US3586219A

US3586219A - Steam-air finisher with collar press

Info

Publication number: US3586219A
Application number: US853893*A
Authority: US
Inventors: David L Radford; Ray F Trottier; Micheal G Beeley
Original assignee: McGraw Edison Co
Current assignee: McGraw Edison Co
Priority date: 1968-08-28
Filing date: 1968-08-28
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22

Abstract

A steam-air finisher having a frame including a shoulder and neck form upon which a garment can be dressed, and means for discharging heated air and steam to within the garment during a finishing cycle, specifically including a release mechanism that automatically releases a garment-holding clamp at the conclusion of the finishing cycle, further including a hood that fits over the form and an inflatable bag within the hood operable upon inflation with heated air to press against the garment collar, and further including a console that swivels with the frame and has manually actuated elements for starting and stopping the finishing cycle and for positioning the hood relative to the form.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors David L. Redford Salt Lake City; Rnv. F. Trottler, Salt Lake City; Micheal G. Beelcy, North Salt Lake City, all of, Utah [21 Appl. No. 853,893 [22] Filed Aug. 28, 1968 {45] Patented June 22, 1971 [73] Assignee McGraw Edison Company Elgin, Ill.

[54] STEAM-AIR FINISHER WITH COLLAR PRESS 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 223/57 [50] Field of Search 223/67, 70, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,986,311 5/1961 Stiefel 223/57 3,052,388 9/1962 Mutolese 223/57 3,080,099 3/1963 Albiez 223/57 3,268,126 8/1966 Killey 223/67 3,310,208 3/1967 Killey 223/70 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Charles F. Lind ABSTRACT: A steam-air finisher having a frame including a shoulder and neck form upon which a garment can be dressed, and means for discharging heated air and steam to within the garment during a finishing cycle, specifically including a release mechanism that automatically releases a garmentholding clamp at the conclusion of the finishing cycle, further including a hood that fits over the form and an inflatable bag within the hood operable upon inflation with heated air to press against the garment collar, and further including a console that swivels with the frame and has manually actuated elements for starting and stopping the finishing cycle and for positioning the hood relative to the form.

STEAM-AIR FINISIIER WITH COLLAR PRESS In the garment finishing art, it has become quite common to finish coats, dresses, and other relatively wrinkle resistant garments on a steam-air finisher. The finisher typically includes a human shaped shoulder form covered with a porous bag and upon which the garment can be dressed and secured in place by clamp means. Steam is discharged into the garment for conditioning it and heated air is similarly discharged into the garment for inflating it to a relatively wrinkle-free condition and for drying it. However, certain areas of the garment, such as the collar, are rather difficult to finish in an acceptable wrinkle-free condition with steam and air along. This apparently is the case since the outer fold of the collar can be moistened and dried by the escaping steam and air but is otherwise not pressed or stretched wrinkle-free.

The subject finisher has an improved collar pressing means consisting of a hood that fits over the form, and a porous bag carried within the hood adjacent the garment collar. After the garment is steamed, the hood is positioned over the form and the hood bag inflated with heated air to press against the collar. The bag is slightly porous so that the heated air escapes from the bag and passes through the garment collar to help dry it. By filtering and heating the readily available high pressure line air for inflating the bag, a separate blower for inflating the hood bag is not needed.

The subject finisher also has garment holding clamps that are pneumatically operated and which are automatically released at the conclusion of the finishing cycle. This eliminates a manual step usually performed by the operator and consequently somewhat reduces the total time required for the finishing cycle. The clamps are such, however, that they can be manually opened if desired.

The garment form on conventional finishers, moreover, usually swivels to permit quick and accurate dressing of the garment on the form. However, the cycle controls for the finisher are generally located on a stationary part of the unit so that in certain positions of the form they might be rather inconveniently located relative to the operator. The subject finisher has a console cycle control located on the front garment holding clamp which rotates with the form and which consequently is always conveniently located for the operator as related to the dressed garment. Moreover, the subject finisher has means to center the form relative to the collar pressing hood automatically so that the hood can be lowered against the form without any effect required by the operator to being them into registry.

