US2670621A - Garment spotting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 i Y w, C, GLQVER, JR 2,670,621

GARMENT sPoTTING MACHINE Filed Maron 18, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 March 2, 1954 w. c. sLovl-zR, JR

GARMENT SPOTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1950 INVENTOR. W/Y//d/r? 6. 670g; .//r

Arme/v March 2, 1954 w. c. GLovER, JR

GARMENT SPOTTING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO'R. MV//am 6', /WJ/J BY j. ff!

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 GARMENT sPoTTING MACHINE William CfGlover, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., assigner to Bill Glover Incorporated, a Acorporation of :Missouri ApplicationMarch, 1950,Serial No. 150,504

12 claims. golpes-'5) 'The present-invention relatesin ygeneral to the removal o f spots from fabrics and'itdeals more particularly with thel construction of an improved spotting machine tobeused for this purpose.

It is the object'oi the invention broadly speaking to provide a machinewhich` places at the disposal of its operatormeans for dealing with practically every kind of spot or Vstain encountered in laundry and dry cleaning practice, a V machine which majkes possible the removal -oi 'all such spots in the most expeditious and satisfactory manner.

'Another vObject ofthe invention is toprovide at leastfone work surface which isrforaminous and has means for drawing a suction therethrough, which suction means is automatically rendered eiective when the surface is put into use and rendered inactive when the `use is discontinued. A collateral object is to provide a work surfacewhich is adjustable in-position to suit the convenienceof the operator and also is shiftable into and out of workingpo'sition.

Another object of my invention Iis-to provide `a spotting machine having facilities fortreating a fabric disposed on vany work surface with dry steam, wet steam, cold water or hotair at will. More particularly-itis anobject toprovidea` gun operable at will to discharge a spray of 'cold-water, and a secondgun lsel -zctively operable' to discharge dry steam, lwetvsteam or hot air. Inthecase-of all yof these luids it is an aim of the invention to make the rate or pressure of discharge readily controllable.

Still another object is to providefaspotting 4machine having -means 'for :generating from steam its owncold water for theftreatment-'of thermosettin-g water solublespots, therebyeliminating the need for la separate, external water `supply line.

Yet another object is to provide a machine-oi the character indicated 'having means ffacilitat-I ing the cleaning of Avarious parts-which `in the course oi? normal use collect lint, sediment and other "foreign matter.

Other and further objects, together .with the features of novelty whereby the objects are achieved, will Aappear in the course of theiollow-v ing description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which vform a part of the specication and are `to be read conjunction therewith, and in which like refer-y ence numerals are employed to indicate likeparts of thevarious views Fig. l is a` front perspective view -of 'my improved garment 'spotting machina ,Fig.j 2 -is a kplan view. of `the machine,

i'lEigiB'is anenlarged cross sectional view taken along theline kSiof Fig. 2 in the directionpf the arrows,

`Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken alone theplane 4-4 oiFig. 1 in the direction .0i the arrows,

.Fig..5 is a horizontal cross section takenalong the line 5-75 o f'Fig 4,

Flei iS an .enlarged fragmentary cross ,section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 thedirection of the arrows,

Fig. '7 is .a vertice-1 cross section taken along the lline 1-1 oi'Fig.. ,2.,

Fig. .8 is `an .enlarged sectional elevation taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 1 in thedirectionzof the arrows, and

Fig. 9 is a, schematicdiagram of the air-water-V steam Yand vacuum system employed in. my machine.

In generahmymachine ycomprises Aa base il) having uprightsY which carry a chemicaltray H, a small spotting-table l2, a larger spotting Vtabile |13 and a basket I4. Asmay be appreciated from Figs. 1 and 2, the largerspottingvtable `(which hereinafter will sometimes be referred toas the main table) is spaced above the basket Withits center line normally slightly'iorward of the center line of the basket, that is tosay, slightly nearer the operator; the smaller spotting table (which will sometimes be referred to as the auxiliary table) is positioned aboveiand rearwardlyof the main table, while-the chemical tray is vabove and behind the auxiliary table in stair step `relationship.

'Considering the construction more in detail, ythe, base i9 is T-shaped having a tubular stem lila extending longitudinally of the machine and joined -at one end to the mid portion of a narrow crosswise housing wb. Holes idc provided at the. extremities-of these members make it possible lto bolt or otherwise secure the base to the floor.

