US2760698A - Pressing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1956 l. c. MAXWELL ETAL PRESSING MACHINE s Sheets-She et 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 Aug. 28, 1956 l. c. MAXWELL ErAL 2,760,698

- PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, l954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvroxs [RA C. M XWELL y OLE/iLA/VGEN HARoL 0 M //O/6VE Aug. 28, 1956 1. c. MAXWELL ETAL 3,750,698

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W I E E5 7 Z? :J F I a2 52 9595A 85 .94\

loo- 3 u T a. i l0 1o! 90 4 INVENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL y OLE/iLANGEN HAROLD 14/1016 vs ATTORNEKS g- 28, 1956 I. c. MAXWELL ETAL 2,760,698

' PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS fim CMAXWELL BY OLE/i LANGEN HAROLD 1/ 110/6 VE g- 8 1956 1. c. MAXWELL Em 2,760,698

FRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, l954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS IRA C. MAXWELL y OLE/1. LANGEN flARow 1 ho/svs ATTORNEY;

United States Patent PRESSING MACHINE Ira C. Maxwell, le H. Langen, and Harold V. Hoisve,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,382 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates to pressing machines and more especially to pressing machines for simultaneously pressing the sleeves of soft shirts such as sport shirts and the like. Sport shirts are generally made of relatively soft materials and are laundered and ironed, usually without any appreciable amount of starch. In this re spect they are unlike the ordinary mens shirt which is usually finished with some starch. It has been found that sport shirts can be ironed very readily without the degree of pressure and without contact of an ironing surface against a padded buck, for most parts of the sport shirt. This invention pertains particularly to a machine for ironing sleeve portions of the sport shirt, which portions are those parts of the sleeve between the cuff of the sleeve and the shoulder seam. The invention contemplates that the apparatus will be used in a sport shirt pressing arrangement wherein the cuffs and the collar of the shirt are pressed in a separate operation, and the bosom of the sport shirt, as well as yoke, are likewise pressed in separate operations, the instant invention being directed solely to means for providing efficient, rapid and economical pressing of the sleeve portion of the sport shirt, between the cuff and the shoulder seam.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a pressing machine which may be manufactured at low cost and yet is eflicient in operation and may be utilized by inexperienced help without previous training.

It is another object of the invention to provide an expansible mandrel ironer for drying and ironing the sleeves of shirts, together with cooperative positive pressure means for simultaneously ironing the plackets of the sleeves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive pressing machine for the rapid and economical mandrel, drying and pressing of the sleeve portions of a sport shirt in combination with positive pressure ironing means for ironing a selected portion of the garment, such as the placket of the shirt.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent and apparent in the apparatus as described, illustrated and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the complete apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating certain portions of the operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view show- "ice ing the cover of the lower portion of the machine removed, and illustrating certain of the parts in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale taken along a line and in the direction of arrows 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating several positions of operation of the apparatus of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view of certain portions of the mechanical apparatus of the press together with a diagrammatic showing of the electrical and air circuits and the controls.

The pressing machine of the present invention consists generally of a frame 10 of generally rectangular horizontal plan having four corner posts, of which posts 11, 12 and 13 are shown in Figure 1. The corner posts are connected together by subframe members 14 at the bottom and are connected at the top by the top frame members 15. The top of the pressing machine has a generally horizontal rear portion at 16 and a downwardly slanting front portion at 18. In its completed embodiment, this frame is covered by side panels 19 at either side thereof and a front panel 20 as well as a rear panel. For convenience these are made so that they may be easily removed for inspection and servicing of the equipment.

At the front portion of the frame there is provided a downwardly and forwardly slanting tabletop 21 which has an upturned, curved rear portion at 23 and a downwardly slanting front portion at 23. The tabletop is finished with an attractive smooth white enamel finish or it may be chromium plated if desired. The tabletop is carried by a subplate at 22 on frame member 15, the tabletop 21 and the subplate being cut out so as to provide several spaced parallel apertures therethrough of which aperture 24 is illustrated in Figure 2. In alignment with each of the apertures there is provided an external cap, these being illustrated at 25 and 26 in Figure 1. The caps 25 and 26 are castings, finished and polished on the exterior and they form respectively bases of a pair of mandrels generally designated 30L and 30R.

