US2627128A

US2627128A - Vertical trouser pressing machine

Info

Publication number: US2627128A
Application number: US175905A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur B Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-07-26
Filing date: 1950-07-26
Publication date: 1953-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-03

Description

Feb. 3, 1953 A, B, JONES 2,627,128

VERTICAL TROUSER PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1950 2 SHEETS4SHEET 1 Gttornegs Feb. 3, 1953 A, B, JONES 2,627,128

VERTICAL TROUSER PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IJYIIIIIIIWIIIIII /70 Snventor Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITE -FFQE VER'HCAL TEUSER PRESSING MACHKNE Arthur: B. Jones, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 26, 1956, Serial No. 175,965

(Cl. Elfe-251) 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to trousers pressing inaehin'es.

One object of this invention is to provide a vertical trousers lpressing machine in which the trousers are held vertically while they are being pressed between vertical middle and side bucks so that both sides or both legs of the trousers are pressed simultaneously, the side bucks being swingable horizontally toward and away from the stationary middle buck by iiuid pressureoperated motors which are controlled by control valves easily accessible to the operator.

Another object is to provide a vertical trousers pressing machine of the foregoing character wherein the middle buck is wedge-shaped throughout substantially its entire length, thereby enabling its covering and padding to be drawn tightly downward over it and maintained in a 'taut condition.

Another object is to provide a vertical trousers pressing machine of the foregoing character wherein the side bucks are opened and closed by a vertical toggle mechanism operated by a fluid pressure motor, thereby resulting in a more compact mechanism than has hitherto been provided, and economizing on the floor space occupied by the machine.

Another object is to provide a vertical trousers pressing machine or the foregoing character wherein an improved trousers carrier enables the trousers to be swung upward or downward and move inward or outward to position them properly in the machine and to adapt the machine instantly to widely different sizes of trousers.

.Another object is to provide a vertical trousers pressing machine of the foregoing character having a suction device operable to forcibly withdraw the steam from the bucks after pressing, in order to more quickly dry the trousers` 1n the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a trousers pressing machine according to one form of the invention, with the buck covers and padding omitted;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure l with the toggle mechanism partly in section;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line lld in Figure 3; showing details of the toggle mechanism;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5 5 in Figure 2 showing details of the buck construction;

Figure G is a fragmentary vertical section, partly in side elevation, taken along the line 8 6 in either Figure l or Figure 5, showing details of the middle buck construction;

Figure 7 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a portion of the trousers holder of the machine; and

Figure S is an enlarged Ahorizontal section taken along the line 8 6 in Figure 2, showing the steam control valve for one of the side bucles,

Frame and pedestal construction Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures V1 to 3 inclusive show a trousers pressing machine, generally designated I9, according to one form of the invention, which is an improvement over the machine disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 113,293, led August 31, 1949, for Trousers Pressing Machine. The present machine Ill is mounted upon a subbase structure ll consisting of upper and lower horizontal angle members I2 and I3 respectively interconnected by vertical angle members I4, and resting upon feet or pads I5 secured to the lower horizontal members I3. The 'various members I2, I3, I4 and I are secured to one another in any suitable way, such as by welding.

Mounted on the sub-base structure II vis the machine base I6 from the rearward portion of which rises a pedestal structure, generally Vdesignated Il. The pedestal structure I1 in turn consists of a plate-like pedestal base i3 resting upon the machine base I6. Rising from the pedestal base I6 is a vertical plate-like member I9 extending transversely of the machine i0 and forming a vertical wall near the back of the machine. This vertical wall IQ is strengthened in front by a pair of spaced vertical ribs or webs 20 (Figures l and 3), these being spaced not only apart from one another but also spaced inwardly from the vertical edges of the plate-like member It. The latter is also strengthened at its outer vertical edges by vertical ribs or webs 2l e'xtending rearwardly from the rearward side of the wall or plate-like member I9. A top member 22 in the form of a horizontal plate interconnects the vertical members I9, 20 and 2| like the bottom member or pedestal base I8, these members being secured to one another as by welding in order to formrthe fabricated pedestal I1.

