US3653134A

US3653134A - Creasing apparatus for garments

Info

Publication number: US3653134A
Application number: US67182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seiiti Oji
Original assignee: EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Current assignee: EIDP Inc
Priority date: 1970-08-26
Filing date: 1970-08-26
Publication date: 1972-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-04

Abstract

A creasing apparatus including a boiler which is pivotally mounted so as to be able to turn toward and away from the workpieces to be creased. The boiler contains two heaters, one for vaporizing the water contained therein, and the other for reheating the steam produced by the first heater. A cooling tube, connected to a blower, has air blast bores opening toward the workpieces for automatically cooling them at the end of the heating operation. Both the heating and the cooling operations continue for lengths of time which are predetermined by separate timers. The workpieces are mounted on a liftable table, and a stop is provided above the liftable table whereby the intensity of the pressure being exerted upon the workpieces is observable. One of the timers for the heating operation is equipped with an electromagnetic clutch which, when the boiler is exhausted of its water content with the consequent automatic stopping of the timer and the two heaters in the boiler, is still supplied with current to retain the timer pointer at its position indicating the lapse of time to that precise moment.

Description

United States Patent [451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] CREASING APPARATUS FOR GARMENTS Seiiti Oji, Tokyo, Japan E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 67,182

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney-Irving M. Weiner {5 7] ABSTRACT A creasing apparatus including a boiler which is pivotally mounted so as to be able to turn toward and away from the workpieces to be creased. The boiler contains two heaters, one for vaporizing the water contained therein, and the other for reheating the steam produced by the first heater. A cooling tube, connected to a blower, has air blast bores opening toward the workpieces for automatically cooling them at the end of the heating operation. Both the heating and the cooling operations continue for lengths of time which are predetermined by separate timers. The workpieces are mounted on a liftable table, and a stop is provided above the liftable table whereby the intensity of the pressure being exerted upon the workpieces is observable. One of the timers for the heating operation is equipped with an electromagnetic clutch which, when the boiler is exhausted of its water content with the consequent automatic stopping of the timer and the two heaters in the boiler, is still supplied with current to retain the timer pointer at its position indicating the lapse of time to that precise moment.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 4 I972 3,653,134

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR SEHTI OJI ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 4 I972 sum 2 OF 2 ssun OJ! ATTORNEY CREASING APPARATUS FOR GARMENTS The present invention relates to a creasing apparatus, and in particular relates to an apparatus for making creases, pleats, and other long-lasting folds in garments, such as trousers, without impairment of fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Trousers and other articles of clothing are usually creased, pleated or otherwise folded (hereinafter referred to as being creased" for wear. To accomplish this, the garment is heated and pressed at the same time by means of any one of a variety of industrial ironing apparatus. The treatment applied to the garment by most of the prior art apparatus results in impairment of the fabric because such apparatus is prone to give unnecessary heat to the fabric. Up to the present time, this drawback has been avoided only at the expense of a number of other disadvantages.

For example, a conventional apparatus improved in that respect fails in the efficient use of heat, because it is of such construction that the steam produced in its boiler is first conveyed to an intermediate steam chamber through piping and from there to the garments to be creased. This poor utilization of the steam leads to its ready condensation into water droplets which collect in and corrode the steam chamber, among other places in the apparatus. Furthermore, the efficient creasing operation cannot be expected from this prior apparatus, because it permits a prolonged time for the garment to cool down naturally in order to set the creases therein. Of course, there may be contemplated the provision of some rapid cooling means in this prior apparatus, but this would not be practical, because it would make the overall size of the apparatus too bulky. Even when this disadvantage is tolerated, extreme inconveniences in use would be inevitable in view of the possible play or grating of the mechanism provided for the travel of the entire steam chamber back from the workpieces in order to stop the application of steam to the workpieces.