Conventionally, steam-air finishers have timed cycles, including steaming or conditioning the garment and the subsequent drying it with heated air discharge into the garment. The subject control provides that the hood is positioned against the form during the latter part of the garment steaming and is held in place only during the initial phase of drying. After the hood is released, the heated air discharge continues then until the garment is completely dry. Independent manual controls are also provided for steaming and drying as well as for manipulating the hood, although preferably the bag inflating means operates automatically when the hood is closed.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is provide an improved steam-air form finisher which has collar pressing means including a movable hood which can be nested over the garment collar as dressed on the form and further having an inflatable element carried within the hood and exposed to the collar which can be inflated directly against the collar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collar pressing arrangement according to the preceding object further having high pressure line air for inflating the inflatable element, further having the inflatable element porous as exposed to the collar, and further having means to heat the element inflating line air which subsequently passes directly against the garment and the collar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steam-air form finisher having a pneumatically actuated front clamp suitable to be moved against the frame for holding the garment dressed on the frame and particularly to means holding including a control for releasing the clamp automatically at the conclusion of the finishing cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steam-air form finisher having a frame adapted to swivel relative to the stationary base and having a control console mounted relative to the frame and particularly on the front garment holding clamp such that the control console swivels with the frame, and particularly having individual control elements on the console for manually starting and stopping the cycle and for manipulating the hood structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a steam-air finisher, according to the previous objects, means for automatically centering the frame relative to the hood structure before the hood structure is nested over the form.

These and other objects will be more fully understood after reviewing the following specification, including as a part thereof the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a steam-air form finisher made according to the subject invention and showing the finisher in its position whereat the garment can be dressed on or removed from the form;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the unit, typically in longitudinal section, showing the front clamp in place and showing the rear clamp released, and showing also the positions of the hood arm in the elevated position and in the lowered operative position (in phantom);

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen generally from line 3-3 in FIG. '2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view as seen from the underside showing the collar pressing hood and the inflatable element carried therewithin;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as seen from line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing appropriate steam, air and electric controls for the subject invention according to the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram indicating the preferred automatic sequences of the steaming, drying and collar pressing or hood down cycles showing overlaps of the same where appropriate.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the finisher unit 10 shown includes a base 12 and an upright frame 14 supported to swivel on bearing 16 about a generally vertical axis relative to the base I2. The frame I4 has bottom plate 18, front and rear faceplates 20 and 22, respectively, secured to the bottom plate 18, and a collar and neck form 24 connected between the upper ends of the faceplates 20 and 22. Disposed within the contoured collar and neck form 24 are spaced shoulder forms 26 which are supported on links 28 and to be adjusted outwardly and inwardly relative to the collar and neck form 24 to accommodate larger size coats and garments or the like. A knob 30 rotatably supported on the frame is used to regulate the lateral extend of the shoulder form elements 26 and operate through a crank and link means in a well-known manner. Front clamp 32 and rear clamp 34 each is connected on

respective arm

36,38 to swing about

pivot connection

40,42 to the frame bottom plate 18.

The garment is dressed on the collar and neck form 24 and shoulder form 26, and front and rear clamps 32 and 34 are thereafter shifted, respectively, against the faceplates 20 and 22 to hold the garment in place. A sleeve or baglike element 44 is supported over the form, the lower end 46 thereof being impervious and being secured in relatively airtight relationship to the frame while the upper portion 48 thereof is open and underlies the garment. Blower 50 is mounted in the base 12 with its outlet discharging through a heat exhanger 52 and opening 54 in the baseplate for discharge into the sleeve 44. Stem line 56 is connected to a steam separator chamber 58 which communicates through pipe 60 and valve 62 to an outlet nozzle 64 within the frame 14 underlying the garment. Air discharge from the blower passes upwardly through the sleeve to expand the garment on the form, and steam moistens the garment as well as inflates it.

The steam-air finisher operates normally on some cycle according to FIG. 8 where steam is initially discharged into the garment followed thereafter by an air discharge, sometimes with an overlap as shown which fully inflates the garment and drives the steam to all remote garment locations. After steaming terminates, the air discharge continues until the garment is dried in an inflated wrinkle-free manner.

