electricity at the choice of a purchaser of the ironing apparatus. This means that two separate alternative methods of manufacture are not required.

The pair of expanding cone members may similarly be constructed for being heated by steam and/or electricity for the stated above mentioned advantages.

The pair of expanding cone members and the second and third ironing heads will usually be made of a metal. Aluminium is advantageously used since it is light and may avoid welding and fabrication problems if it is cast or moulded. Other metals, for example steel, may however be employed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l shows a first ironing machine forming part of ironing apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows in more detail an expanding cone member forming part of the first ironing machine shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a second ironing machine forming part of the ironing apparatus; and Figure 4 is a front view of a third ironing machine forming part of the ironing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown ironing apparatus 2 comprising a hydraulic pump 4 which is housed in the bottom of a first ironing machine 6. The first ironing machine 6 includes a first hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement 8.

The ironing apparatus 2 also includes a second ironing machine 10 having a second piston and cylinder arrangement 12. The ironing apparatus 2 further includes a third ironing machine 14 having a third piston and cylinder arrangement which is not shown but which is housed in a housing part 16 of the third ironing machine 14.

The third piston and cylinder arrangement is the same as the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12.

As shown in Figure 1, the first ironing machine 6 has a pair of expanding cone members 18,20 for ironing the sleeves 22 of a garment in the form of a shirt 24.

As shown in Figure 3, the second ironing machine 10 has an ironing head 26 which is shaped for ironing the body part 28 of the shirt 24. As shown in Figure 4, the third ironing machine 14 has an ironing head 30 which is shaped for ironing the collar 32 and the cuffs 34 of the shirt 24.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the ironing head 30 of the third ironing machine 14 has a first part 36 which is shaped for ironing the collar 32, and a second part 38 which is shaped for ironing the cuffs 34. As can also be seen from Figure 4, the first part 36 is itself in two portions comprising an upper portion 36A which is adapted to be lowered on to a lower portion 36B which is fixed.

The upper portion 36A presses against the fixed lower portion 36B with the required pressure to appropriately press the collar 32 when it is positioned between the two portions 36A, 36B. Similarly, the second part 38 is itself in two portions comprising an upper movable portion 38A and a lower fixed portion 38B. When the upper portion 38A is lowered on to the lower portion 38B, it presses with the required pressure to iron the cuffs 34 when they are positioned one at a time between the upper and lower portions 38A, 38B.

The single hydraulic pump 4 is effective to operate all of the first, second and third ironing machines 6,10,14. The first ironing machine 6 is provided with a housing 40 which neatly hides the hydraulic pump 4 as shown. The housing 40 also neatly hides the piston and cylinder arrangement 8.

The cone members 18,20 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are such that each cone member 18,20 is in first and second parts 42,44 respectively. The first parts 42 are stationary and the second parts 44 are pivotable about pivot points 46. In order to enable the second parts 44 to pivot about the pivot points 46, the second parts 44 are mounted on arms 48. It will be noted that the first piston and cylinder arrangement 8 is positioned above the pivot points 46. This provides a neat easily workable design with a minimum number of operating parts.

The second parts 44 are spring biased by springs 50 to their closed position as shown in Figure 1. The springs 50 have one end attached as shown to a lug 52 and their other end attached through a hole 54 in the bottom end of the arms 48.

The piston and cylinder arrangement 8 comprises a cylinder 56 having a pair of piston rods 58 which extend one from each end of the cylinder 56 and which are pivotally connected by pivots 60 to the arms 48. The cylinder 56 receives hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 4 via conduit 62.

As can be seen most clearly from Figure 2, each cone member 18,20 is provided with a pair of wires 64,66. These wires 64,66 are for providing creases in the sleeves 22 of the shirt 24. More specifically, as the second parts 44 pivot away from the first parts 42, the shirt sleeves 22 are brought into hard engagement with the wires 64,66. The wires 64,66 are slightly bow shaped as shown in Figure 2. The pressing of the sleeves 22 against the wires 64,66 causes the formation of longitudinally extending creases down the sides of the sleeves 22.