In prior art apparatuses, the heater and timer circuits are broken automatically in the event that the water in a boiler or a water tank is exhausted, and the pointer of the timer is zeroed at the instant when the current flow ceases. As a result, when the heating operation is resumed after the resupply of water to the boiler or the water tank, the garments are very likely to be overor underheated, because the timer has left no indication of how long they have been heated prior to the emergency cessation. The garments, when overheated, become shiny" and decreased in strength, and when underheated, they are not properly creased.

Moreover, for a correct creasing operation, the garment of any fabric must be heated for a length of time that can be determined only in relation to the intensity of pressure applied thereto. For this reason, there has long been recognized in the industry a need for the provision of a pressure indicator on the creasing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a creasing apparatus which includes first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased. The apparatus also includes second means having a source of steam for applying heat to the workpieces to be creased, and third means for cooling the workpieces to be creased. There is also provided fourth means for selectively moving the source of steam toward a predetermined location in which the steam may be applied to the workpieces and away from the predetermined location.

In accordance with the present invention, there may be provided a creasing apparatus for garments which is capable of properly and efiiciently creasing trousers and other articles of clothing without any impairment to the fabric.

The invention also provides a creasing apparatus wherein steam is applied to the workpieces directly out of a boiler, so that there is virtually no possibility of any condensation of water drops which would corrode the apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, the creasing apparatus has an extremely high rate of heat utilization because the steam produced in the boiler contains two heaters, one for vaporizing the water and the other for reheating the steam produced by the first heater. In this manner, the steam is directly applied to the workpieces without any possibility of leakage.

The invention provides a creasing apparatus for garments wherein the size of the apparatus is considerably reduced in comparison with prior art apparatus owing to the fact that the boiler in the present apparatus also functions as a steam chamber.

In the present invention, the boiler is pivoted at one point thereof, so as to be capable of turning toward and away from the workpieces, thereby providing very smooth movements.

The invention provides a creasing apparatus for garments wherein the workpieces are steamed for a pre-set length of time and thereafter cooled automatically, so that they are creased nearly semi-permanently.

In the apparatus, according to the present invention, when the boiler is exhausted of its water contents during a heating operation, the flow of current to the heaters within the boiler and to a timer for the heating operation is automatically stopped with the timer pointer maintained at its position indicating the elapse of time to that precise moment. Consequently, the workpieces can be steamed exactly for the remainder of the preset length of time when the boiler has been replenished with water.

The invention provides a creasing apparatus for garments which is provided with means whereby the intensity of the pressure being applied to the workpieces is observable so that the workpieces can be steamed for a length of time which is determined in consideration of both the pressure applied to the workpieces and the fabric of which the workpieces are made.

In addition, the invention provides a creasing apparatus having mechanism for heating and cooling of the workpieces which mechanisms are made as simple in construction and as smooth in operation as is feasible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational cutaway view of a creasing apparatus for garments constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away front elevational view of the creasing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a stop, provided above the liftable table on which the workpieces are mounted, which doubles as a pressure indicator for the creasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a prospective view of means for providing the vertical movements of the liftable table.

FIG. 5 depicts a schematic circuit diagram showing the electrical circuits incorporated in the creasing apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a creasing apparatus according to the present invention which includes a casing 1, a bottom plate 2, a bracket arm 3 having a stop 4, a timer 5 for the cooling operation, and a timer 6 for the heating operation. There is also shown an ON-OFF main power switch 7 which serves as a circuit breaker for the creasing apparatus. The apparatus also includes a group of push-button switches 8 and indicator lamps.

From right to left as shown in FIG. 2, the pushbutton switches in the lower row are for the starting, the cooling, and the emergency stopping of the apparatus, respectively. Also from right to left in FIG. 2, the indicator lamps in the upper row indicate the conditions of the power source, the fan, and the water heater of the apparatus. With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a lever 9a for controlling a boiler described hereinbelow, and a handle 10 for controlling the pressure which is exerted by a liftable table 11 upon the workpieces mounted thereon. The apparatus is also provided with a row of openings 12 formed in the front surface of the casing 1 between the stop 4 and the liftable table 11.