A hollow pedestal i6 extends vertically from the base and has telescoped into its upper end a post il which carries the main spotting table i3. The upper portion of the hollow pedestal is slit longitudinally to form a clamping collarand is provided with outturned ears I8 oneither lsidev elevationmost convenient'ior the operator and.

may be locked in adjusted position by'lever '19.

The main table has a horizontal heel section 2i preferably formed of an imperforate siab of hard material which is highly resistant to the corrosive action of the chemicals used in the spotting operation. At the end of this is a tapered upwardly pitched nose section comprising a pan 22 with a foraminous cover 23 of stainless steel or the like.

As best seen in Fig. 7, the cover is held in place on the pan by a pairof crossed straps 24 located on its underside,; these straps, each bent to form a shallow V, are secured at their ends to the margin of the foraminous cover, and at their intersection, have a welded on nut 25 adapted to receive a threaded stem extending through the bottom of the pan from knob 2E. By turning this knob to unscrew the threaded connection, the cover may be easily removed when desired to clean the pan of the lint, etc., carried thereinto in the normal use of the machine. The lowermost end of the pan is provided with a drain outlet 28 communicating with the pipe 29 which runs under the heel section of the table and connects to a flexible hose 3@ leading to any suitable point of discharge.

Basket I4 comprises a generally oval panel 32 of canvas, or other suitable fabric, suspended rather loosely in hammock fashion from an open frame loop 33 whose ends are secured to a split collar 34 encircling post l1. The collar is slidable up and down the post to adjust the elevation of the basket relative the main spotting table, and by means of lever 35, one end of which is screw threadedly connected to lugs on the Split collar, the latter may be clamped tightly to the post to hold the basket in any selected position.

It is the function of the basket to receive depending portions of a garment being treated, thus to keep same off the floor and out of the way of the operator. As previously noted, the center line of the basket preferably is located rearwardly of the center line of the main spotting table (see Fig. 2) and it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the rear edge of the basket is somewhat higher than the forward edge, it having been found that this arrangement is best suited to catching garments during the manipulation thereof; at the same time it leaves a wide opening below the main table on the operator side of the machine to permit the operator easily to reach any depending portion of a garment in order to shift same to the top of the table.

The chemical tray ll and the auxiliary spotting table l2 are supported on an upright tubular housing 33 that also functions as a steam separator as will be explained presently. This housing is spaced rearwardly of the pedestal i6 and is connected thereto by a cross brace 3S. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a lug c@ extends forwardly from housing 38 and carries a bearing sleeve 4 I In the latter sleeve is a freely rotatable post 42 carrying at its upper end a horizontal pipe 43 which in turn supports the auxiliary table I2. A lever arm i5 is attached to post 42 by means of a collar 4S having thumb screws the collar resting upon the upper end of the sleeve and forming an end bearing to support the post. By loosening the thumb screws, post 2 can be adjusted up or down reiative the collar in order to adjust the elevation of the auxiliary spotting table.

The forward end of pipe 453 opens into a shale low, sloping pan 69 which is covered by a fo-v raminous oval plate or screen 50; the opposite end of the pipe connects to a flexible hose 5i leading to any suitable point of discharge. Extending along the top of pipe 63 from the perfcrate nose and secured to the pipe is an imperforate table 52 preferably formed of hard, corrosion resistant material similar to that employed for slab 2i.

Post Q2 being rotatable in sleeve fil, it will be clear that pipe d3 and the auxiliary spotting table i2 are free to swing in a horizontal plane. A stop shoulder 53 (Fig. 5) on arm G5 limits its rearward travel but the table can be drawn forward froafn its rearrnost position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is thus drawn forward, arm 45, of course, swings with the table and by means of link 54 opens valve 5E for a purpose presently to be described.