One important aspect of the subject invention is the use of collar pressing structure including a hood 70 hollowed to generally complement the top of the collar and neck form 24. The hook support arm 72 is pivoted at pin 74 to an upright post of the base 12, and is actuated by power cylinder 78 connected between arm link 76 as at 80 and the post as at 82. Expansion of the power cylinder thus swings the hood between a raised position shown in FIG. 1 and a lowered position (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) nested over and closely adjacent the collar and neck form 24. Tension spring 83 tends to maintain the hood in the raised position.

An inflatable bag element 84 (see FIGS. and 6) is carried within the hood 70 and extends from the rear to the front sides of the hood in a manner to overlie the collar of the garment dressed on the form. The backwall 86 of the bag is secured to the interior face of the hood and an expandable exposed inner wall 88 is secured at its edges to the bag wall to define bag chamber 90. A reinforcing strip 92 is connected to the inner wall generally centered relative to the wall. External connection 94 is made to the chamber 90 for connection to an air line 98, and a filter element 96 is provided in the connection to minimize passage ofimpurities in the air to the bag. It has been found that the air line 98 can be a conventional high pressure line commonly used to operate the various power cylinders of the finisher. Preferably the inner bag wall 88 is of a porous material so that air within the chamber 90 escapes at a moderate rate directly against the collar of the garment being pressed The air is heated before being admitted to the bag by heat exchangers in the air line 98, including coil 97 in the steam separator chamber 58 and an auxiliary electric heater 99 in the arm 72.

It will be thus appreciated that when the hood 70 is lowered adjacent the collar and shoulder form 24, that inflation of the bag 84 will force the inner wall 88 of the bag against the collar of the garment dressed on the form. Since the air, before it is admitted to the bag, is heated and the inner bag wall is semiporous, some of the air escapes and thereby passes directly through the garment. This both dries and presses the collar. The flexible bag expanding against the form in opposition to the hood positioning power means 78 automatically generates relatively uniform pressure against the collar and compensates for varying collar thicknesses, sizes or styles. This heretofore has been a rather significant problem in the use of a collartype press on a steam-air form finisher since the collar size, collar style, collar thickness, and the collar lay on the form varied widely so that a rigid collar press has heretofore proved impractical. The inflatable bag and the hard hood makes collar pressing practical and thereby adds substantial versatility to the particular finisher.

Since the frame 14 swivels on bearing 16 relative to the base 18, the operator can check both the front and rear dress of the garment on the frame easily and without moving around the finisher. However, once the garment is dressed on the frame, the frame must be centered relative to the collar pressing hood 70 if the hood is to be used. An automatic centering device is incorporated for this purpose and includes by way of illustration a cam plate 100 secured on pipe 60 and a cam follower lever 101 pivoted at a pin 102 to the swivel frame 14 and carrying a rotatable cam follower 103. The cam plate 100 has a cam surface 104, and a pressure diaphragm 105 acts against the cam follower lever 101 to bias the roller 103 against the cam plate and the cam surface 104. The cam surface 104 is contoured so that when the roller 103 is forced against the surface the frame will be brought into registry with the hood. The

lateral extent of the cam surface 104 is limited to 25 or 30 each side of the frame centered position so that if the frame is rotatably off centered beyond this amount and the roller 103 does not engage the cam surface 104, activation of the diaphragm 105 will have no centering effect on the frame since the cam plate periphery 106 is circular and centered relative to the frame swivel axis. This requires that the operator must manually center the frame to within the aligning capacity of the cam surface 104, but it also automatically permits the operator, if desired, to use the finisher with the frame off centered where, for example the hood is not to be used. The control for the centering diaphragm 105 will be given later in connection with FIG. 7.

Another important feature of the finisher, particularly as related to the fact that the frame swivels on the base, is the location of a control console 107 on the front clamp arm 36. With this feature, the operator can initiate the cycles of the finisher by manual actuation of particular control elements without stretching a was frequently the case where the same corresponding control elements were located on the base post. In particular, control switches for starting the automatic finishing cycle, for stopping the cycle, and for manipulating the hood, as well as operating the blower are located on the console. The console will always be within easy reach of the operator and most frequently directly in front of the operator regardless of where the operator might be relative to the finisher.