The mandrels 30L and 30R are of identical construction except for the fact that they have certain parts which are of right and left-hand construction, notably the cuff island and the cuff clamp at the upper end of the mandrel. Accordingly, only one of the mandrels need .be described in detail since it will illustrate the construction of both mandrels.

Referring to Figure 2 particularly, the mandrel 33L there illustrated, includes a first portion generally designated 31, which is mounted fixedly upon the base 26, and a second portion 32, which is mounted so as to be capable of lateral movement away from portion 31 and also capable of slight rocking motion with reference to the portion 31, particularly as portion 32 is moved away from portion 31. Both of the mandrel portions 31 and 32 are provided with steam packets, thus the portion 31 is provided with a steam jacket 33 and portion 32 is provided with a steam jacket 34. A pipe connection 46 is provided at the base of the steam jacket 33 through which the condensate water is removed from that jacket. A smaller pipe 77 which enters through the larger pipe 46 extends upwardly into the top of the steam jacket 33 so as to deliver the steam at the position 33A, at the very uppermost part of the jacket. Similarly, the mandrel portion 32 has a condensate drain pipe 83 through which a smaller steam line 103 enters and extends into the upper portion 34A of that steam jacket.

The two mandrel portions 31 and 32, taken together, form a generally tapered shape and when they are brought closely together the exterior wall of the two mandrel portions substantially meets along the line 3S'3'6-37, which represents a slight space between the two mandrel portions when they are at their closest position adjacent each other. Stops may be provided as at 33 and 39 so as to maintain a slight clearance along. the

its outer edge asat 4142, the curve being more pro nounced at the lower portion, and below the termination 42 the mandrel shape is indented asat 44 and terminates at 45.

The mandrel portions 31 and32' are shaped with flanges at opposite sides, which cooperate to form the line --36-37 along each face of the mandreLwhen the two portions of the mandrel are brought. toward eachother. When in this position there still remains an interior space 47, which is closed at the top by the walll48-ofthe rear mandrel portion 31. However, this space 47 is open at. the bottom and into it drying air is introduced for drying a sleeve on the mandrel, as willbe. described. in greater detail hereinafter, and this space also provides room for the mounting of an operating lever for the mandrel portion 32, and with battles 70, at various elevations for distributing the air flow.

At the upper end of the mandrel portion 31 there is a flat surface 49, upon which there is mounted a fixture St) which has generally flat opposite faces,. but which is smoothly rounded along its side edges and end as at 15253-54. Fixture 50 is hollow and is provided with a cuff clamp 55, which may be actuated manually by means of the control knob 56 for lifting the clamp portion away from the adjacent face ofthe fixture Ell. The two edges of a cuff are placed under the. opposite ends of the clamp 55 when it is lifted away from the adjacent fiat face of fixture 50, upon actuationofthe knob 56. When the knob is moved in the opposite direction the clamp 55 will move toward the face of. the fixture 59 and hence hold the coil in place. The details of construction and operation of the cufff clamp canbe the same as in United States Patent No. 2,687,241.

It will be noted that the width of the fixture 59 is. somewhat less than the overall dimension of. the mandrel, adjacent the surface 49. The upper. portion. of the mandrel is smoothly curved over to meet. the-line 4d, to correspond with the fullness of. a shirt sleeve generallyprovided at the cuff seams of sport shirts and generally taken in as a slight gathering at the sleeve cufi. seam.

For each of the mandrels there. is provided an apparatus for feeding heated air under pressure into the interior space 47. Thus, there is provided a framework. at 60, extending generally downwardly beneath the mounting plate 22 and upon this framework there ismounted a heat exchanger at 61, to which, in turn, the exhaust duct- 62 of a blower generally designated 64, is fixedly attached. Above the heat exchanger 61 there is a converging air conduit at 65 which continues as a tubular outlet 66 extending upwardly into the lower portion of the space 47. When the blower is operated, air is drawn into the side port 64A of the blower and. is thence'forced through the heat exchanger in the direction of the arrow 68 and thence as shown by the arrow 69 into-the space 47. Within the space 47 there is a plurality of deflecting baffles 7d70, which are provided to' deflect the air flow towards the line space 35-3637 at opposite faces of the interior space 47. The normal air flow is thus-into the interior space 47 from the blower-heat exchanger via pipe 66 and the air flow is then continued outwardly The. mandrel portion 32 has a generally curved line along.

all along the line space 353637, at opposite sides of the mandrel and accordingly'provides drying air for assisting in the ironing and drying action of the shirt sleeve that is tightly drawn upon the mandrel during the ironing operation.

