US1940219A - Garment or ironing press - Google Patents

Description

DeC. 19, 1 C;v LEDBETTER GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed Aug. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR James zmm edefer DeC- 19; 1933 J. c. LEDBETTER 1,940,219

` GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed Aug. 9. 1929 ZSheets-Sheet 2 5^ (T T] 5g, 5# A.' Y 5 #y f Q'/ #q I ya INVENTOR BY uma; [amm] [edielffr Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE GARMENT 0R IRONING PRESS James Camrod Ledbetter, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York This invention relates topresses and more particularly to garment orironing presses of the type having steam heated press jaws and which frequently include spraying means to treat and condition the work as by application of steam and air.

Garment presses, in particular those for pressing suits and woolens, are usually made with steam and air spraying means as by perforating the pressing face of the press jaws, say the head or buck. Steam may be sprayed through the perforations to moisten the garment or other work by impregnating it with the steam, and then follows a treatment of air such as sucking or evacuating' air through the steamed work to dry and cool the same, or by blowing air on or through the work to dry and cool it.

An object therefore of this invention is to improve the structure of press jaws of the general character above mentioned and more particularly to increase the efliciency thereof by which a given amount of steam pressure possessing a certain temperature maintains the working face of theV press at a higher temperature than ordinarily obtains with garment presses now in general use. In other words, the press jaw constituting this invention remains hotter with the given amount of steam than ordinary press jaws commonly used, and consequently a lower steam lpressure can be employed resulting in general economy in fuel and more uniform ja'w temperature.

Having the foregoing objects and others in view, the invention relates to features and uses already suggested,and a characteristic mode of operation, which will be apparent from the description of this invention to follow.

'Ihe accompanying drawings illustrate concrete embodiments orexamples'of this invention and it is understood that changes in structure maybe resorted to without departing from the principles involved. In the accompanying drawings: l

Figure l shows a cross sectional view taken through a chambered press jaw, more particularly the lower jaw usually called a buck, and which shows the features constituting this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a valve assembly shown in Figure 1, the valve being in part diagrammatic and being a combination valve to spray steam and air on the work.

Figure shows a cross section or an upper jaw'such as the head of `a garment or ironing press and being attached-to a head actuating member, together with the lower jaw such as the buck in end elevation.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of press jaw, say the head, in section, the head being raised above the buck by movement of the actuating member or press jaw operating means.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, there is provided a press jaw or member, the foraminous spray chamber of which is remote from the pressing face of the jaw, and the heating chamber is located next to the pressing face. In this way the press face is maintained at a high temperature because the air spraying operation does not tend to cool thev press face at the same rate as occurs with other forms of construction.v

Referring further to the-drawings for a more detailed description of the invention and describing first the' buck construction in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown any suitable type of press frame 6 mounting a press table 'lin the usual way and mounting a support 8 on which is carried a press buck or jaw 9 embodying the features of this invention. The buck 9 is improved in respect .to the fluid heating or sprayfacilities and it includes an air spray chamber 10 preferably located remotely from, though in close relation to, the working or pressing face 11 of the jaw. An air supply pipe 14 connects with the air chamber 10 and is adapted to supply air pressure to the chamber 10 or evacuate the air therefrom by suction, tnus affording either an air pressure spray on the work ora vacuum for the purpose of drawing air through the garment as' will be later explained. It is sometimes desirable to blow air through the work while other types of presses suck air rthrough the work. In this connection, the airv pipe 14and chamber 10 are designed to serve either purpose. 4A partition 12 encloses the air chamberV 10 and forms one side of a perforated'spray chamberl from which either steam Vor air is sprayed out through the pressing face 11 ofthe jaw, or' air is drawn down through the press face by'a vacuum pump connected to the pipe 14.

What is of greater significance is the fact that a steam heating chamber 15 is formed adjacent the pressing face 11 by a partition 16, and the latter partition 16 also forms one wall of the spray chamber 13. thus formed adjacent the press face 11 and hence no insulating spaces, air or steam chamber formations or partition Vwalls of any Vcharacter are interposedr between thisheating `chamber 15 and the working face of the press. Forthis reason,

The heating chamber 15 is 105 the heat from the steam in the chamber 15 is transmitted directly through the thin press wall 11 and through the padding or cover 18 usually placed over the pressing face of a garment press jaw. A steam pipe 17 transmits steam to the chamber 15 for heating the press jaw. 'Ihe steam pipe is connected with a boiler or other suitable source of steam supply and conducts steam to the chamber 15 where it circulates in any well known way. It is an advantage to place the heating chamber 15 close to the press face 11 and to provide some means to connect the spray chamber 13 with the perforated press face'as will be explained.