Regarding the front and rear clamps, each typically is operated by a power cylinder 110 secured to the frame baseplate 18 having rod 111 connected at pin 112 to the respective clamp arm. A piston connected to the rod 111 has opposed cups 113 and 114 which are separated from one another a slight distance axially of the cylinder axis. The cylinder moreover has three ports communicating with the cylinder, the middle port 115 being connected to a source of air and end ports 1 16 and 117 being connected together externally of the cylinder by pipe 118. A spring 119 connected between the frame and each arm tends to maintain the clamp in the open or garment release position.

When the clamps are fully opened, the piston assembly bottoms out in the cylinder and the supply port 115 communicates with the space between the separated piston cups 113 and 114. To close either clamp, the operator manually moves the clamp toward the frame against the force of spring 119 and accordingly moves the piston within the cylinder until piston cup 113 passes the supply port 115. This permits line air to enter cylinder chamber 120 which further communicates to the opposite cylinder chamber 121 via the ports 116 and 117 and the pipe 118. The end chamber 121 is exhausted through restricted port 122 so that a moderate pressure differential occurs as between chambers 120 and 121 and the piston is moved within the cylinder in a direction to close the clamps. As soon as the piston cup 114 passes port 117, this pressure differential is greatly increased since vented chamber 121 is no longer being supplied with air and the clamp is biased firmly against the frame.

Either clamp can be released manually by pulling it away from the frame until the pistons 113 and 114 have been shifted to the location where the supply port 115 opens to the space between the piston cups, whereat the clamp is fully opened the cylinder is in a stable position. The clamps can also be released automatically by blocking off the air supply to port 115 and venting this port 115. The spring 119 thereby opens the clamps and shifts the piston within the cylinder until the supply port 115 opens to the space between the piston cups 1 13 and 114. The particular automatic means for releasing the clamps will be discussed in greater detail in connection with FIG. 7.

The clamp cylinder input port 115 is connected by means of flexible line 123 to a swivel fitting 124 located on the frame which fitting in turn is connected by flexible hose 125 to a like swivel fitting 124 connected to the base. The fitting 124 permits the force frame to swivel relative to the base while yet having an air connection to the frame. The typical swivel fitting 124 is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a stationary nipple or stem 130 having bore 131 and transverse opening 132. A swivel block 133 is pivoted on the stem and has an enlarged cavity 134 which aligns with the transverse stem opening 132. O-rings 136 maintain an airtight connection between the stem and block and a spring lock 137 rotatably confines the block on the stem. The flexible hose 125 is connected by conventional means 138 to the swivel blocks.

Two each such pairs of swivel fittings are used similar to that shown in FIG. 4 and are stacked on one another with the stem axes coincidental and parallel to the pivot axis of the frame. One such pair is provided between the frame and base for the clamp control and-the other pair is provided for the steam discharge and automatic frame centering control. The flexible hose 125 typically flex'by winding 'or unwinding about the steam pipe 60 withoutlactually engaging it as the frame is swiveled. Appropriate stops 139 on camlplate 100 are engaged by cam follower 103 to limit the frame rotation to that tolerated by the coiling flexible hoses.

Each clamp 32,34 is mounted on the

arm

36,38 by means of a slide block 140 which rides up and down along rod 141 connected to theclamp frame. The block 140 presents sockets each open to the clamp frame, and a ball detent 142 is confined in each socket. The clamp frame face is perforated for easy passage of steam and air, and a spring in the socket holds the ball detent 142 resiliently against this uneven clamp frame surface. ThusQto adjust the height of the clamp, the ball detent is moved along the frontlplate and releasably trapped in the openings to hold at the set height. Alternatively, the sockets could open to the flat frapie sides 143 and friction pads (not shown) replace the ball detents.