of the pedestal I1 is the base 23 of a trousers holder frame 24 having plate-like parallel uprights 25 secured perpendicularly to a front plate-like member 26 (Figures 2 and 7) and secured as by welding to one another and to the frame base 23. Bolted or otherwise secured in parallel spaced relationship to the front platelike member 26 is a pair of guide members 21, one of which has a vertical guide surface 28 and the other has a corresponding vertical surface 29 on the inner side of which is located. a bar-like vertical pressure member 39 with an inner guide surface 3|. The pressure member 39 is provided with vertically-spaced holes 32 (Figure 7) which receive the inner ends of retaining pins 33 encircled by compression springs 34. The inner ends of the compression springs 34 engage the pressure member 39 and urge it inwardly or to the left in Figure 1, whereas the outer ends of the springs 34 abut the disc-like heads 35 on the pins 33. The heads 35, pins 33 and springs 34 are housed in recesses or sockets 36 extending into the guide member 21 from the surface 29 thereof. Threaded holes 31 extend through the guide member 21 into the recesses or sockets 36 and receive adjusting screws 38, the inner ends of which engage the heads 35 of the pins 33 and compress the springs 34. In this manner, the force with which the spring 34 engages the pressure member 39 may be adjusted. Lock nuts 39 hold the screws 38 in their adjusted positions. The pins 33 are suiciently short (Figure 7) to enter the holes 32 and permit a considerable adjustment of the springs 34 before reaching the guide surface 3|.

Slidably mounted between the guide members 21 and particularly between the

surfaces

28 and 3| is an elongated slide block 49 (Figures 1, 2 and 7), which extends rearwardly through a vertical slot 4| in the front plate 26 and on its rearward face is provided with vertically-spaced pairs of horizontally spaced ears 42 (Figures 2 and '1) which are bored for the passage of pivot bolts 43. Pivotally mounted on the pivot bolts 43 are the forward ends of

parallel links

44 and 45, the rearward ends of which are` pivotally mounted upon elongated pivot bolts 46 passing through and extending between the uprights 25 and carrying tubular spacers 41 which bear against opposite sides of the

links

44 and 45. 'I'he upper link 44 is provided with a rearwardlyelongated extension 48 upon which a counterweight 49 is slidably mounted. The counterweight 49 is bored as at 59 to receive the extension 48 and is locked in its adjusted position by a set screw I (Figure 2).

The slide block 40 on its front side is provided with an inwardly extending threaded hole or socket 52 into which is threaded the correspondingly threaded rearward end of a rod 53 of circular cross-section. Slidably mounted on the rod 53 is a trousers carrier, generally designated 54 which forms one part of the trousers holder as a whole, generally designated 55 and including the rod 53, the slide block 49 and the

parallel links

44 and 45. The trousers carrier 54 consists of a tube 56 upon which are mounted horizontally spaced clips, generally designated 51. Each clip 51 consists of a pair of lever-like members 58 (Figure 1) pivoted as at 59 to one another and having trousers gripping jaws 69 below the pivot 59 and finger grips or handles 6! above the pivot 59. A coil spring 62 urges the jaws 69 toward one another and the handles 6I away from one another so as to hold the trousers rmly between the jaws 69.

Buck swinging mechanism Extending forwardly from the wall or platelike member I9 and secured thereto and to the ribs 29 are vertically-spaced pairs of ears or lugs 65 bored as at 66 to receive vertically-disposed pivot shafts 61. Pivotally mounted on each pivot shaft 61 is an approximately U-shaped bracket structure, generally designated 68 and including a tubular hub 69 pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 61. Extending forwardly from the hub 69 are upper and lower arms 19 and 1| respectively which are parallel to one another and at their forward ends are pivotally connected to pivot pins 12 carried by pivot brackets 13 bolted or otherwise 'suitably secured to bosses 14 (Figures 1 and 3) which extend outwardly from the outer walls 15 of swinging outer bucks or side bucks, generally designated 1G. These are swung to and fro by the toggle mechanism described below.

Each lower arm 1I has a rearwardly projecting extension 11, the rearward end of which is drilled as at 18 (Figure 4) to receive a pivot bolt 19 on which a roller 80 is rotatably mounted. The roller 89 projects upward from the extension 11 into a cross-slot or groove 8| in a slide block 82 which reciprocates in a guideway 83 which consists of parallel grooves 84 (Figure 2) covered by retaining bars 85 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the shelf 86 in which the grooves 84 are located. The shelf 86 extends entirely across the machine between the vertical members 2| and is secured, as by welding, to the latter and to the rearward side of the wall or plate-like member I9 (Figure 3). The shelf 86 is provided with slots or openings 31 (Figure 4) through which the bosses 83 containing the cross grooves 9| project downwardly from the slide blocks 82. The wall or plate-like member I9 is also provided with similar slots or openings 89 (Figure 4) through which the arm extensions 11 project rearwardly.