Inside the casing 1, there is provided a boiler 13 which may have flat side surfaces which may be pivotally supported above the bottom plate 2 by means of a member 14 disposed parallel with a boiler steam port 16. This steam port 16 is formed on one of the boiler surfaces at a position corresponding to that of the openings 12 in the casing 1 and extends longitudinally of a boiler side plate 15. Inside the boiler 13, there is provided a steam producing heater 17a and a steam reheating auxiliary heater 18 near the boiler bottom and near the boiler steam port 16, and these heaters extend longitudinally of the boiler 13. The steam producing heater 17a is disposed and bent downwardly so that virtually all of it is disposed lower than a terminal portion 17b which is provided in the boiler side plate 15.

it is important that nearly all of the heater 17a is maintained slightly lower than the water level W of the boiler 13 so that the water therein can be vaporized efficiently with a minimum of heat wasted.

Although the boiler steam port 16 is illustrated in the drawings as a unitary opening, it may consist of a number of separate bores provided the bores are so arranged as to be capable of uniformly applying the steam to the workpieces which are mounted on the liftable table 11. Also, the member 14 which pivotally supports the boiler 13 is not restricted to the form illustrated. The member 14 may be of any construction provided it enables the boiler steam port 16 to move toward and away from the openings 12 in the casing 1.

Referring to H0. l, the boiler control lever 90 extends out of the casing 1 through an arcuate hole 9b formed therein from the side plate of the boiler 13. A shaft 19 is secured to the back of the boiler 13, and the shaft 19 revolvably supports a stopper 20a at one end thereof. The stopper 200 has an indentation 20b at the other end thereof which is hung on a bar 21 secured to the side of the bracket arm 3. A helical spring 22 extends between the boiler 13 and the bracket arm 3 and is disposed substantially parallel with the stopper 23. A solenoid coil 24, having a vertically movable working member 23, is secured to the side of the bracket arm 3, and the working member 23 is disposed in such a position that it will contact the stopper 20a when elevated.

A water tank 25 communicates with the boiler 13 by means of piping, and is mounted on a mount 26 at a higher level than the bottom of the boiler 13. The water tank 25 is provided with a float switch 27.

Inside the casing 1 there is also provided a blower 28 which is driven by a motor 29. The blower 28 is connected with one end of a flexible air channel pipe 30 and the other end of the flexible air channel pipe 30 is connected with one end of a cooling tube 32 secured to the bracket arm 3 by means of clamps 31. The cooling tube 32 has a number of air blast bores 33 cut therethrough and facing the openings 12 in the casing l.

The creasing apparatus according to the present invention is also equipped with means for the vertical movement of the liftable table 11. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the handle 10 is connected to a first gear 35 by means of a shaft 34 for driving a gear 37 which is secured to a main shaft 36. The main shaft 36 is also provided with a pair of second gears 38 which mesh respectively with a pair of gears 40 screwed on a pair of threaded shafts 390. There is also provided bearings 41 for the main shaft 36, and a joint 42 of the main shaft 36. The threaded shafts 39a support the table 11 from below through bearings 43 which have holes running lengthwise therethrough, and are dimensioned to accommodate and support the table 11. A pair of bearings 39b are supported on the shafts 39a and contact the lower surface of the table I l.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the stop 4 which also serves as a pressure indicator comprises an outer member and an inner member in which there is installed a helical spring 44 in a compressed condition to urge or press the inner member downwardly. Consequently, as the inner member of stop 4 is lifted by the table 11, the intensity or magnitude of the pressure exerted thereby is indicated on the scale P (see FIG. 2) which is provided on the front surface of the stop 4.