The mounting of mandrel portion 32 is by means of a lever 71 which is pivoted to the press framework at the pivot 72. The. lever has a. downwardly extending portion 73 which is pivotally connected at 74. tothc: clevise end of piston rod 75A of" the. cylinder-piston. assembly 75, the cylinder 75B being pivotally connected at 76 to the machine frame. When air is introduced into the cylinder 75B, the piston 75A will be pushed out and the lever 73- accordingly moved in the direction of' 'the arrow 78. At the upper-endof thelever 71 there is a pivot 7? connected to the bracket 80, situated within the interior space 47. The bracket 80 is connected by cap screws 81 to the mandrel portion32h Accordingly; as the lever 73 is moved. counterclockwise. by operationof. the cylinder 75, the mand'relportion 32 Will likewise be moved. away from the mandrel; portion. 31, or in the. direction of the arrow 82. It. will alsobe. noted that; as the mandrelportion 32 moves, away from the portio 31, the width off'the crack along the line 35.363.7. increases and. the mandrel. portion 32. is thenprovided. additional clearance which permits-a rocking motion toa limited extent about its pivotal mounting 79.

Each of the. mandrels MFR and 30L is providedwith, an identical construction andmounting, including a sep. arate cylinder for each mandrel. The cylinders are. op-- erated in unison and hence the expansion? and rocks.-

ing motions of each mandrel 30R and 30L incidental to tightening the sleeve during ironing,. take place. simul-- taneously.

In normal operation, therefore, shirt,. the cuffsand collar of which have. been. ironed, is arrangedsothattha sleeves can be drawn onto the mandrelsv 30L and 30R, the cuffs being drawn about-the fixtures. 50; of eachmandrel in such a way as to leave-the open. side' of the cult at the clamp 55, where it is held; Theopening of the cuff. and placket of one sleeve faces those of the other sleeve, and the plackets are. therefore against thev adjacent. (or. inner) faces of the mandrels. The mandrel, as will..jsubsequently be explained,.is then actuated by. operationrof, air cylinders 75 and this; causes a simultaneousgeneral increase in the girth of each mandrel, thereby stretching, the generally tubular fabric of the sleeve. tightly on the. mandreL. Any tipping or rocking. ofportions 32 ofcach, mandrel as may be required to accommodate. vanying sleeve tapers,.takes place: asthe mandrel portions: 31 and 32. of each mandrel move apart: At thezsametirne as. will. be explained,.h0t air is forced, up. into thespace. 47 of each mandrel and: the heated; air passesout through. space 35-3.6.37,, and this: heated air, ,together with..the' heat which is supplied bythe steam. jacketsr33. and 34hr the mandrel portions 31and 32 of eachrmandrel, quickly effects a drying of the previously dampenedfabric, and .thesleeve is thereby ironed efficiently and quickly. There is: a separate. blower for each mandrel, but these aredriven by a common motor M as shown in F igure 4.

Sport shirts, in common with other shirts,.usuallyhave a placket extending from the-cuffa short distance along. the sleeve, so as to facilitate opening of. the cuff when. it is unbuttoned. The placket is invariably composeclof; several thicknesses of material and. in order to present. a favorable appearance must be ironed under pressure, even though satisfactory ironing of; the remaining single layer fabric portions of the sleeve can be et'fectedon the: heated andpolished mandrel as previously descnibedt. For the ironing of the placketportion only'ofthe'shirt. sleeves;r While'simultaneously ironing thebalance ofithe shirt sleeve as described, there is provided-:the' following rnechanisrnri.