Returning now to the steam separator, this, as previously indicated, comprises a vertically elongated tubular housing Sil, the housing being' closed at the bottom by a plug 55 and having a steam valve 5'! screwed into the top. Steam is admitted into the separator from a supply line 5S and below the steam inlet e9 is a water overflow outlet Si) connected by line 64 to a suitable drain. A conventional trap 62 is pro vided in the latter line to prevent loss of steam therethrough. It will be understood that due to the extended surface of housing 38 that is exposed to ambient air, a portion of the steam admitted to the separator condenses, maintaining the separator filled with distilled water 53 to the level of the overow outlet; above the surface of the water is steam, of course, the steam .in the uppermost portion of the separator being substantially free from entrained moisture and hence referred to as di-y.

The steam supply line is connected to the separator via a heat exchanger having a housing 6e through which a steam tube S5 extends, this ing through this passageway when the valve is opened, is heated by fins, which, it will be understood, are heated by the steam within tube S5. The spiral disposition of the fins providea relatively long heated passageway in a short space and obtain maximum heat transfer to the air.

The outlet from steam valve 58 has a T fitting B9 screwed thereinto and one branch of the T is connected by a pipe H3 to the outlet from the air valve S8. The other branch vof the T is connected to a hose 'H extending to a spotting gun i2; as shown, this gun has an open discharge nozzle '32a supported by a ventilated handle.

Both valves are normally closed and it will be seen from the foregoing that both have their outlets connected to the spotting gun via hose 'I I. Air valve 68 can be opened vunder control of the foot pedal i3 which, by means of a shaft extending through base member ma, rotates a crank arm 7e; this exerts a thrust on the rod I5 which in turn pivots lever and opens the valve. Pedal 'is through the medium of a hollow shaft '9 turns a similar crank when the pedal is depressed and thus exerts a thrust on rod EG to control steam valve 5T.

The particular construction of the valves employed in my machine form no part of the present invention and hence they have not been detailedf is used again to remove excess moisture. The latter technique has the advantage that it tends to drive any loosened sizing toward the center of the spot where it is flushed through rather than driving it toward the rim of the spot where it tends to pile up and leave a ring. Also the spot is confined to its own area, and spreading o1' splattering is eliminated. Use of the vacuum nose 50 likewise is valuable in preventing spreading of stains or moisture.

Using my apparatus, steam spotting may be carried out with excellent results even on velvets, plush, suede cloth, duvetyn, corduroy and other nappy materials which heretofore could not be treated satisfactorily; badly water stained or heavily sized rayons likewise can be spotted very successfully.

As previously indicated, drying of the spotted area can be completed by means of hot air delivered through gun l2. This may be used either in conjunction with the foraminous nose section 23 of the main spotting table, or the vacuum nose section 50 of the auxiliary table. Used with the latter, drying is almost instantaneous and will absolutely prevent water rings so that the need for very careful feathering is largely eliminated and the speed of handling correspondingly increased.

An important feature of my invention resides in the provisions made for holding guns i2 and 9@ Where they are at all times readily available to the operator and may be put into use for the foregoing purposes with a minimum of manual movement; the guns also are arranged to return to their rest positions almost automatically in readiness for subsequent use so no lost motion on the part of the operator is involved.

In the case of water spray gun Sii, the support comprises a rod S5 extending upwardly from one corner of the chemical tray, the upper end of the rod being bent over and provided with a hook to receive a depending coiled spring 9"! which in turn carries the gun. When not in use, the gun thus is held out of the way of all operations carried on or in connection with the spotting tables. When needed, it may be grasped by the operator, drawn down to operating position, thus stretching the spring 9i which automatically restores it to rest position when it is released by the operator after use. out of the way during use and permits free manipula-tion of the water spray gun. The steam and hot air gun 7 2 is supported below the level of the main spotting table (and hence also out of the way), by means of a spring loop 98- whose ends extend laterally and are welded or otherwise secured to the rim 33 of basket Ui. Hose 1I is threaded through the loop and is encircled, adjacent the handle of gun l2, wth a hemispherical bumper or bushing B9 formed of soit rubber of similar resilient cushioning material. The bumper normally rests on the top of the loop and the weight of the hose below the loop serves to hold the gun upright so it may be grasped easily. When the gun is lifted for use, the hose obviously is drawn upwardly through the eye formed by the spring loop. After use the operator simply drops the gun in a generally vertical direction toward the loop whereupon, due to the hose being threaded through the loop and having the major portion of its weight below the loop, the gun automatically is drawn and guided back to the correct rest position. The soft resilient characterof bumper 99 plus the spring construction of thelloop serve to cushion the blow 'of stopping The spring keeps hose 93 t Cil d the gun and thus prevent iniury'to'the gn'and the support.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinaticns are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the appended claims.