The steam and air spray chamber 13 as well as the combination air pressure and air suction chamber l0, are interconnected by perforations or spray holes through the outer face 11 of the press jaw. In this connection, the press face 11 is foraminated, i. e., provided with a plurality of perfor-ations or passages 20 arranged in any convenient manner. The perforations 2O pass through the heating chamber 15 and for this purpose tubular connections 21 join the press face wall 11 and partition 16. In other words, the perforations 20 are sufliciently long to reach from the face 11 of the press jaw to the spray chamber 13 through the heating chamber 15. In this way, the steam in the heating chamber 15 surrounds the tubular connections 2l leading to the perforations 20 and the steam is also in direct contact with the press face l1.

The steam confined in the heating chamber 15 may be used as a spraying medium by discharging it through the perforation passages 20 against or through the work on the press jaw. Although the supply pipe 17 connects the steam line through the heating chamber 15 and then discharges into the spray chamber 13 and hence outwardly through the perforations 20 to moisten the work, this is a preferred arrangement. This embodiment of the invention shown as a mere eX- ample affords a valve control means for releasing steam from the heating chamber 15 into the spray chamber 13 and by which a cloud of steam to treat the garment or work is blasted up through the perforated press face 1l. For this purpose, a spray valve is used and it includes control passages for the releasing of air from the air charnber 10 up into the spray chamber 13. In this cennection, a feature of the invention resides in a combination valve control device whereby either air pressure or suction from the chamber 10, or steam pressure from the heating chamber 15, may be sprayed through the jaw perforations 20. One may consider that an air spray treatment of the work is carried out whether by air pressure driven upwardly through the perforated press face 11 or by the vacuum or suction process of moving air in the opposite direction thru the work. Air, coming or going, as by suction or blowing, may be used in the practice of this invention.

In amplifying the foregoing explanation, the drawings show asimple or elementary type oi' combination steam and air spray control valve but various forms thereof may be used. The valve shown includes a tubular casing 23, which screw threads upwardly through one or both of the walls 12 and 16 thereby connecting together these two walls and by which the two chambers 10 and 15 are interconnected. Valve ports or perforations 24 are made in the valve casing 23 within the combination steam and air spray chamber-13 and by which either steam from chamber 15 or air to or from chamber 10 may be released into the spray chamber 13 to discharge out through or back through the perforated press face 11, depending on whether air pressure or air vacuum is used.

The valve casing 23 is anchored in position by a sleeve 26, which is disposed through the buck wall 9 and screw threads onto the lower end of the valve casing 23. The sleeve 26 projects outwardly through the wall 9 and is covered by a screw cap 27 which has a stufng box 26 to pack a valve rod 2Q and render the latter steam tight in its reciprocating operation to work a valve plunger 30 attached to the upper end of the valve rod. A plurality of perforationsV 19 are formed through the sleeve 26 and lower end of the valve casing 23 for the purposev of admitting the flow of air to or from the chamber 10 and hence to or from the spray chamber 13.

The valve plunger 3G plugs or closes the valve or tubular casing 23 and prevents the passage of steam or air therethrough from either chamber l() or 15. The plunger normally closes the perforations or valve ports 24 and hence combination steam and spray chamber 13 is closed off from both steam heating chamber 15 and air pressure or suction chamber 10. However by shifting valve plunger 30 away from the valve ports 24 in the sleeve 23, it follows that steam or air will, flow to the spray chamber 13 from one or the other chambers 10 and 15. Any suitable operating means'may be employed for shifting the valve plunger 30 up or down to uncover the ports 24 and an example of hand control therefor is shown.

A Valve handle 33 is connected through a link 34 to the valve rod 29 and the rear end of the handle 33 may be pivoted on a bracket 35 or otherwise pivotally mounted on some fixed Vframe portion. By shifting the handle 33 upwardly, the valve plunger 30 is also shifted upwardly above the valve ports 24 to uncover the latter whereupon air, either under suction or pressure, is free to communicate between the chambers 10 and 13 through the ports 19 and 24 in the sleeve 26 and valve casing 23. By moving the valve handle 33 downwardly, the valve plunger is actuated downwardly in the valve casing 23 to uncover the valve ports 24 whereupon steam flows from the heating chamber l5 into the spray chamber 3 and hence a cloud of steam under pressure is driven outwardly through the foraminous press jaw face 11 to condition the work thereon.