Onthe interior of the main frame of the press there are provided'rearwardly and downwardly extending frarne members'17-I7, upon" each of Wl1iCh.iS mounted a-bear- 5, ing 82, as shown in Figure 3. Bearings 82'82 pivotally support cross shaft 92. On the cross shaft 92 there is fixedly mounted a second lever arm 84, having a rearwardly and downwardly extending portion 85 at its lower end, to which the clevised end 86 of the pistonrod 87 of the air cylinder 88 is attached, the lower end of the cylinder being pivotally connected at 89 to a mounting 90 on an interior cross frame member 91. The cross shaft 92 has subsidiary levers at 94 and 95 solidly attached thereto. To the lever 94 there is attached a retracting spring 96, the lower end of which is hooked to the eye 97 on the cross frame 91 and to a pin 94A on lever 94. The lever 95 has a pivot pin 95A to which is pivotally connected the piston rod 98 of a shock absorber 99, the lower end of which is carried by the rod 100 extending through the upper flange of angle frame member 91. The rod 100 is free to rock in an oversized hole in the flange of angle 91 and is held in place by the resilient bumpers 101. When the cylinder 88 has compressed air injected into it, the lever 94 will swing from the out-of-the-way position shown in Figure 2 to the full line (pressing) position, shown in full line in Figure 6.

The upper end of the second lever arm 84 is bent forwardly at 84A, and forms a mounting for a compound air cylinder-pistons arrangement shown best in Figures 4 and 5. The cylinder generally designated 100A is held in place by a clamping bracket 101-402, which is attached to the portion 84A of the second lever arm by means of the bolts 104. The portion 102 of the clamp extends upwardly at 102A and is provided with a cross rod 105. The cylinder 101 is provided with two pistons 106 and 108, the piston rods of which extend outwardly through the cylinder heads 109 and 110 so as to form mountings for oppositely disposed presser heads 111 and 112. The presser heads are each of a rounded wedge shape. Thus, the presser head 111 shown in Figure has a lower rounded portion 111A and upwardly extending divergent front and back edges 111B and 111C, which are smoothly curved into a top edge 111D. The presser heads are shaped so as to cover the placket area of the sleeves, that are sleeved onto the mandrels 30L and 30R. Each presser head is equipped with a resilient padding and covering. Within the cylinders, and bearing against the cylinder heads 109 and 110 respectively are springs 114 and 115, which serve normally to retract the pistons and piston rods, and hence the presser heads 111112 take the position shown in Figure 4. In order to prevent rotation of the pistons and the presser heads about the axis of the piston rods, each presser head is provided with an upstanding bracket as at 116 for the presser head 111 and 117 for the presser head 112. These brackets are held in place by attachment screws and are slotted at the upper ends so as to fit around the cross rod 105. The placket presser heads 111112 are accordingly able to move back and forth from the non-pressing position as shown in Figure 4 to the pressing position in which the presser heads are forced outwardly against the adjacent faces of the mandrels 30L and 30R respectively, but the presser heads are held from rotating. Movement of the presser heads occurs whenever air under pressure is injected into the cylinder space between the pistons 106 and 108. The air line connection to the cylinder is at 118, which is connected to the air line pipe 119, as shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 7, there are diagrammatically illustrated certain portions of the mechanical structure of the pressing machine, together with the electrical, air and steam circuits, and the various electrical controls and air controls. In Figure 7 the sleeve mandrels 30L and 30K are shown side by side somewhat displaced for clarity of illustration. The upper end of the second lever arm 84A is shown broken away and turned 90 so as to allow better illustration of the cylinder 100 and the presser heads 111 and 112.

Air is supplied at constant pressure at air supply pipe 120 leading to a two-way-"valve 121 having an operating stem 122, a delivery pipe 124 and an exhaust 125. When the stem 122 is pushed down, air is admitted from the pipe 120 through the valve 121 to the pipe 124, the exhaust 125 being meanwhile closed off. Whenever the stem 122 is released an internal spring, not illustrated, moves the valve stem upwardly as shown in the figure,

and the line 120 is then shut off and line 124 is connected.

directly to the exhaust 125. Upon the pressing machine there is an operator control consisting of a pivoted rocking plate having a Start section 126 and a Release section 127. The two sections are part of the same plate, which is pivoted at 128 to the machine frame. When the operator pushes with her fingers on the Start section 126, the valve 121 is actuated. Whenever finger pressure is released the rocking plate actuator 126-127 will centralize into a neutral position. When finger pressure is applied to the Release section 127, this has the effect of pushing down on the stem 130 of a normally closed electrical switch 131, so as to open an electrical circuit through its contacts 130A and 130B, which brings the press to the inactivated condition, as will be described.