Inasmuch as various modications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous table pivotally mounted on said support to swing in a generally horizontal pla-no, said table having a duct whose'mouth opens upwardly and is connected to the underside of said table, suction means connected to said duct, a control device normally rendering said suction means inoperative, and linkage between said table and device for actuating said device responsive to swinging of said table cn said support to render said suction means operative thereby to create a downdrait through said foraminous table.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous table movably mounted on said support, a duct having at one end an upwardly opening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of the said table, a huid injector nozzle connected into said duct and directed toward the opposite end thereof, a source of fluid i? under pressure, a supply line from said source to said nozzle, a valve in said line, and linkage between said table and valve for opening and closing said valve responsive to movements of said table relative to said support.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous table movably mounted on said support, a duct having at one end an upwardly opening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of said table, suction means connected to said duct, a valve controlling said suction means, and linkage between said table and valve for opening and closing s'aid valve responsive to movements of said table relative to said support.

4. In a garment spotting machine, a support having a stationary vertical sleeve, a post rotatable and axially movable in said sleeve. a collar encircling the post above the sleeve and adjustable axially of the post, means for securing said collar to the post in any adjusted position thereon, a table iixedly mounted on the upper end of the post and effective by its weight to maintain the collar in abutting relation with the upper end of the sleeve whereby the elevation of said table is determined by the position of the collar on the post, a lever arm extending laterally `from said collar and adapted when the collar is locked to the post to turn with the post upon swinging of the table in a horizontal arc about the axis of said sleeve, a valve mounted on said support, linkage between said arm and valve for operating the valve upon movement of said arm, said table comprising a ioraminous generally horizontai panel having a duct whose mouth opens upwardlyand is connected around its marginl to the' underside oftne panel, and suction means connected to sadduct and controlled-by said valve.

5. In a garment spotting machine, a support having a stationary vertical sleeve, a post rotatableandfaxially movable in ,saidzsleevaa collar encircling the post above the 4sleeve andadjust'- able axiallyy of the post, meansrfor securingisaid collar to thepost in any adjusted position thereon, a table xedly mountedonlthe upper end-,of

the .post and effective by itsweight to Vmaintain i the collar` in abutting relation with the: upper end of the. sleeve whereby the elevation of said table is determined by the position of the colla-r on'thepost, a' lever armi extendinglaterally from saidfcoliar and adapted whenthe. collarfisjlocked toy thezpost to turn with the post uponswinging oi"t the table in a horizontal are about the axist of said. sleeve, a fluid conduit containing fa flow'- controlling valve ymounted in n xed relation, to said support, and linkage between said arm and valve for operatingthe valve upon movement of said arm.

6. In a spotting machine, a stationary support, a foraminous table movably mounted on said support to swing in a generally horizontal plane, a

duct having at one end ran upwardly opening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of the table, a nozzle connected into said duct and directed toward the opposite end thereof, a closed vessel, a source of steam under pressure connected into said vessel, said vessel having an extended exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steam entering the vessel from said source, a condensate outlet line communicating with said vessel at the bottom thereof, a steam injector connected to the other end of said line for imposing suction thereon, a steam supply line extending from said steam source to said injector, a valve in said last line, mechanism connected to said table for opening and closing said Valve responsive to swinging of said table on the support thereby to cause said injector to impose outlet line between said vessel and said injector. I

8. In a spotting machine, a closed vessel, a source of steam under pressure connected into said vessel, said vessel having an extended 'exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steam entering the vessel from said source, a condensate outlet line communicating with said vessel at the bottom thereof, a steam injector connected to the other end of said line for imposing suction thereon, a steam supply line from said steam source to said injector, a valve in said last line, a stationary support, a pan movably mounted on said support, linkage between said pan and said valve for opening and closing the valve responsive to movement of the pan relative to said support thereby to cause said injector to impose suction on said condensate line intermittently, a foraminous cover over said pan, said pan having an outlet opening below its upper rim, and a second injector associated with said outlet opening and connected to the discharge of said rst injector for creating a down draft through said foraminous cover into said pan when said valve is open.

