US2267000A - Garment pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec) 23, 1941.

H. G. SUTTON GARMEN'Il PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1959 3 Shee's--Shee'fl l mmntor .f S. :www

, 34 @wim- Dec. 23, 1941. H. G. SUTTON GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE* Filed Dec. 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1941. SUTTON GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19,1939

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l A .HQ

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Harry G. Sutton, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to United States Hoiman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1939, Serial No. 310,075

Claims.

This invention pertains to an improved press of the so-called jumper type, which may be utilized in various garment pressing operations, it being particularly applicable for the opening and pressing of seams.

As in machines of this type heretofore placed upon the market, the iron is pivotally mounted, as by a ball joint, upon one end of an arm or bar which is slidable through a guideway or support mounted for lateral swinging movement, as Well as for tilting movement toward and from the underlying buck, the latter movement being for the purpose of applying pressure to the iron and, consequently, to the goods imposed upon the ironing board or buck.

Heretofore, seam opening machines of fthe same general type as that herein disclosed have had connections between the hose (supply and return) and the iron made at or adjacent the rear end of the iron,-with the result that the weight of the hose was carried by the rear end of the iron. Such an arrangement causes a partial rotation of the iron about its ball joint support, so that the point of the iron when idle is tilted upwardly away from the horizontal plane of the work table. The iron, therefore, must be tilted to a horizontal position against the weight of the hose before it can be used. The present structure does away with this. Furthermore, the proximity of the hose connections to the rear end of the iron under the old constructions, made the clearance between the operators elbow and the hose uncomfortably close, and as a consequence the operators movements were cramped in avoiding contact with the hose.

The present construction has for one of its objects an arrangement which overcomes the objections of prior constructions, by connecting the supply and return hose near the center of oscillation of the iron, and so arranging the hose connections that they will swivel at their point of connection to the steam iron when the iron is oscillated about its ball joint; support. Furthermore, the steam hose and the return hose are both supported near the center of their length by a linkage system, one end of which is attached to the sliding bar which supports the iron, and the other end to the support in which the sliding bar is mounted. Thus, an automatic compensation for the support of the hose is provided at any position of the iron with reference to the buck of the machine.

The handle for the iron is so arranged that it horizontal position. Thus, the steam iron assembly may be readily and quickly converted from what is known in the trade as a vertical handle iron to an oifset handle iron, through means shortly to be described.

A further object of the invention is to employ a structure wherein the steam spray and steam return conduits are primarily formed in a superstructure casting securely attached to the body of the iron proper, and likewise wherein the steam control valve is incorporated in the supporting member, and not in the body of the iron, as has heretofore commonly been done.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: f

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upperportion of a jumper pressing machine with an iron of the present invention resting on the buck or table; f

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the iron proper, parts being broken away to show the interior construction and the ball joint;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the iron and the ball joint;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the upper portion of the machine, illustrating the connections for the steam supply and return lines;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the control valve for the steam inlet to the spray chamber of the iron, and likewise illustrating the swivel connection between the steam line and the attaching member secured to the upper portion of the body of the iron;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View through the valve portion of the attaching member on lthe line VI--VI of Fig. 5, the movable portions of the valve being omitted; and

Fig. 'i is a detailed View illustratingy the handle moved to a horizontal position, and also showing a modiiied valve release lever employed in connection with the handle when so positioned.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to press the iron down upon the goods imposed upon the buck or head. In the instant case, there is disclosed a lever Il (Fig. 1) fulcrumed at l2 upon xed elements I3 secured to the machine frame I4, which may be of any approved type. Any means may be employed in conjunction with the lever` Il to rock the same about its fulcruin,l but inasmuch as such mechanism is common in the art and forms no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the same.

The lever lIl at its upper end is provided with may be placed either in a vertical position or a a forwardly extending bifurcated portion I5 forming the support for an arm I6 swiveled thereto so that it may be swung laterally as the iron is manipulated in the manner hereinafter set forth. The upper end of the arm or lever I3 carries a guideway or support l1 in which is mounted for sliding movement a bar l 8 which forms the support for the iron and its allied parts. At its forward end, bar |,8 has rigidly secured to it a supporting element I9 in which is rotatably mounted Aa round stem 2l which terminates at its forward end in a ball 22.