Therefore, when the operator desires to start the machine, finger pressure is applied to the portion 126 of the rocking plate 126 127, thereby actuating the valve 121 as described, and admitting air under pressure to line 124, which extends to cylinder 88. Pressure in cylinder 88 causes the piston rod. 87 to be pushed outwardly, causing the second lever on up to 84 to swing in the direction of arrow 132 to a limiting position corresponding to the full line position shown in Figure 6. The pressing machine normally is in an inactive position shown in Figure 2, where it is held by the action of the spring 96, Figure 3. The operating or shirt pressing position is shown in full line at Figure 6, and in this position the presser heads 111 and 112 carried by lever arm 84, are brought to a location such that when they are subsequently actuated they will engage the adjacent plackets of the sleeves on the mandrels 30L and 30R. However, this action does not take place immediately but by automatic sequence as will now be described.

Upon the lower end of the second lever arm 84 there is an adjustment screw 134 so positioned that when the lever arm 84 is moved to the pressing position shown in Figure 6, by actuation of cylinder 88, the head of the adjustment screw 134 will come into contact with the actuating stem 135 of a micro-switch 136. Electrical power from 110 volt A. C. line L1 is connected to terminal 137 to the micro-switch 136 and when the switch is actuated, as by pressure of the screw 134, the circuit is closed to the line 138 whence it conditions to the terminal L of an adjustable timer generally designated 140. Timer 140 is a standard article of merchandise and therefore will not be described except as to its mode of operation. The timer 140 is operated by a motor or other device that normally does not run until electrical power is applied across its terminals N and L. The timing begins when the terminals N and L are energized. The time cycle may be adjusted by a dial control 141. Immediately upon energization of the timer the terminal LD becomes energized at the potential of line L1 and any circuits connected to the terminal LD are thereby so energized. Ground (or neutral) is connected to terminal N which is accordingly so energized. The timer 140 resets to the zero position whenever the terminals N and L are deenergized, and this occurs whenever switch 136 is opened and also occurs automatically when the time cycle limit of the timer 140 has been reached, as determined by the timer adjustment 141. The circuit to LD, which is normally open, is closed at the beginning 5 of the time cycle immediately upon energization of the terminals N and L, and then remains closed by operation of the timer until termination of the time cycle, whereupon the timer circuit is de-energized and opens circuit LD. At this instant also the timer resets to zero.

J The terminal N isconnected through the circuit 142 to exac ness terminal 130A. of'the. normally closed switchs'ltsh and thence; tov line L2 whichis neutral? (-or ground); Ac cordingly, aslongas switch 1313 is; closed, theitimenlxttl.

will become energizedwlienever the circuitzli is energized, and this occurs due to:the closure of the. micro-switch 136; wheneverthearm 84YSWiDgSEtOtl1B pressing. posi* tion. timeri are connected. to. terminal: 12D; which: is the: controlled" circuit, and then baclc" to ground, terminal; N..

Thus,.the"-lines144 and. 1d5 extend tothe terminals 146 and147 of a solenoid 148nvhicltt operates the air control valve 149i. The lines144 alsoextendto the terminals of: the motorM; Accordingly; whenever the: time cycle starts; as. previously. described, the circuit M te-145 is energized'and-the solenoid'148 and the motor M"are= likewise energized? and ibegin; performing; their intended functions;

Th'eenergization of the solenoid'143i serves to open the normally'closed air valve 149 andtia'dmitsipressure from theline 150 tothe line 151,.whicli' extends throughthe junction 152.

which; operatingzinzparallel, serve toiexpand thepolished mandrels L and 30R, as previously: describedl Air.

from junction 152 also eXtends-to the line 157 to-inlet 118 of the cylinder 100, causingithe'placket presser'heads- 111 and'112 tobe moved out to pressing position.