9. In a spotting machine, a, closed vessel, a source of steam under pressure connected into lid.

said vessel; said vessel having anl extended-exterior heat radiating surface to causeconden'saftionorsteamienteringthe'vessel from said source; ine-ans limiting the maximum levelthat '-saidi con'- densate can 'attain in the vessel thereby "to pro'- vide 'aj steam space the vessel above the'sure face or the condensata a A'condensate outlet: line communicating with said vessel at the bottom thereof, a steam mjectcrconnect-ed tothe other end or said: line for imposing suction thereon, a steam supply -line from said steam sourcetossaidinjector, av valve in said last line;v alrstationary support, a tab'lepivotally mounted onsa'id" supe port toV swing agenerally' horizontal plane; linkageY between said table and said valveV vfor open'ng and closing the valve1 responsive to swinging of the table thereby to cause said-ine jector to impose suction on said: condensate line mtermittently, a steamoutletlineextending from said steam space in the vessel `and having a'di'se' chargeino'zale' at the-end thereof, and a valve in said last line to control the flow of steam therethrough, at least part of said last line being flexible to permit movement' of said nozzle relativeto said table.

10. A spotting machine as in claim 9, wherein said vessel is vertically elongated, a stationary base secured to the lower end of said vessel and supporting same in upright position, said support for said pivotal table being secured to the upper portion of said vessel whereby said table is carried by said vessel.

l1. In a spotting machine, a stationary base, a vertically elongated closed vessel extending upwardly from said base and forming a post, a table pivotally mounted on said post above the base to swing in a generally horizontal plane, a source.

of steam under pressure connected into the vessel, said vessel having an extended exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steam entering the vessel from said source, means limiting the maximum level that the condensate can attain in the vessel thereby to provide a steam space in the vessel above the surface of the condensate, a steam outlet line from the steam space in the vessel having a nozzle at the end thereof, means including a mixing valve associated with said line for controlling the steam ow therethrough to the nozzle and for optionally introducing condensate into said steam flow to temper the steam, at least part of said line being flexible to permit movement of said nozzle relative to the table, said table comprising a foraminous generally horizontal panel with a duct having at one end an upwardly opening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of said panel, an injector nozzle connected into said duct and directed toward the opposite end thereof, a line from said steam source to said injector nozzle, a valve in said last line, and linkage between said table and said last valve for opening and closing said last valve responsive to swinging of said table on said post.

12. In a spotting machine, a stationary base, a vertically elongated closed vessel extending upwardly from the base and forming a post, a table pivotally mounted on said post above the base to swing in a generally horizontal plane, a source of steam under pressure connected into the vessel, said vessel having an extended exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steam entering the vessel from said source, means limiting the maximum level that the condensate can attain in the vessel thereby to provide a steam space in the vessel above the surface of the con- 11 densate, a steam outlet line extending from the steam space in the Vessel and having a steam discharge nozzle at the end thereof, a condensate outlet line extending from the lower portion of the vessel and having a condensate discharge nozzle at the end thereof, valves in the respective lines to control the flow therethrough to said nozzles, said lines being exible to permit movement of the nozzles relative to said table, said table comprising a foraxninous generally horizontal panel with a duct having at one end thereof an upwardly opening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of said panel, an injector nozzle connected into\said duct and directed toward the opposite end thereof, a line from said steam source to said injector nozzle, a Valve in said last line, and linkage between said table and said last valve for opening and closing said last valve responsive to swinging of said table on said post.

WILLIAM C. GLOVER, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Koelsch May 30, 1876 Cox July 5, 1927 Betke Dec. 17, 1929 Conley Aug. 22, 1933 Morken Sept. 26, 1939 Whisenhunt Oct. 29, 1940 Goodwin Apr. 14, 1942 Cissell Apr. 18, 1944 Glover, Jr Nov. 28, 1944 Weber et al. Dec. 25, 1945 Goodwin Jan. 13, 1948 Goodwin Feb. 3, 1948 Castoe July 6, 1948 Yanchenko July 20, 1948 Glover, Jr. Aug. 23, 1949

Images