US2126618A

US2126618A - Shirt folding and finishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2126618A
Application number: US114704A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chevalier John Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-12-07
Filing date: 1936-12-07
Publication date: 1938-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1955-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1938. J. C. CHEVALIER 2,126,613

\ SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

John I: .llheva lien m W W ATTORN EYS.

Aug-I 9 1938- J. c. CHEVALIER I 2, 26,618

SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jg. El

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l I: I l. H '2 I v w A ll 2.3

22 I I :9 /5f 36' /a 3.2 I 38 32 |Il l lll as 6 J 50 37 H3 3 I 4 {f g] I y 41 A I INVENTOR.

xi I John Eflhevaher I (1 92 L23 mwws Allg- 1938. .1. c. CHEVALIER I 2,126,618-

SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

John E. Chevalier ATTO R N EYS.

Patented Aug. 9', 1938 UNITED STATES angers PATENT OFFICE SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus adapted for use in the finishing and folding of new or freshly laundered shirts and the primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus of 6 this character such as will expedite the finishing and folding operation and insure a perfect finish and appearance to the shirt.

In shirt finishing systems now in use by laundries and the like, the shirts, after all major 10 pressing operations pertaining'to shirt finishing have been accomplished, the shirts are conveyed to a folding table where an operator hand finishes such portions of the shirt as may be necessary and then folds the shirt into the well known fiat form 15 for delivery. These shirt finishing systems usually comprise presses which iron the collars and cuffs in a fiat condition, separate presses for ironing the bosom and back of the shirt, and a collar ironer or shaper for forming the collar into cir- 20 cular formation approximating the shape of ones neck, before the shirts are conveyed to the operator at the folding table. Thus, four separate operations are required on the shirt before delivery to the folding table. In some instances, the collar 25 ironer or shaper is dispensed with and forming of the collar is done by hand ironing by the operator at the folding table. This hand ironing of the collar does not provide a perfect formation to the collar, thus detracting from the finished 30 appearance of the shirt. In addition to hand ironing the collar on the folding table, any hand iron finishing or touching up such as the lower portion of the sleeves adjacent to the cuffs, finishing touches of the yoke, etc., is also done upon the 35 folding table. These hand finishing operations are done before the shirt is placed in position for folding and the operator is required to sufficiently iron the yoke and lower sleeve portions so as to remove any dampness therefrom, with the result- 4 ant loss in time.

It is therefore a further and important object of the invention to provide a combined shirt folding table and collar shaper for use in shirt finishing systems whereby the finishing and folding 45 operations of the shirts are accomplished with greater efficiency and by a single operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character embodying a vertically movable collar shaper of improved design 50 upon which the collar is ironed and formed to truely conform to the shape of ones neck.

A further object of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby hand ironing of the yoke of the shirt is dispensed with and the finishing or 55 touching up of the lower sleeve portions adjacent to the cuffs may be done while the shirt is in position for folding.

A further object resides in the arrangement wherein the collar ironing or shaping member is movable to a substantial height above the surface of the table so as to permit forming of the collar thereon and avoid wrinkling the front or bosom of the shirt.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of this character wherein the upper end portion of the collar shaper when in its lower retracted position, acts to receive the collar of the shirt and apply an ironing heat to the yoke while the shirt is being folded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a top plan View showing the folding plate or form in raised position.

7 Figure 2 is a front elevation with fragmentary portions broken away and showing the collar shaper or ironer in its lowered or retracted position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line ll of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Figure l and showing the folding plate in its lowered horizontal position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the collar shaper shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Figure '7 is a section on the line l-'l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of a modified form of collar shaper or ironer adaptable for use with the folding table.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail and where- 40 in like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates a shirt folding table having associated therewith a collar shaper or ironer B mounted for vertical movement by the means C.