The stern 2l is free to be rotated in the member i9 but is pre' y eluded from endwise movement,' except to 'aj"` slight degree, through a collar 23` anda cross attaching member or superstructure casting, de-` noted generally by 26, to which the iron is secured and from which extend upwardly certain elements now to be described. v

The ball is provided with ank opening extending upwardly.V therethrough (see Figure 2) and imposed upon the upperportion of the ball is a ball bearing assembly denoted generally by 21 of any approved type, the bearing assembly being held in place upon the ball by a washer 28 and lockrnuts 29, 3l mounted upon the threaded upper end of a stud or post 32,. the lower threaded end of which passes freely through the extension 25 and through the member or casting 2.6 ,and into the body of the iron 33. n

As will be seen upon reference to. Fig. 2, the stud or post is provided with a lock washer 34 seated between a shoulder. on the stud and a shoulder formed in the base ofi the extension 25. This assists in holding the main frame, and the iron` closely together and prevents the st ud from backing out. The post 32 above the collar is of a diameter smaller than theopening -th'rough the ball 22 so that the ball and extension may have a tilting movement with reference tdeach other in all directions. The ball bearings 21 makes for ease in the manipulation or turning 'of the iron by hand, andtheguiding of theY samelover the garment or seam. In addition Vtozth'e. stud as a securing means between theiron and theasuperstructure casting or supporting memberlZS, a gasket 35. is interposed between the two, and .machine screws 36 .are passed through the laterally extending flange. of the .member orl cas-ting,I vto hold the assembly together; Y i

Extending upwardly from themember 2 6 (see Figs. 2 and) is a pair of arms 31and.38; said arms being interconnected adjacent their;l laterally extending upper ends by a Vcross bar 3.9, the bar making fory stability between the-,arms and rendering the structure strong andrigid. The arms are so curved atth'at portionwhich is in alignment with the ball 22 that the iron may beswung freely in any direction,.and morepar.-

ticularly abou/t a vertical axis (see Fig.3). kIn

other words, U-shaped recesses are formedwhich permit the iron to swing laterally with reference f 46 (Fig, 5). The Valve and the projecting portion of the seat are located in a passage or conduit 41 which, in turn, forms an extension of a conduit 48 cored out in the arm 31. The conduit is connected with' a steam supply line, hereinafter referred to. The chamber 41 (see Fig. 2) is in communication at all 'times with chamber 4| through an opening 49. Steam may thus circulate through the chamber 4l and water produced within the chamber due to the condensation of the steam is drawn off through' a tube 5l, the

upper end of which opens into a discharge or return conduit 52 formed in the arm 38. The lower end of theA pipe `5I is chamfered and the lowermost end rests upon the lower wall of the cham- To move the valve from its seat, a stem 53 extends loosely through the fitting upon which the Valve seatA is formed and through a packing gland 55. VThe conduit 41 may be brought into communication with `the spray chamber 42 by moving the valve `from its seat. `Steam then passes around the valve stern 53 downwardly through a small opening 5,1 and into a conduit 58 which terminates at its lower end in the spray chamber 42. The spring 46 normally holds the valve upon its seat to prevent the passage of steam to chamber A2, There is, however, a; passage of steam to the steam heating chamber 4I at all times so thaitthe iron is kept hot. The valve stem 53 at its outer end is in alignment with an enlargement l5!) on an operating lever 59 fulcrumed at 6l on member 26 and terminating at its upper end in anupwardly extendingl arm or finger 62 near the handle of th'e iron, The( lever carries a button 63, against which the operaltor may press to open the valve.V A tension spring B4' is connected between the lever 59Vand a lug 65cm the arm 31, see Fig. 2. The spring ha-s only suflicient tension to holdl the enlargement 65 on the lever against the end of stem 53, or, in other words, to maintainthe lever in operative position with reference to thegstembut not to operate the valve.