The hydraulic pump 4 is an electrically driven hydraulic pump and, during operation of the ironing apparatus 2, heat is generated. A fan 68 is provided on top of the hydraulic pump 4 and it operates to circulate warm air from the hydraulic pump 4 upwards to facilitate drying of the shirt which is positioned above the fan 68 on the cone members 18,20.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the bottom parts of the second and third ironing machines 10,14 are similarly constructed so that they both have housings 16 in which are located the piston and cylinder arrangements.

Referring especially to Figure 3, it will be seen that the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 comprises a cylinder 70 which is mounted on a bracket 72. The bracket 72 is attached to a frame member 74. The second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 also comprises a piston which extends as a piston rod 76 and pivotally connects by a pivot 78 to a movable pivoting part 26A of the ironing head 26. The part 26A is pivotally mounted by a pivot 80 to the frame member 74.

During operation of the second ironing machine 10, the part 26A can be moved downwardly from its illustrated inoperative position to an operative position in which the concave part 82 fits over the convex part 84 to effect a pressing of the collar 32 when the collar 32 is positioned between the concave part 82 and the convex part 84. The part 26A is moved by the piston. rod 76 when an operator pulls a pull-down bar 86. As the pull-down bar 86 is pulled downwardly, the piston rod 76 is caused to retreat into the cylinder 70 to lower the part 26A.

Referring now to Figure 4, similar parts as in Figure 3 have been given the same reference numerals so that it will be seen that in Figure 4, the third ironing machine 14 is also provided with a pull-down bar 86 for lowering the upper portions 36A and 38B for ironing the collar 32 and the cuffs 34. As the pull-down bar 86 is pulled down, it causes the same action in the third piston and cylinder arrangement in the third ironing machine 14 as was mentioned above in connection with the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 in the second ironing machine 10.

The pull-down bars 86 can be arranged to operate one or more switches such for example as a micro-switch or a cam-operated switch. Preferably the pull-down bars 86 are such that in the event that an operator's hand or other part of the operator's body should become trapped under the ironing head 26 or the ironing head 30, the appropriate pull-down bar 86 activates a micro-switch which automatically causes the ironing head 26 or the ironing head 30 as appropriate to stop its downward movement and to start to return to its upward inoperative position. Thus, the pull-down bars 86 act as guard bars for guarding against an operator getting too close to the ironing heads 26,30, whilst at the same time acting as means for initiating switch means for preventing an operator having part of his or her body trapped in the ironing heads.Once the pull-down bars 86 have been correctly used to correctly close the ironing heads 26,30, then a foot operated switch can be operated to commence the required ironing.

The micro-switch that causes the ironing heads 26,30 to raise in the event that part of an operator is trapped in the ironing heads can advantageously be located on a front part of the housing 16 of the second ironing machine 10 or the third ironing machine 14.

Although not shown, the cone members 18,20 and the ironing heads 26,30 are so constructed that they are provided with conduits appropriate to receive steam for steam heating or electrical elements for electric heating. This special construction of the conduits provides a customer wishing to buy the ironing apparatus 2 with the choice of having either steam or electric heating for ironing purposes and the manufacturer can provide either at the choice of the customer without any inconvenience since both facilities are available for choice.

The ironing apparatus 2 can operate in an easy relatively semi-automatic manner with the required ironing pressures easily being achieveable for good ironing. The first ironing machine 2 may be provided with a hydraulic bleed pipe for enabling the first ironing machine 6 to operate at a lower pressure than the second and/or the third ironing machines 10,14, whilst all three ironing machines are still operated from the same single hydraulic pump 4.