Referring now to the schematic control diagram shown in FIG. 7, an electric power-,Zsource is identified at 145 and high pressure air lines and steam inlet and steam return lines are also identified. Several manually operated switches physically located on the finisher are also shown, namely on.-off switch 146, stop switch 147, the start switch 148, the hood down switch 149, the hood cancel switch 150, manual-automatic steam selector switch 151, and manual-automatic air selector switch 152. The power source 145 connects through the onoff switch 146 to line 156 and through on-off indicator lamp 157 to ground.

The separate controls are tied together for automatic sequence by a timer (not shown) similar to the Radford U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,932. The timer includes a timer motor 158 that drives cam plates (not shown) adjustable relative to one another which open and close the

separate control switches

160, 162, 164 and 166. In the schematic, switch 160 controls the steam, switch 162 controls the blower, switch 164 controls the hood, and switch 166 controls the overall automatic cycle time. At the beginning of the automatic cycle, the

switches

160, 162, 164 and 166 are are in the position as shown. Normally also, selector switches 151 for the steam and 152 for the air are in the positions shown for automatic cycling.

To start the automatic cycle, start switch 148 is momentarily closed to connect hot line 156 via normally closed switch 203, the normally closed stop switch 147, start switch 148, and the solenoid coil 168 to ground. This closes switch 170 to complete a parallel connection across start switch 148 including line 171 and switch 170 to line 173 and through the timer motor 158 to ground. Since the switch'170 is held closed thereafter, line 173 remains hot.

Connected off line 173 is the steaming and frame centering controls including line 174, the steam timing switch 160, the closed contacts of the manual-automatic steam selector switch 151, and solenoid coil 175 to ground. The coil when energized, opens normally closed valve 176 in the air circuit to admit high pressure air to diaphragm 177 to open normally closed valve 62 in the steam pipe 60 before the nozzle 64. The opened valve 176 also admits air to the centering diaphragm 105 which automatically centers the frame relative to the hood. A pair of swivel connections 124 are located in the air line between the valve 176 and the diaphragms 105 which automatically centers the frame relative to the hood. A pair of swivel connections 124 are located in the air line between the valve 176 and the diaphragms and 177. The steam timing switch is closed at the beginning of the automatic cycle and remains closed part of the cycle as shown in FIG. 8.

Also connected off line 173 is the blower and the hood controls including the air timer switch 162 to line 178, and from there in one circuit the manual-automatic selective air switch 152 and coil 179 to ground and in a second parallel circuit hood timer switch 164, the normally closed hood cancel switch 150, and the solenoid coil 180 to ground. The energized coil 179 closes switch 181 which operates the blower 50. The energized coil 180 opens the normally closed valve 182 between the air inlet and the hood, power cylinder 78. Upon valve 182 being opened, the pressurized chamber 183 moves the piston 184 within the cylinder to lower the hood against the form, whereat the piston passes cylinder port 185 to communicate air through valve 186 to pressurize diaphragm 187. The pressurized diaphragm opens the normally closed valve 188 to admit line air to the inflatable hood element 84 automatically responsive to the hood being in place over the form. The valve 186 is opened by diaphragm 189 which is pressurized upon valve 182 being opened.

Flow control valves

191 and 193 are on opposite sides of valve 182 and serve to restrict free flow of air in the direction indicated by the arrow, so that valve 191 regulates the speed of hood closing whereas valve 193 controls the speed of hood opening. Also, the immediately venting of diaphragm 189 upon valve 182 closing causes valve 188 to close to stop airflow to the hood bag before the hood is elevated from the form.

Thus, the drying cycle begins when the air timer switch 162 is closed, and the blower 50 forces air up the sleeve and through the garment. Since the hood timer switch 164 is normally closed and is in series connection with the air timer switch 162, the hood is lowered against the form simultaneously ad indicated in FIG. 8 with the beginning of the air cycle.

Preferably, the air timer switch 162 is closed before the steam timer switch 160 is opened to overlap the steaming and 'drying cycles. Preferably also, the hood timer switch 164 is opened by its timer control cam (not shown) before the air timer switch opens so that air continues even after the hood is elevated.