Extending upwardly from each of the slide blocks 82 is a pair of spaced ears 99 carrying a pivot pin 9|. Pivotally mounted on the pivot pins 9| are the outer ends of inwardly extending links 92 and 93 (Figure 4), these having overlapping U-shaped or bifurcated portions and 96 interconnected by a pivot pin 91. /ilso rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 91 on the forward side of the U-shaped portion 95 is a roller 98 which engages a vertically grooved guideway 99 formed in a block |99 which is pivoted by the bolt |9| to a boss |92 on the rearward side of the wall I9 (Figures 3 and 4). The pivot bolt |9| is located at the upper end of the block |99 and its iowel` end. is adapted to be shifted to and fro by adjusting screws |93 threaded through spaced parallel ears I 94 projecting rearwardly from the boss |92. Thus, by shifting the lower end of the guide block |99 slightly to one side or the other (Figure 4), the relative positions of the slide blocks 82 may be adjusted and consequently the positions to which the swinging bucks 19 are swung inward may be accurately adjusted.

Also pivotally mounted on the pvot pin S1 between the arms of the U-shaped or bifurcated portion 95 of the link 93 is the lower end of a piston rod |95 having on its upper end a DSOIl head |96 (Figure 2) reciprocable in the bore |91 of a cylinder |98 having upper and lower cylinder heads |99 and I|8 respectively served by service pipes and |I2 communicating with opposite ends of the cylinder bore |91. The upper cylinder head |99 is provided with spaced ears I I3 carrying a pivot pin I4 mounted in a bracket ||5 secured to the lower side of the pedestal top member 22. In this manner, the cylinder |08 is adapted to rock slightly to align itself with the guide groove SS in the pivoted block lil (Figure 4), the cross grooves 5| being provided in the slide blocks 82 in order yto accommodate the mechanism to the varying radius of swing of the roller 80 on the end of each arm extension 11. As a consequence, when compressed air or other pressure huid is admitted to the upper service pipe the piston |06 is forced downward to close the side bucks 16, as explained in connection with the operation of the machine.

In order to cause the side bucks or outer bucks 1S to move approximately parallel to one another as they are swung outward by the arms 1|, the

lower pivot brackets 13 are provided with out- `yardly-extending arms I I5 (Figures l and 3) the outer ends of which are connected by pivot pins H5 to turnbuckles, generally designated H1 and consisting of internally oppositely threaded members lit and H9 into which are threaded the opposi-tely threaded ends |26 and |2| of a turnbuckle rod |22. A thumb wheel |23 is pinned or otherwise suitably secured to the rod |22 to rotate the same and thus move the members H8 and H9 toward or away from one another. Each turnbuckle member He is pivotally secured by the pivot pin |26 to a bracket |21 which in turn is secured to and projects forwardly from the wall or plate-like member I9 (Figure 3). By this means, the parallelism of the side bucks 'l can be adjusted relatively to the stationary middle buck |30.

Because of the limitations of space in Figure 2, the lower and upper portions of the pipes and ||2 are shown disconnected from one another, whereas they are, of course, actually connected to one another'. The service pipes and ||2 of the pneumatic cylinder It@ lead upward through a tubular pedestal or stand |3| to a conventional four-way control valve |32 which is supplied with compressed air from an external source (not shown) and which also has an air vent port. Ihe four-way valve |32 is manipulated by a handle |33 which, if shifted in one direction, admits compressed air to the upper service pipe and simultaneously vents the lower service pipe ||2 so as to force the piston it and piston rod |35 downward to close the side bucks 15. When, however, the handle |33 is shifted in the opposite direction, compressed air is supplied to the lower service pipe l2 while the upper service pipe is vented, moving the piston rod |95 and piston head iii `upward to swing the side bucks open and away from the middle buck |39. The four-way valve |32 is conventional and any type oi four-way valve may be used for this purpose.

Buck construction The side bucks 16 are of hollow elongated `ccnstruction and have outer chambers |34 between their outer and inner walls 15 and |35 respectively (Figures 3 and 5). The chamber |34 is constantly supplied with steam through supply pipes 35, the condensate or exhaust steam being removed through the pipes |31. These pipes are, of course, preferably flexible in order to adapt them to the swinging of the bucks le. The inner wall |35 of the swinging buck 1li is surrounded by o. flange |33 to which a perforated wall |39 is secured, with perforations Hill for steam to pass through. The flanges |33 extend away from the inner walls |35 a sufficient distance to space the perforated wall |39 away from the inner wall 6 |35. It will be understood that each of the side bucks T5 is covered with a'layer of padding, such as felt, over the perforated wall |39, and this in turn is protected by a cloth cover. These have been omitted to simplif y the drawing.