Although not shown in the drawings, the first, second and third ironing machines 6,10,14 can be foot pedal operated by foot pedals if desired. Hand operation via hand control levers or buttons may also be effected if desired. The ironing apparatus 2 can be produced such that the first, second and third ironing machines 6,10,14 are compact in size without the need for complex linkages. Because the use of the hydraulics enables the ironing apparatus 2 to be produced such that a relatively small machine is able to produce the required ironing pressure, the frames employed for supporting the equipment forming part of the first, second and third ironing machines 6,10,14 can be relatively'light, and this in turn enables a saving on manufacturing costs.The above mentioned safety feature of preventing an operator from getting trapped in the ironing heads 26,30 by having the potentially trapped limb stopping the downward progress of the pull-down bar 86 forms an advantageous safety feature. As is mentioned above, the downward progress of the pull-down bar 6 is arrested and the ironing heads raise automatically.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, garments other than shirts may be ironed in the ironing apparatus 2. Examples of other garments are ladie# blouses which can be ironed using all of the ironing machines 6,10,14. Alternatively, other garments such for example as skirts or other other articles such as sheets needing to be pressed could just be pressed solely on the second ironing machine 10, with any necessary finishing required being effected with a hand iron. If desired, the hydraulic pump 4 could be provided in another position than that illustrated and the outside shape of the first, second and third ironing machines 6, 10,14 can be varied as desired. Although the ironing apparatus 2 will usually be used for ironing dry cleaned garments and other articles, the garments and other articles can be cleaned by other methods if desired.

Claims

1. Ironing apparatus comprising at least one hydraulic pump, a first ironing machine, a first hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the first ironing machine, a second ironing machine, a second hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the second ironing machine, a third ironing machine, and a third hydraulically operated piston and cylinder arrangement for the third ironing machine, the first ironing machine having a pair of expanding cone members for ironing garment sleeve parts, the second ironing machine having an ironing head which is shaped for ironing garment body parts, and the third ironing machine having an ironing head which is shaped for ironing garment collars and garment cuffs.

2. Ironing apparatus according to claim 1 in which the ironing head for the third ironing machine has a first part which is shaped for ironing the garment collars, and a second part which is shaped for ironing the garment cuffs.

3. Ironing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which there is one hydraulic pump for operating all of the first, second and third ironing machines.

4. Ironing apparatus according to claim 3 in which the hydraulic pump is housed in the first ironing machine.

5. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first, second and third piston and cylinder arrangements are each provided inside their respective first, second and third ironing machines.

6. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pair of expanding cone members is such that each cone member is in first and second parts with the first part being stationary and the second part being pivotable about a pivot point, and in which the first piston and cylinder arrangement is positioned above the pivot points.

7. Ironing apparatus according to claim 6 in which the second part of each cone member is spring biased towards its closed position.

8. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which each expanding cone member has a pair of wires for providing creases in the garment sleeve parts.

9. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hydraulic pump is an electrically driven hydraulic pump which is housed in a bottom part of the first ironing machine, and in which a fan is provided adjacent the hydraulic pump for circulating warm air from the hydraulic pump upwards to facilitate drying of garments positioned on the pair of expanding cone members during use of the ironing apparatus.

10. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ironing head of the second ironing machine and the ironing head of the third ironing machine are both operated by being moved downwardly from a raised inoperative position to a lowered operative position.

11. Ironing apparatus according to claim 10 in which the second and the third ironing machines each have an on/off switch which is caused to move to an ironing head raising position in the event that the second -o(p the third ironing heads should trap an operator of the ironing apparatus as they are lowered.

12. Ironing apparatus according to claim 11 in which the on/off switch is a micro-switch.

13. Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the downward movement of the second and the third ironing heads is effected by downwardly moving guard means on each of the second and the third ironing heads.

14. Ironing apparatus according to claim 13 in which the guard means for each of the second and the third ironing heads is a pull-down bar.

15. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second and the third ironing heads are constructed for being heated by steam and/or electricity.

16. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pair of expanding cone members is constructed for being heated by steam and/or electricity.

17. Ironing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pair of expanding cone members and the second and the third ironing heads are made from aluminium.

18. Ironing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.