The table A embodies a rectangular shaped folding board [0 having its upper surface provided with the usual padding l l Supporting the folding board I0 is a preferably metal frame 92 which may either be formed of tubular stock as shown, or of angle iron. In the example shown, the frame [2 is provided with the corner legs it connected at their upper ends by the top framing l4 and at a point intermediate their height by the horizontal brace members I5. The folding table or board I!) may be secured in any preferred manner to the top framing l4. Adjacent one end of the table, the folding board I0 is provided with an opening l6, and a suitable shield as at I! is extended about the upper end of the opening as a protection for the padding Arranged to be vertically projected upwardly thru the opening I6 is a collar shaper or ironer B which in the preferred form is of a shape as shown in Figures 6 and 7. This collar shaper B which is supported in an upright or vertical position by the means C, is in the form of an elongated hollow-metallic member of somewhat frusto-conical formation and arranged with its smaller end uppermost. Referring particularly to Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, the collar shaper B is of tapering, major segmental shape in cross section thruout its length, that is, is of slightly more than semi-circular shape in cross section, providing an upwardly tapering outer surface l8 which uniformly tapers thruout the length of the shaper and a flat side surface l9 having its side edges rounding into the surface l8 as along the rounded edges 20. The smaller upper end of the collar shaper is provided with a flat horizontal ironing surface 2| which, when the shaper is in its lowered position as in Figures 2, 3 and 5, is disposed substantially flush with the upper surface of the padding The larger lower end of the collar shaper is provided with a threaded socket 22 for securing the shaper to the elevating means C. The collar shaper B is preferably steam heated, the steam entering the chamber of the shaper thru the tube 23 and leaving by the return tube 24. These

tubes

23 and 24 extend thru the bottom of the shaper and are connected by the flexible steam lines 25 with suitable pipe lines 26.

Referring now to the means C for vertically raising the collar shaper B, the same is preferably fiuid operated and is of such construction as to raise the collar shaper for a substantial distance above the folding board In as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. Suitably supported upon the frame l2 at one end thereof and closely adjacent to the bottom of the frame is a horizontal base plate 26 which may be connected by vertical braces 21 to the brace members l5. Mounted upon the upper side of this base plate 26, in vertical alignment beneath the opening I6 in the folding board I0 is a flanged base member 28 having an upwardly opening sleeve portion 29.

Threaded or otherwise secured at its lower end in the sleeve portion 29 is a vertically disposed tubular cylinder 30 having its upper end terminating in a guide sleeve 3| which is rigidly supported by brackets 32 secured to two end legs of the table frame. Telescopically fitting within the fixed outer cylinder 30 is a second or inner cylinder 33 having vertical guided movement in the guide sleeve 3|. This inner cylinder 33 has an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the outer cylinder 30 and at its lower open end has an annular flange to which is secured a sealing ring 34. The upper end portion of the inner cylinder 33 has its inside diameter reduced providing a guide portion 35 having an external flange as shown in Figure 3. Reciprocably movable in the inner cylinder 33 and having guided movement in the guide portion 35 is a piston rod 35 provided at its lower end with a sealing cup 31. The upper end of the piston rod 35 is threaded into the socket 22 of the collar shaper B whereby the shaper is connected for movement with the piston rod. As clearly shown in Figure 3, a set screw 38 threaded thru the fixed guide sleeve 3| with its inner end extending into a longitudinal slot in the inner cylinder 33; and a set screw 39 threaded thru the guide portion 35 of the inner cylinder with its inner end extending into a longitudinal slot in the piston rod 36, serve to prevent relative rotary movement between the

cylinders

30 and 33 and the piston rod 36 whereby the collar shaper B is held against rotation with the flat side surface I!) thereof disposed in a plane parallel to an end edge of the folding board as shown in Figure 1.

The elevating means C is preferably operated by air pressure admitted into the base member 28. For controlling movement of the means C, a suitable form of three-way valve as at 40 is mounted adjacent to, and in the example shown, directly upon the base member 28 and has its intake port connected with a suitable source of air supply as thru the line 4|. The outlet port of the valve is connected by the line 42 with the base member l8 so as to communicate with the chamber of the sleeve portion 29. The valve is also provided with a relief port 43 which acts in a manner to be later described.