Thus, the complete cycleis as follows:v It'is'assumed that'the. operator has dressed the shirt sleeves-onto the polished pressingsmandrelswL and 30R and has clamped the cuffs in place by means otithe clamp The operator then exerts-finger pressure on the portion 126. of

ing the polishedmandrels 39L andfiflRsoias to draw'the sleeves tightly about the mandrels. Substantially simultaneously air is admittedftothe cylinder A, thereby causing the presserheads- 111' and 112.to. push outwardly against the plackets of" the shirt sleeves. At the same time the motor M begins-tooperate and: heated air iscon ducted via the arrow 68 into the interior spaces of the mandrels 39L and 36R and out through. the side cracks between the two portionsof eachrnandrel, therebyfassisn ing inthe drying of the shirt sleeves, which isalso en-' hanced by the heating of the mandrelsby the. steamsupplied tothe mandrel steam jackets, as previously explained. This all takes place very rapidly and the operator may then release the control 126. The pressing continues automatically, the presser heads 11 1 and 112 meanwhile exerting pressure against the mandrels, sufiicient'to prevent any retraction of the arm 84.. Then asvthe timer reaches the limit of the time cycle, according to the adjustment of the control 141, the circuit LD-is de-energized and the timer'is reset to zero. When this occurs the solenoid 148 is de-energized and the valve 149 automatically closes due to the action of an internal spring, notillustrated. Air supply is disconnected from theline 151, and through the operation of valve 149'is exhausted throughthe exhaustmufiler 160; The presser heads 111 and 112. are: then retracted by the internal springs withinzthe cylinder" 100 and this releases them. from frictional. engagement with.

the shirt sleeves, and the arm 84". accordingly swings to swinging motion being controlled by shock; absorber 9,9: The timer 'hasmeanwhileresetto: zero.

If the operator desires to: stop: the. pressing-operation.

The work. loads; on the controlled: circuits of the From this junction subsidiary air circuits extend at 154,. and 1156: to: the two.= cylinders 75e75,'.

Q at;anyr point; his only necessary-to. exert" finger pressure upon; the Release? portion 127 of; the. manual-contr0l-,. which therefore opens: the; normallyclosed switch 131i andxde-energizestliez timer '1403 The normallopening. se quence :thenzensuesa It is apparenttthat many modifications and" variations.- ofzthis invention asthereinbeforeset forthcmay. be made withontdepartingi from the spirit and scope thereof; The specific: embodiments; described: are. given by. way. of 6X ample'tonly'and the: inventiorniszlirnited only. by the terms of the appended claimsi.

1t A sleeve;ironen'for' shirts. comprising: a frameand; elongated: externally. polished. sleeve: mandrel which: is shaped;as ai.wlrolecsoiast to receive thereon that portion of; a-shirtsleeve from.approximately the shoulder: seam to the cuffiseam,.said;mandtellbeingdivided longitudinally along; a meeting: lines so: ass to i provide. first and second longitudinally; extending pzortionss which may be. moved laterally; apart; eachof; said; mandrel portions 1 having: an internal steam. jacket; and. shaped! so as to provide an internal space between them which is accessible from the lower endwhentthetwo; portions are brought into edgewise: abutment the; first: longitudinally extending portion 1 being; fixedly: endemountedmnthe: framein anupright.

position soias to:provide atfreecupper'end,.said portion: being: provided. at its. upper. free; end; with a smoothly. rounded; fixturewhich: is shaped. and: positioned appropriately; to: receive a; shirt sleevecufii encircled thereon. when the balance of the. sleeve:isi sleevedonto themandrel; aafirstlever pivotedonthe frame in aposition so= as rtorhavex an -.uprighti portioniextending into said intcrnali spacebetweenthefirst and: second longitudinally extending .mandrel portions; a;pivotalt connection between said firsta'leven and the: second. mandreLportion mounting it forrlateraltand; slight rocking. movement, whereby when the lever: is: oscillated: the second mandrel portion will. be. translated; laterally to.= increase: the overallfgirth of themandrel; and permitted. to rock. as needed for? stretching tightly. a.shirt:sleeve.-.placedlthereon, means on. the frame. pivotally. connected to. the. first .lever 'for moving :itand-the second portion. of; the sleeve: mandrel. mounted: thereon in atdirection to; stretch a1sleeve placed on said mandrel, and means. connectingzthe frame. and the first lever. for, normallyl movingsaid lever in. the opposite. direction, a second; lever. mounted. on theframe. for swinging. move.- rnenttrom' antoutaofvthe way position to at working position in proximity; to: the. upper; free end. of. the mandreL. said second leverihavingzmounted thereonia padded press.- ing buck-,mcanson the frame. and: connected; to said. sec.- ond lever: for swinging--saidsecondleverinto a position aachthat said padded buckwill be alongside a-placket of a shirt sleevewhen said sleeve is in proper position on saidmand'rel', means on second lever for moving said. paddedbncka'gainst the mandrel when in such-position and biasing means connected. to said second lever fornormallymoving it to' said out-of-the-way position,