From the foregoing description of the press buck shown in Figuresl and 2, it is seen that air, whether under pressure or suction, or steam, is sprayed through a foraminous press jaw without unduly cooling the pressing face 1l thereof for the reason that the heating chamber l5 is positioned next and immediately adjacent the press face 1l. What is of further note is the fact that the elongated spray holes 20 afford a heating means for air under pressure to blow outwardly from the spray chamber 13 and through. the press cloth 18 into and thru the work. Hence the improved press jaw possesses the advantage of heating its air before spraying it thru the work or heating either spray material or medium before blowing the same through the work. Air thus heated, efiiciently removes moisture left by the steam and drys the work.

The jaw structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 illustrates a three-chamberedvpress jaw wherein is employed the heating chamber 15 having tubular bosses or connections 21 to the spray perforaticns extending therethrough, together with the lil combination air and steam spraycha'mber 13, as well as the air suction or pressure chamber'lO. These three-chambers are interconnected and the fluid pressure in each is controlledrfor spray treatment. of the work which is effected as already explained. The principle of the invention affords still another form of jaw construction which will now be described and reference is made-to Figures Brand 4.

Coming now to a description of the second form in Figures 3 and 4, a press frame 40 mounts a press buck 41in any convenient way. Operating means, such as a press lever or upright swing link 42 carries a press head 43 adapted to coact with the buck 41 and `press the work between the two jaws41 and .43. One or any suitable. number of fluid pipes 44 connects `with the press head 43 to convey steam or air to and from thechambered press head 43. The press`head'43 is made with a heating chamber 45 designed in the same characteristic manner as heretofore explained in connection with the first form of the invention. In other words, the steam heating chamber 45 is made adjacent the pressing face 46 of the press head so as to transmit heat directly from the heating chamber 45 through a head cover cloth 47 into the work on the buck 41. Thus arranged, the steam heating chamber 45 is close to the work to be pressed.

The presshead 43 is made with a spray chamber 49, which may be designed for either steam or air and if air is used, the spray chamber 49 may be employed to transmit air suction or air pressure, suction or blow, or both. The spray chamber 49 connects with the foraminous press face 46 through a plurality of spray perforations 50. The spray perforations() pass through bosses or solid cast leads 51 and hence the spray passages 50 are somewhat elongated and thus may transmit heat from the heating chamber 45 into the air under pressure passing downwardly through the leads to the perforations which air blows against the work on the buck 41 to dry the.

work. 1n other words the air flowing thru the perforations takes up heat from the spray tubes or bosses 51 and is warmed.

The fluid supply pipe 44 connects with the steam chamber 45 to circulate steam therethrough to heat the press head 43 and also to supply steam for spraying purposes. Steam spraying from the heating chamber 45 is accomplished by releasing steam from the chamber 45 into the spray chamber 49 whereupon the steam issues from the perforation passages 50 in the form of a cloud to condition the work. A spray valve 54 is screw fastened in the upper wall 52 forming the heating chamber 45. This valve includes a casing 54 having a port 55 opening into the spray chamber 49. The tubular valve casing 54 is open at its lower end within the heating chamber 45 and a valve closure head 56 closes the lower end of the tubular casing 54 and is actuated downwardly by a handle 57 which presses on a valve stem 58 carrying said head 56 on its lower end. The valve stem 58 extends through the valve casing 54 and connects with the valve head 56 on the lower end of the casing 54 within the steam chamber 45 and is operated by the handle 58 at its upper end.

According to the above described construction, the handle 57 is depressed as shown in Figure 4, to unseat the valve head 56 from the lower end of the valve casing 54, whereupon steam pressure ilows from the heating chamber 45 up through the tubular valve casing 54 and out through the discharge port l `into the spray chamber 49` whereupon the steam blows downwardly through the foraminations 50 to spray the work. Thus by working the valve handle 57, steam is sprayed on the work from the heating. chamber 45.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of construction in respect to the perforations andthe mode of discharging air or steam spray from the jaw onto the work by blowing rearwardly away from the operator. Furthermore, Figure 4 shows means for spraying air through the press jaw whereas Figure 3 discloses a simple type of press head adapted only to spray steam on the work. In Figure 4, the heating chamber 45 and press face 46 is foraminated by angularly disposed perforation passages 60 extending or pointing rearwardly from the front of the press. The rearwardly pointing spray perforations 60 deliver steam or ir under pressure blowing rearwardly away from the operator in front of the press and the blast of steam on the work at an angle to the plane of the work effects a more complete saturation than is possible by straight blowing. The reference 47 indicates a press head cloth or cover of the usual kind which prevents the woolen garment from becoming shiny or otherwise damaged when the jaws close thereon. The angular perforations 60 deliver the steam or air pressure rearwardly against the work on the buck 4l and hence the operator does not suffer the inconvenience of air or steam blowing against him in case he operates the spraying means when the head is slightly off of the work which is frequently the case.