The control valve 48 is preferably arranged to be foot operated and in the example shown, a treadle 44 is mounted intermediate its ends upon one end of a treadle shaft 45 suitably journaled upon the base plate 26. The opposite end of the shaft 45 is connected with the rotating valve member of the valve 40. A spiral spring 46 acts between one end of the treadle 44 and the base plate 25 and acts to normally return the treadle to a position as shown in Figure 1 closing off communication between the air lines 4| and 42 and venting the line 42 thru the relief port 43. When the treadle 44 is operated, air under pressure is admitted into the lower end of the cylinder 30 and forces the inner cylinder 33 and the piston rod 36 upwardly and raising the collar shaper B upwardly thru the opening |6 in the folding board Illv When the treadle is released, air from the line 4| is shut off and the air in the cylinder 30 is vented thru the port 43 thus allowing the collar shaper to return to its lowered position,

Referring once again to Figure 3, suitable cushioning springs are provided for cushioning movement of the movable elements. Downward movement of the collar shaper B, piston rod 36 and inner cylinder 33 is cushioned by a coil spring 41 acting between the socket 22 and the upper end of the guide portion 35, and a second coil spring 48 acting between the upper end of the guide sleeve 3| and the annular flange on the guide portion 35. Upward movement of the piston rod 36 is cushioned by a coil spring 49 acting between the lower end of the guide portion 35 and lower end of the piston rod, while upward movement of the inner cylinder 33 is cushioned by a coil spring 50 acting between the lower end of the guide sleeve 3| and the annular flange at the lower end of the inner cylinder.

Hingedly mounted upon the upper side of the folding table adjacent one end thereof and as by means of a hinge rod 5| journaled in suitable brackets 52, is a rectangular-shaped sheet metal folding plate 53 which, when in a lowered horizontal position is adapted to overlie the opening l6 as shown in Figure 5. A means is provided for exerting a pressure upon the folding plate 53, particularly when in its lowered position, and this means in the example shown embodies a crank 54 formed intermediate the ends of the hinge rod 5| and a coil spring 55 having one end connected to the crank and its other end connected to a bracket 56 secured to the folding board. As shown in Figure 5, when the crank 54 is swung past a vertical center position, the spring 55 will exert a downward pressure on the folding plate, urging the plate against the flat top end of the collar shaper. When the folding plate is in a raised position, the spring 55 acts to yieldably hold the plate in this raised position, slightly on. i

of a vertical position with the feet or stops limiting further swinging of the plate. The folding plate may be secured in any preferred manner to the hinge rod so that the rod will rock with the swinging of the plate.

Secured to the lower end of the collar shaper B is a shield or guard 58 for preventing likelihood of the shirt being soiled thru contact with the piston rod 36 or the cylinder 33 when the shaper is raised. This guard 58 is of such length that when the shaper is raised, the lower end of the guard is below the upper surface of the folding table so that there is no danger of the shirt being caught on the lower end of the guard and possibly drawn thru the opening it. The guard 58 will also prevent the shirt from being caught beneath the lower end of the collar shaper.

Figures 8 and 9 show a slightly modified form of collar shaper or ironer B which is also adaptable for use in connection with the elevating means C. The shaper B is in the form of a hollow frusto-co-nical shaped metal body having its outer surface 60 uniformly tapering toward the flat upper end surface 6| of the body.

In use of the apparatus, the operator located at the folding table receives the shirts after all of the major pressing operations pertaining to shirt finishing have been accomplished. The operator first spreads the shirt out upon the folding board and buttons the front pleat and the collar of the shirt. The foot treadle 5 3 is then pressed down for opening the valve 40 and allowing air under pressure to enter the lower end of the cylinder 30 and raise the heated collar shaper B to its raised position a substantial distance above the surface of the folding board. The operator then places the collar of the shirt over the upper end of the collar shaper with the back portion of the collar across the flat surface it! of the shaper and lowers the collar until the collar contacts the surface of the shaper. With the fingers, the operator then slightly oscillates the collar about the shaper and at the same time exerts a slight downward pressure on the collar. This operation not only irons and smooths out any roughness at the inside of the collar but also forms or moulds the collar to a shape closely approximating the shape of the neck of the wearer. It may here be well to state that the object and advantages for preferably having the collar shaper movable to a substantial distance above the folding table to avoid wrinkling the front or bosom of the shirt while shaping and finishing the collar on the shaper.