2. The. sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in that there are-provideda'pairof said mandrels mounted in a generally upright position on saidframe for receiving the two sleeves-of a garmentsimultaneously: and saidsecond lever is pivotally connected to said frame for swinging movement fromsaid out-of-the-way position to said Working position between said mandrels,.and saidsecond lever is provided with two padded bucks movablein opposite. directions. againstthe mandrels. betweenwhich saidf bucks arepositionedin said working position.

3:. The sleeveironer; of claim 2 further; characterized in. that means is: provided; for normally retracting. said pair of. padded: bucks to a position out of engagement withsaid mandrel's respectively, and a single air cylinder means is provided? for simultaneously. moving said: bucks to their working positions in engagement with adjacent faces ofrsaid mandrels;

4. The sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in that operator-controlled means is provided for controlling movement of said second lever from its out-ofthe-way position to its working position and responsive means is provided, under control of the movement of said second lever, for operating said first lever and for moving said padded buck to its working position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said responsive means includes timer means for first initiating movement of said second lever to its working position and movement of said padded buck int-o engagement with said mandrel and, after a time period has elapsed, for moving said padded buck out of engagement with said mandrel and moving said second lever to its out-of-the-way position.

6. The sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus includes drying means for providing a forced draft of heated air, said means being connected to the mandrel for delivering heated air into said interior space and for movement therethrough and thence between the first and second portions of said mandrel when they are moved apart.

7. A sleeve ironer for sport shirts comprising a frame having a tabletop at working level, a pair of mandrels mounted in generally parallel relation extending upwardly from said table, said mandrels being of externally polished material and shaped as a whole so as to receive thereon those portions of the sleeves of a sport shirt extending approximately from the shoulder seams to the cufis thereof, having a cross section of generally flattened oval shape and each being divided longitudinally along a meeting line extending from one side near the cuff and thence downwardly longitudinally of the mandrel along a meeting line of each, so as to provide first and second mandrel portions each of which contains means for heating it and is shaped so as to provide an internal space between said portions when they are brought into abutment to form the complete mandrel, the first portion of each mandrel being fixedly mounted on the frame and the second portion of each mandrel mounted for movement laterally, and rocking movement with reference to the first mandrel portion, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and extending upwardly through the table and into the internal space of each mandrel, the upper end of the lever of each mandrel being connected to the second portion of said mandrel, pneumatic motor means connected to the frame and to the lever of each mandrel for moving said levers from a position in which said first and second portions of the mandrels are adjacent to each other and then to a position in which said portions are mounted laterally apart, means for normally biasing said levers to a position in which said mandrel portions are closely adjacent to each other, separate lever means mounted on the frame and having a portion extending above said tabletop, said separate lever means being mounted and shaped for swinging movement from an out-of-the-way position to a working position in which a portion of said lever is moved generally between the upper portions of said mandrels, pneumatic means for moving said separate lever from its out-of-the-way position to its working position and means for normally retracting said separate lever to its out-Of-the-Way position, a pneumatic cylinder having pistons therein mounted on said separate lever and padded bucks mounted on said pistons in a position to be urged apart when said pistons arc actuated and into engagement with adjacent faces of the upper portions of said mandrels, automatic means for moving said separate lever from its out-of-the-way position to its working position, for moving the first and second portions of each mandrel laterally apart for tensioning sleeves thereon and for then actuating said pneumatic cylinder, and pistons therein for moving said padded bucks against the mandrels and, after a time interval, for reversing said operations.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that operator-control means is provided for initiating actuation of said automatic means and additional means under control of the operator for initiating said reverse operations.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that means is provided on the frame and connected to said mandrels for delivering a current of heated air into the internal space of each, said means being connected to said automatic means so as to be actuated when said automatic means causes actuation of said separate lever and other operations sequentially.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the first and second portions of each mandrel are each provided with a steam jacket for heating the same and said steam jackets of each mandrel are connected in series circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,278,959 Williams Apr. 7, 1942 2,687,241 Maxwell et al. Aug. 24, 1954

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