In order to supply steam to the inner chamber or space |fi| between the inner wall |35 and the perforated wall itil, each side buck 15 is provided with a steam control valve, generally designated |212 (Figure 8) rThe outer and inner walls 15 and |35 are provided with outwardly extending bosses |43 and ldd respectively. The bosses |133 and ilid are provided with coaxial aligned bores Hit and |46 respectively, the latter being threaded to receive a tubular stationary valve sleeve |li1 having ports Edil therethrough opening into the chamber li. At its inner end, the sleeve |41 is internally threaded to receive a threaded plug |59 in which is a port It@ extending from the interior of the sleeve |i'i into the inner chamber IM. Reciprccably mounted in the valve sleeve H31 is a movable valve core or member |5| having a T-shaped passageway |52 therein with its axial portion communicating with the interior of the sleeve |131 and constantly open for communication with the port ld, whereas the transverse portion is selectively communicable with the sleeve ports M8 as the valve member |5| is moved to and fro by a valve stern |53 attached thereto and extending outward through a bore |54 in the end portion |55 of the sleeve |41. A helical spring tot constantly urges the valve member |5| outward (to the right in Figure 8) to close communication between the ports |68 and valve member passageway |52. A packing |51 and gland |58 inserted in a threaded counterbore |59 coaxial with the bore idd prevent leakage around the valve stern ld. The latter is moved to and fro by a hand lever le@ mounted on a pivot pin |6| supported by spaced ears |32 projecting from a cap |53, the hand lever tilt carrying the knob |64 at its outer end. The cap |63 is bored and internally threaded to be screwed onto the threaded outer end portion |65 of the sleeve |41, so as to compress a gasket lt.

As a consequence, when the knob ld is grasped by the operator and the hand lever |60 swung toward the side buck 16, the valve member |5| is moved inwardly so as to place the passageway |52 in registry with the ports Hi8 and admit steam from the outer chamber |3|l to the inner chamber ilii, as explained in the operation. The outer or side bucks 16 have approximately parallel walls 15 and |35 and |39 respectively but are tilted slightly relatively to the vertical in order to accurately engage the wedge-shaped or tapered middle buck i3d. The side bucks 15 are provided with drain cocks |61 at the lower ends of their outer chambers for removal of water which collects while the machine is not in use.

The middle buck i3@ is provided with a base llil which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the base l and which has the wedge-shaped buck portion |15 rising therefrom and decreasing in width in an upward direction. The middle buck |35) is provided with spaced solid inner walls |12 enclosing a central chamber |13 which is of wedge-shaped form by reason of the convergence of the walls |12 in an upward direction. Spaced away from and parallel to the inner walls |12 are outer perforated walls ila having perforations il through which steam may pass from a chamber |16 enclosed by a wall |11 (Figure 6) at the lower forward corner of the middle buck |39 by way of the outer chamber iid thereof. A passageway |19 leads upward to the outer chamber |18 from a steam supply chamber I 80 in the buck base |10. Steam intake pipes |8| and |82 lead respectively from a source of steam, such as a boiler or steam generator, to the chambers |13 and |16 respectively (Figure 6), whereas exhaust or steam discharge pipes or condensate pipes |83 and |84 lead respectively out of these chambers through the machine base I6.

Operation In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the side bucks 16 and middle buck |30 have been provide-d with suitable padding and covers, as previously explained, and omitted from the drawings for simplicity of showing. Let it also be assumed that the machine is connected to a source of steam, as to a boiler or steam generator, and the air supply pipe of the valve |32 connected to a source of compressed air, such as a tank served by an air compressor. .Steam passes through the pipe |83 into the chamber |13 of the middle buck |30 and condensate or exhaust steam escapes through the pipe 8|, thus heating the middle buck |30. Steam also passes through the flexible pipes |36 into the outer chambers |34 of the swinging or side bucks 15 and heats the latter.

Assuming that the side bucks are in their closed positions shown in the drawings, the operator shifts the handle |33 of the four-way air control valve |32 to admit compressed air to the lower service pipe I2 and vent the upper service pipe to the atmosphere. This action :Forces the piston |06 and piston rod |05 upward, raising the inner ends of the

links

92 and 93 upward (Figure 4) thereby moving the slide blocks 82 and the ends of the arm extensions 11 toward one another. This in turn swings the arms 1| and the side bucks or outer bucks 16 outward away from one another and away from the middle buck 30. The machine is then ready for the insertion of the trousers.