After the collar has been shaped, foot pressure on the treadle 44 is released, whereupon the spring 46 shifts the valve 410 to a position venting the cylinder 30 and allowing the collar shaper to lower by gravity to a position with its upper flat surface flush with the top of the folding board. The shirt is then spread out neatly on the table with the front of the shirt facing down and the collar fitting into the opening id about the upper end of the shaper. When in this position, the yoke of the shirt will be in contact with the flat top surface of the shaper. The metal folding plate 53 is then lowered upon the shirt and yieldably held in this lowered position by the action of the crank 54 and spring 55. This yielding pressure of the folding plate not only acts to properly hold the shirt against moving while being folded, but also presses the yoke portion upon the flat upper surface of the shaper so that the yoke is neatly pressed. While the shirt is thus held, the operator hand irons the lower portion of the sleeves adjacent to the cuffs and then neatly folds the shirt and sleeves over the folding plate in the usual manner. For the time while the operator is touching up the lower portion of the sleeves and folding the shirt, the yoke is being held against the top surface of the heated shaper so that all moisture or dampness is removed from the yoke. The folding plate may now be swung to its raised position and a suitable holder applied to the shirt for retaining it in its folded condition and after which the finished shirt may be withdrawn from the plate for delivery.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board provided with an opening, a collar shaper and ironer vertically movable through the opening, and a vertically swinging folding plate adapted to overlie said opening when the collar shaper and ironer is in a lowered position.

2. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board, a vertically movable collarshaper and ironer, operating means for the collar shaper and ironer, and a hinged folding plate adapted to overlie the folding board and cooperate with the upper end of the collar shaper and ironer when the latter is in a lowered position.

3. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board provided with an opening adjacent one end thereof, a collar ironer Vertically movable thru said opening and normally disposed below the folding board, elevating means for raising the ironer above the board, and a swinging folding plate adapted to overlie said opening and press the yoke of a shirt upon the upper end of the ironer during folding of the shirt.

4. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer movable upwardly thru the opening and normally disposed with its top surface disposed fiush with the upper surface of th folding board, means for raising the ironer to a position above the folding board, a hinged folding plate movable to a shirt folding position overlying said opening, and means for yieldably urging the folding plate against the upper surface of the folding board when the plate is swung downwardly.

5. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardly thru the opening, fluid pressure means for elevating the ironer, and a hinged folding plate movable to overlie said opening.

6. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardly thru said opening and normally disposed below the board with its upper end flush with the upper surface of the folding board, and means for raising the ironer to a substantial height above the folding board.

'7. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardly thru said opening and normally disposed below the board with its upper end flush with the upper surface of the folding board, telescoping elevating means for raising the ironer to a position with its lower end spaced a substantial distance above the folding board, and a guard depending from the lower end of the ironer and adapted to have its lower end disposed in said opening when the ironer is raised.

8. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board having an opening adjacent one end. thereof, fluid pressure operated elevating means below the folding board embodying a piston rod vertically aligning with said opening, a collar ironer mounted upon the piston rod and movable upwardly thru the opening, and control means for the elevating means.

9. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a

, folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable thru the opening, and fluid pressure operated elevating means for the ironer embodying a fixed outer cylinder, an inner cylinder telescopically fitting in the outer cylinder and a piston rod telescopically fitting in the inner cylinder, means securing the ironer to the upper end of the piston rod, and control means for the elevating means.

10. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus,

1 a folding board provided with an opening, fluid of the folding board when the ironer is in a lowered position, means for elevating the ironer, and a folding plate hinged to the folding board for overlying said opening when the plate is in a lowered position,

12. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board having an opening, an ironer vertically movable thru said opening and having an ironing surface at its upper end, elevating means for the ironer and supporting the ironer with said ironing surface flush with the upper surface of the folding board when the ironer is in a lowered position, a folding plate hinged to the folding board and movable to a position overlying said opening, and means yieldably retaining the folding plate in either of its limits of swinging movement.

13. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board provided with an opening, an ironer vertically movable in said opening having an outer surface of segmental shape in cross section uniformly tapering toward its upper end and a flat top surface, elevating means normally supporting the ironer with its fiat top surface flush with the top surface of the folding board, and a hinged folding plate movable to a position in superposed relation to the fiat top surface of the ironer when the latter is in a lowered position.

14. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus,

a folding board provided with an opening, an 1 ironer in said opening having a flat top surface, a hinged folding plate cooperating with said flat top surface, and means yieldably urging the folding plate against said surface.

15. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board provided with an opening, an ironer vertically movable thru said opening and being of major segmental shape in cross section and diminishing in cross section toward its upper end, and elevating means for the ironer.

16. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board provided with an aperture extending entirely thru said board, and a collar shaper and ironer vertically movable thru said aperture.

JOHN COLLINS CHEVALIER.