The automatic cycle is terminated when control switch 166 is closed by its timer cam (not shown). This energizes the solenoid coil 196 to open the normally closed valve 198, and admits air under pressure to the diaphragms 199 which diaphragm four-way valve 200. Air is normally directed through the valve 200, which is spring biased to this normal position, to pressurize the front and rear clamp cylinders at least at inlet 115. When diaphragm 199 shifts the valve, line 115 is vented to release the front and rear clamps automatically and the air under pressure is then directed to diaphragm 202 for opening switch 203. When the switch 203 is opened, the cycle is terminated and all the controls including the timer return to the starting position as shown for another cycle. Again, flow control valve 205 having resistance to air in the direction indicated by the arrow is provided to delay the venting of diaphragm 199 to make sure all controls will return to the start position and not be reenergized when switch 203 closes.

Manual controls are provided for steaming, the blower, and.

lowering the hood. Thus, steam can be discharged by shifting the manual automatic selector switch 151 which energizes the solenoid coil from the hot line 156. Generally, the steam selector switch is a foot pedal that is spring biased to the automatic position as shown. The hood is lowered at the beginning of the automatic cycle upon manually closing the normally opened hood switch 149. This energizes the solenoid coil from line 156 to move the hood against the form which then admits air to the hood bag. Note also that upon the hood switch 149 closing and under normal conditions with the hood timer switch 164 closed as shown, a circuit is completed through the air selector switch 152 to operator the blower automatically responsive to the collar finishing hood being used. The blower can be operated by itself by shifting the blower manual automatic selector switch 152.

In the automatic circuit, it has been found acceptable to steam for generally 10 seconds before the blower operates and concurrently thereafter a few seconds also. This overlap is helpful in moving the steam to the very remote'parts of the garment as well as driving it through the garment. The hood is closed for a duration of approximately 5-10 seconds, and thereafter the blower continues some 5-l5 seconds until the garment is dried.

it will be understood that by means of the separate timer actuated control switches 160, 162, 164 and 166 as shown that any phase of overlap is possible with the steam and air or with the hood and air. The circuit further provides for the operation of the blower simultaneously and concurrently with the use of the collar pressing hood, and lowering the hood automatically inflates the hood bag. The entire hood operation can be rendered ineffective by leaving the hood cancel switch 150 open. Steaming is possible then manually by closing manual hood switch 149. The cycle can be terminated at any time along the automatic cycle by opening the'stop control switch 147. Manual kill of the cycle with switch 147 however will not close the automatic cycle end timer switch 166 so that the clamps will remain in place against the garment.

As was mentioned earlier, the frame swivels to assist the operator in dressing a garment on the frame and certain controls are located on the console control 107 to rotate with the frame. Specifically,'stop switch 147, start switch 148, hood lowering and blower switch 149, and the hood cancel switch 150 are located on the console as well as manual-automatic selector'switch 152 for the air.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a steam-air finisher having a frame including a shoulder and neck form upon which the garment can be dressed and supported, and means for selectively discharging steam and air through the garment from the interior thereof, a hood contoured to nest over the hood form; means supporting the hood for movement between an elevated position separated from the form and an operative position nested over the form; means to power the hood supporting means for moving the hood between the elevated and operative positions; an inflatable element carried within the hood and exposed to the form; and means for directing air under pressure to the inflatable element for inflating the same.

2. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable element is slightly porous in the area exposed to and adjacent the form so that air can escape therefrom and directly against the garment on the form.

3. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 2, further including means for heating the air directed to the inflatable element.

4. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 3, wherein said air directing means is in the form of a high pressure air line typical in the operation of the finisher, and wherein a valve is in said line and is opened only when the hood is in its operative position.

5. A steam-air finisher combination, comprising a base, a perforated frame for supporting a garment dressed thereon, and means mounting the frame for rotation relative to the base; a hood supported by the base and adapted to fit over the frame, power means for moving the hood between an elevated position separated from the frame and an operative position adjacent the frame, an inflatable element within the hood, and means for directing air under pressure to the element for inflating the same against the garment when the hood is in its operative position; and means operable between the base and frame to rotationally align the frame relative to the hood, and power means for actuating the frame aligning means before the hood is in its operative position.

6. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 5, wherein said frame aligning power means including a pneumatic device, and wherein air line means including swivel connections to the base and to the frame respectively, is operable to bring power to the frame aligning power means for actuating the same while accommodating rotation of the frame relative to the base.

7. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 6, further including a nozzle and a pneumatic valve device for selectively discharging steam from the base to within the garment, and wherein said air line means is operable also to being power to said steam discharge valve device for actuating the same while accommodating rotation of the frame relative to the base.

8. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 5, further including a control console supported on rotated with the frame, and wherein shiftable actuator means mounted on the console control the operation of the finisher including specifically the operation of the hood power means.

9. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 5, further including a blower for forcing air from the base to within the garment, and wherein means operates the blower automatically when the hood is moved from its elevated position to its operative position.

10. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 5, wherein said frame aligning means includes cooperating cam and follower elements secured respectively to the base and frame adapted when engaged to align the frame relative to the hood.

11. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 10, wherein the cam and follower elements cooperate only when the frame is no more than approximately 45 out of alignment with the hood so that when the frame is misaligned beyond this amount the frame aligning means is inoperative to align the frame relative to the hood.

12. A steam-air finisher combination, comprising a base, perforated frame for supporting a garment dressed thereon, and means mounting the frame for rotation relative to the base; a front clamp, means pivoting the front clamp to the frame for movement against the garment dressed on the frame, and power means including a pneumatic device for holding the clamp against the frame and for releasing the clamp from the frame; and air line means including swivel connections to the base and to the frame respectively, and an interconnecting flexible hose between the swivel connections operable to provide power for the clamp power means device while accommodating rotation of the frame relative to the base, the clamp power means device including a cylinder and a piston received therein, an air inlet port to the cylinder intermediate its ends and interconnected ports to the cylinder on opposite sides of the inlet port, one of the interconnected ports being at the end of the cylinder occupied by the piston when the clamp is released from the frame and the other interconnected port being between the inlet port and the end of the cylinder occupied by the piston when the clamp is held against the frame operable thereby to permit the clamp to be manually shifted to the clamping position, and not until the piston traverses both the inlet port and the other interconnected port in moving toward the clamping piston, to have only a slight assist from the power means; and a hood pivoted to the base and adapted to fit over the form, means for moving the hood between an elevated position separated from the form and an operative position adjacent the form, an inflatable element located within the hood, and means for directing air under pressure to the element for inflating the same against the garment when the hood is in its operative position.

13. A steam-air finisher according to claim 12, wherein means operable between the base and frame align the frame relative to the hood.

14. In combination with a steam-air finisher having a frame including a shoulder and neck form on which the garment can be dressed and supported, and means for selectively discharging steam and air through the garment from the interior thereof, a clamp arm pivoted to the frame, a front clamp having a perforated plate, a rod supported from the plate in spaced relation thereto, a slide block mounted to slide along frame, a hood, means for moving the hood between an elevated position adjacent the frame, an inflatable element located within the hood, and means for inflating the element against the garment when the hood is in its operative position.

Claims

11. A steam-air finisher combination according to claim 10, wherein the cam and follower elements cooperate only when the frame is no more than approximately 45* out of alignment with the hood so that when the frame is misaligned beyond this amount the frame aligning means is inoperative to align the frame relative to the hood.

14. In combination with a steam-air finisher having a frame including a shoulder and neck form on which the garment can be dressed and supported, and means for selectively discharging steam and air through the garment from the interior thereof, a clamp arm pivoted to the frame, a front clamp having a perforated plate, a rod supported from the plate in spaced relation thereto, a slide block mounted to slide along the rod and supported to the clamp air, and means carried by the slide block and disposed to releasably engage the clamp plate whereupon the clamp can be adjusted heightwise upon overcoming the holding force against the clamp plate, means between the frame and the clamp arm operable for holding the clamp against the frame and for releasing the clamp from the frame, a hood, means for moving the hood between an elevated position adjacent the frame, an inflatable element located within the hood, and means for inflating the element against the garment when the hood is in its operative position.