To press a pair of trousers T (Figure 2), the operator suspends them from the trousers holder 55 by inserting their waistband in the clips 51 of the trousers carrier 54, moving this inward or outward along the rod 53 until the trousers are properly positioned horizontally. He then moves the slide block 40 of the trousers holder 55 upward or downward, its parallelism being maintained by the parallel links 45, until the trousers legs are properly positioned vertically and inserted between the middle buck and the side bucks 16 on opposite sides of the upstanding portion |1| of the middle buck |30. The pressure 8 plate 30, impelled by the springs 34, frictionally engages the slide block 40 and holds it in its adjusted position. The counterweight 40 counterbalances the weight of the trousers T.

The operator now shifts the valve lever |33 in the opposite direction, admitting compressed air to the upper service pipe and venting the lower service pipe ||2, causing the piston head |06 and piston rods |05 to move downward. This action swings the slide blocks 02 and the ends of the arm extensions 11 away from one another, swinging the arms 1| and side bucks 16 toward one another into engagement with the trousers which are draped over the middle buck portion |1|.

The operator then steps upon the foot pedal to admit live steam to the outer chamber |18, this steam permeating the pores of the garment through the holes |15. He also grasps the knobs |64 and shifts the valve levers |50 to open the valve |42 and admit live steam from the outer chambers |34 of the side bucks 16 to the inner chambers ||4I thereof. This steam escapes through the holes |40 and likewise permeates the pores of the garment. When the garment has been suiliciently pressed and steamed in this manner, the operator releases the foot pedal |90 and the knobs |64 of the hand levers |80, cutting off the ow of live steam to the garment. To dry the garment, he then steps on the foot pedal |99, simultaneously opening the condensate pipe |84 to the exhaust pipe 260 and likewise opening the air supply pipe |94 to the ejector |93. The blast of air through the ejector, ccording to the well-known principles of the Venturi tube and of injectors based thereon, creates a suction which in turn sucks the steam out of the outer chamber |18 of the middle buck |39 and consequently dries the garment.

The operator then shifts the air control hand lever |33 to admit compressed air to the lower service pipe ||2 and vent the upper service pipe swinging the side bucks 15 open .in the manner previously described. The trousers may then be removed by grasping the handles 6| of the clips 51 so as to separate the jaws 65 and release them from their grip upon the waistband of the trousers T.

As the trousers carrier 54 is removable from the machine, the operator or his assistant may attach the trousers to such carriers 54 away from the machine and mount them upon a rack adjacent the machine, ready to be pressed as the operator takes them up in order. This enables a large quantity of trousers to be pressed rapidly and eiciently, with the attaching of the trousers being done by comparatively unskilled persons.

What I claim is:

l. A vertical trousers pressing machine comprising a vertically-disposed hollow elongated inner pressing member, a supporting structure, a pair of vertically-disposed hollow elongated cuter pressing members disposed on opposite sides of said inner pressing member and pivotally connected to said supporting structure for motion toward and away from said inner pressing member, and heating fluid supply and discharge conduits connected to said pressing members, and a trousers holder connected to said supporting structure and overhanging said pressing members, said trousers holder having a horizontal trousers supporting elements, clamps thereon having opposed clamping elements engageable with the trousers waistband on opposite sides of the trousers for securing the trousers waistband thereto.

a vertically-movable element connected to said supporting element, and a parallel linkage pivotally mounted on said supporting structure and pivotally connected tp said vertically-movable element.

2. A vertical trousers pressing machine comprising a vertically-disposed hollow elongated inner pressing member. a supporting structure, a pair of vertically-disposed hollow elongated outer pressing members disposed on opposite sides of said inner pressing member and pivotally connected to said supporting structure for motion toward and away from said inner pressing member, and heating fluid supply and discharge conduits connected to said pressing members, and a trousers holder connected to said supporting structure and overhanging said pressing members, said trousers holder having a horizontal trousers supporting element, a tubular element slidably mounted on said horizontal supporting element, clamps on said tubular element having opposed clamping elements engageable with the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,065,235 Matthews Dec. 22, 1936 2,126,577 Rawlinson Aug. 9, 1938 2,147,596 Long Feb. 14, 1939 2,375,947 Robbel May 25, 1945 2,486,486 Lauzon Nov. 1, 1949 2,529,899 Bayler Nov. 14, 1950