A handle through which the iron isY manipulated is denotedgby 6,6 and is secured between two upstanding membersb61 and 68; respectively, pivoted at their lower endsutoy the arms 31, 38. i The lower ends of theupstanding-members are each formed* with a Lcrossedgseat or depression; 69 designed to coact with-4ak rounded enlargement-1y 1I formed upon the adjacent member A31 orl 31E!Y as the case may be,` and spring washer 12. The seat 65, therefore,r always has one portion dis,- posed vertically and another horizontally. By this arrangement the handle maybe maintained in the vertical position, as in Figs, 1, 2, .3 and 5, chinthe horizontal position, as in Fig. '1. In the latterv case,ra *modified form of--valve releasing lever is employedy` thevv same being L-shaped as shownin Fig. 7, and designated generally by 13. Aflihe lever is maintained in position by the-spring 64a and cooperateswith thevalve rod asi-in the prior construction. i c

The steam supply line forv the iron is. denoted by 14V (Fig. 4) and the return line by 1 5. Asis usual, Ythey are provided with the proper valves for controllingl the flow of steam .therethrough rand the drainage of water therefrom. The-supply valve is designated 10 and the drainage valve 10a. Y -Y l y f Suitable nipples 1S and 11. extend upwardly from the pipes 14 and 15, respectively, and. each in turn is connected toga exible hose 1.81- and 19. A swivel connection-8|,` connectseach. hose-toits ,associated nipple. The; opposite; end of:- each hose 'section is connected to one'of the armssi and `38 ,`preferably as illustrated in Fig. 5. A tube 82 `is-'s'ecured to the end of the hose by the clamp which forms a part of the swivel connection 8|, `the lower inturned ends of which extend into *an annular groove 80 formed on the upper end of a" packing nut 83 (see Fig. 3). Such a nut is threaded onto the upper end of each of the members 31 and 38. Located within the upper end of the. arm 31 is a series of packing washers 84 which are backed up by a metallic washer 85 and vangunderlying compression spring 86, the latter at its lower end bearing upon a shouldered portion formed in the conduit 48 through which the steam passes.

With a view of holding the pipes 14 and 15, and

Aconsequently the nipples 16 and 11, in xed relation, the .fittings from which the nipples extend (see Fig. 4) are interconnected by a solid rod or bar 95 th'readed into the ttings.

In order to maintain the hose in position where it will not Contact the operators person when The is manipulating the iron, strut links are employed, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there being a pair of laterallyspaced strut links 81 connected at their lower ends to the support I1, and

a strut link 88 connected to bar I8 through shackle 8B. The two links 81 are connected to link 88 at S4. The link 88 extends beyond the pivot 94 and is provided with a notch to receive .a suitable hanger as 9| preferably formed of wire and extending laterally to provide two hooks 92 and 93 in which the looped portions of the hose lines 18 and 19 may rest (Fig. 4)

As will be readily appreciated from a mere inspection of the drawings, and more particularly Fig. l, as the iron is moved in any direction, the strut links will pivot about their connection to the respective elements and maintain the hose in its elevated position without undue binding or cramping of the same. The weight of the hose is substantially equalized on the two sides of the hanger, so that there is no tendency for the same to rock or tilt the iron, but on the other hand the swivel connections between the iron structure and the hose facilitate manipulating the iron. 'Ihus the weight of the hose is substantially removed from the iron, the hose is always centrally supported, and substantially all biasing forces tending to tire the operator and interfere with his work are done away with, and his freedom of movement materially increased.

The swivel joints between the hose and the operating elements also make for ease of operation of the iron, as there is no twisting movement imposed upon the hose. 'Ihe fact that the connections (supply and return) between the hose and the iron structure are located centrally of the iron also does away with the imposition of any twisting movement upon the hose.

It is thought from the foregoing that the operation of the structure will be readily understood, but it may be pointed out that the ball bearing imposed upon the upper portion of the ball 22 makes for ease of operation, and inasmuch as the iron normally stands in parallelism or substantially so to the buck or ironing board, the operator is not called upon to move the iron from a tilted position. By mounting the valve in the member or superstructure casting 26 and forming the steam conduits therein, expensive manufacture and assembly is minimized. The valve is in a position where it may be readily disassembled and again assembled if for any reason inspection or repair becomes necessary. So,

vspraying chambers; a universal connection 'between the ironr and the bar; means for rocking the bar support downwardly to impose pressure through the iron upon the goods imposed upon the buck; two hose lines connected with the heating chamber, one of said lines serving as a supply line and the other as a return line; a valve controlled port leading from the heating chamber to thespray chamber, said valve being normally closed; strut links connected respectively to the support for the bar and to the 4forward end of the bar, said links being pivotally connected at their upper ends; and means carried by at least one of the strut links at its upper end for lsupportingthe hose lines in looped position.