The spray valve casing 54 mounts a handle 57, as already described, and by depressing the handle to thrust the valve head 56 downwardly, steam under pressure flows upwardly through the valve casing 54 into the spray chamber 49 and hence downwardly through the angularly spray perforations to drive away the steam and heat from 'the work and rearwardly from the operator which is a great convenience to him. It is thus an ad- Vantage to steam spray and air dry the work by a cloud of iluid pressure directed angularly from the front of the press and from between the Jaws.

In addition to the steam supply pipe 44 shown in Figure 4 for circulating the steam through the chamber 45, there is provided another fluid supply pipe 62 more particularly for conveying air under pressure to the head or even sucking air as by vacuum from the head. The pipe 62 passes through an air valve 63 and connects to the spray chamber 49 through a port 64. By depressing an air spray valve handle 65, the pipe 62 is opened to either allow air under pressure to flow in the spray chamber 49 or to suck air therefrom. In either case, the work on the buck 41 is air treated, dried and cooled. Under pressure, air blows downwardly through the perforations 60; while under suction, the air is sucked upwardly therethrough. In the latter event, the press head 46 should rest lightly in'contact with the work on the buck 41 so as to pick up the air and draw it over or thru the work when the air is being sucked through the pipe 62.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the several embodiments of the invention affords several forms of new type press jaws. A plurality of chambers may be provided as noted in the three-chambered structure shown in Figure 1. On the other hand, a very simple type of press jaw is illustrated in the two-chambered structure shown in Figures 3 and 4. In the latter View, it is apparent that the two chambers including the spray chamber 49 and the heating chamber 45 may bef usedi to serve the same purpose as the three-chamb'ered jaw construction shown in Figure 1 for indeed the air pipe 62 supplies air directly to the spray chamber 49 instead of to an auxiliary spray chamber as designated at 10 in Figure 1. Hence the press head 46 may be very light in construction and not suffer the clisadvantage of any omissions in spraying and heating functions. Y

This new jaw construction affords a hotter press face and lower pressure steam may be used to maintain the pressing face at a given temperature. Also the hot perforation passages warms the air before it blows thru the work. The construction has other apparent advantages and fills a long felt want.

I claim:

1. In a press jaw having a perforated spraying press surface to engage the work, and being provided with a heating chamber directly in contact with the press surface, a spray chamber remote from the perforated surface, and passages leading from the spray chamber thru the heating chamber and out thru the perforations, said passages being disposed rearwardly away from the operator at an angle to the vertical to blow a spraying medium onto the garment and toward the rear of the press.

2. In a garment or ironing press jaw, which is formed with chambers separated by partition means, a press face dened by a wall enclosing one of the chambers which is adjacent said face,

bosses integrally joining the press facel with one of the chambers and said bosses extending thru the other chamber, said bosses being perforated with spray passages which lead thru the last named chamber from the other chamber, and the bosses and spray passages therein being disposed rearwardly atan angle to thervertical to blow a treating medium away from the operator.

3. A press jaw construction comprising a steam-receiving heating chamber, a press face plate adjacent the heating chamber, a spray chamber adjacent the heating chamber, a plurality of spray tubes extending through the heating chamber and connecting the spray chamber with the outer atmosphere through the press face plate, said spray tubes pointing rearwardly away from the operator to eject a spraying medium onto the work toward the rear of the press, and means to control the flow of the spraying medium through the spray tubes.

4. A press jaw construction comprising a heating chamber, a spray chamber adjacent thereto, conduit means to supply steam to the heating chamber, an air pipe connected with the spray chamber to provide a flow of air thereto, a plurality of spray tubes extending from the spray chamber through the heating chamber and out to atmosphere, a Valve connecting the two chambers to control the flow of steam from the heating chamber to the spray chamber, and Valve means in the air pipe to control the 110W of air through the spray chamber.

JAMES CAMROD LEDBETTER.

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