2. In a garment press of the seam opener type,

'the combination of an iron; a superstructure casting mounted and secured upon the upper face thereosaid casting being formed with two upwardly extending arms,each having a conduit therein in communication with a steam chamber formed in the iron body; an iron support having "a spherical head, said head extending inwardly of reentrant portions formed in the arms aforesaid; a ballbearing resting against the upper portion or face of the spherical head; and a stud or post extending freely through the ball bearing Vand likewise through an opening formed in the spherical head and screwed at itswlower end into the iron.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spherical head rests at its lower portion in a socket orrecess formed in the upper face of the casting intermediate the arms aforesaid.

4. In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination of a buck; an iron mounted for universal movement with reference to the buck, said iron being provided with a steam heating chamber; a superstructure casting secured to the upper face of the iron, said casting being formed with a pair of spaced arms each having a conduit therein in communication with the steam chamber in the iron; a valve for controlling the inlet of steam to a spray chamber formed in the iron, said valve being normally closed; a flexible conduit extending upwardly from each of the arms aforesaid, compensating means for so supporting the flexible conduits with reference to the iron that the pressing face of the iron normally lies parallel to the buck or table; and means attached substantially at the center of oscillation of the iron for supporting the iron above the table.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the exible conduits are supported by a pair of upwardly extending pivoted thrust links which compensate for the relative movement of the iron and conduits as the iron is used.

6. In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination of a frame; a table mounted thereon; an iron; a casting secured to the upper face of the iron and having two upwardly extending arms in which conduits are formed for the inlet and return of steam to and from the 7; In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination ofV a frame ;a tablermounted thereon; an iron; a casting secured to the upper face of the iron and havingw two upwardly `extending arms in which are formed steam inlet and return conduits for the iron; afvalve mount.- edin the casting for controlling the introduction of steam into Va spray chamber formed in. the iron; a handle pivotally mounted upon the arms; and means for holding the handle in a vertical or a'horizontal position as, desired, whereby, the iron may be employed as ya vertical handle. iron or an offset handle iron.,Y Y j 'o 8. In a garment pressl of the seamfopener type, the combination of a frame; a table mount.- ed thereon; an iron containing heatingand spray chambers; `a superstructure casting attached to the upper face ofthe iron and. having two upwardly extending arms containing steam inlet and discharge conduits connected to said heating chamber; .a handle pivotally mountedon said arms; means for holding said handle in either a vertical or a horizontal position Yto permit the iron to be employed either as a vertical handle iron or as an offset'handle iron; a valve in said superstructure for controlling the passage of steam from said heating chamber to the spray chamber; and a valve operating lever pivotally connected to said superstructure casting in proximity to said handle.`

9. In. an ironing machine, an iron; a frame; a

aaemoo'o supporting means 4movablyj4 connected to said framev for swinging and raising and lowering movements with respect thereto a bar movable ,longitudinally of said supporting means; a cored support attached to saidv iron; a ball and socket connection between said support and said bar; at least one flexible tubemeans connected at oneend' to a relatively fixed portion of the machine, and at;4 the other end to said support adjacent, said ball and socket joint for. supplying heatingy medium to saidiron; a compensating support for said flexible tube means, said support comprising a vertically disposed linkager having pivotally connected branches, the free endiof, one branch being pivotally connected. tok said bar adjacent the ball and socket connection and the free,- end of the, other branch to said supporting means; and means carried by said linkage adjacent the pivotal connection of .its two branches for supporting the tubeand causing the movements thereof to conform to the movements of the linkage as the iron is manipulated.

10. In an ironing machine of the jumper type; a frame; a buck on said frame; an iron mounted on said frame for movement in both horizontal and ver-tical planes; a universal connection between the iron and its mounting means, said connection beingk located substantially at the center of oscillation of said iron; flexible tubing for supplying heating medium to said iron, said tubing being connected between a xed portion of the machine and a point adjacent said center ofV oscillation; means comprising an-inverted V linkage connected at one end to move with said iron and at the other end to said iron mounting; and means carried substantiallyat the apex of saidlinkage for holding the tubing suspended substantially atits mid-point and permitting free movement thereof during manipulation of said iron.

HARRY G. SUTTON.

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