The foregoing has described the principal mechanical construction of the creasing apparatus of the present invention. The invention also incorporates a number of novel electrical features including the circle arrangement relating to the timer for the heating operation which is illustrated in FIG. 5. There will now be described the electrical aspects of the invention with reference to FIG. 5 wherein there are employed reference characters which differ from those used with respect to FIGS. 1 through 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the following four circuits are connected in parallel. The first circuit incorporates two heaters H1 and H2, the contacts MC] through MC4 of an electromagnetic switch MC connected directly to the heaters H1 and H2, and a thermostat Th. The second circuit incorporates a power indicator lamp RL, a float switch FS, a starting push-button switch PBl, the electromagnetic switch MC, a water indicator lamp WL, a timer T1 for the heating operation, its contact T1 1, and a contact Ryll of a heating stop relay Ryl. The third circuit incorporates a cooling push-button switch P82, a timer contact T12 of a timer T1 for the heating operation, a timer contact Ry12 of the heating stop relay Ryl, a timer T2 for the cooling operation, a heating stop relay Ryl, a solenoid coil SC for the boiler, a motor CM for the blower, a cooling indicator lamp GL, a contact Ry2l of a cooling stop relay Ry2, and a solenoid release limit switch RS. The fourth circuit incorporates a timer contact T2c of the timer T2 for the cooling operation, a contact Ry22 of a cooling stop relay Ry2, a timer contact TRc of a time-delay relay TR for a buzzer, the timedelay relay TR, the cooling stop relay Ty2, and the buzzer BZ. The main switch L on the apparatus also serves as a circuit breaker.

The first circuit consists of two series circuits which are connected parallel with each other. One of the series circuits includes the contact MCI of the electromagnetic switch MC, the heater H1, and the contact MC2 of the electromagnetic switch MC. The other series circuit includes the thermostat Th, the contact MC3 of the electromagnetic switch MC, the heater H2, and the contact MC4 of the electromagnetic switch MC.

in the second circuit, the push-button switch FBI is connected in parallel with the contact T11 of the timer T1, and the float switch FS is series connected with the electromagnetic switch MC. The electromagnetic clutch CL of the timer T1 and the motor SM of the timer are connected to lines respectively branching from between the float switch FS and the electromagnetic switch MC. An emergency stop push-button switch PB3 is inserted between the timer T1 and the power indicator lamp RL. The water indicator lamp WL is connected to a line branching from between the electromagnetic switch MC and the circuit branch to the timer Ti.

In the third circuit, the cooling push-button pupush-button switch PB2, the time contact T12 and the contact Ryl2 are connected in parallel with one another, and this parallel circuit is series connected with a parallel circuit of the timer T2, the heating stop relay Ryl, the solenoid coil SC, the motor CM, and the cooling indicator lamp GL. The contact Ry2l for the cooling stop relay Ry2 is connected in series with the heating stop relay Ryl, and the solenoid release limit switch RS is connected in series with the solenoid coil SC. The timer T2 for cooling operation is connected in a line which branches off from between the heating stop relay Ryl and the parallel circuit of the cooling push-button switch PB2, etc., and which is reconnected between the heating stop relay Ryl and the contact Ry2l 21 of the cooling stop relay Ry2.

In the fourth circuit, the time contact T2c and the contact Ty22 are connected in parallel with each other, and this parallel circuit is series connected with a parallel circuit of the time-delay relay TR, the cooling stop relay Ry2, and the buzzer B2. A contact TRc of the time-delay relay TR is inserted between the two parallel circuits.

The use and operation of the creasing apparatus according to the present invention is described herein below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the workpieces to be creased, such as trousers t and other garments, are sandwiched between plates b in an alternating manner. The workpieces should be placed so that their edges come inside the edges of the plates b, thereby forming steam passages c. A holder d is mounted on top of the uppermost plate b. The table 11 is then elevated by turning the handle while reading on the scale P, shown in FIG. 2, of the stop 4 the intensity or magnitude of the pressure being applied to the workpieces.

For steaming the workpieces, the boiler 13 is made to stand erect by means of the boiler control lever 9a. Hence, the steam produced by the heater 17a and reheated by the auxiliary heater 18 flows out of the port 16 of the boiler 13 in contact with the openings 12 of the casing l. The workpieces are thus steamed over a length of time preset by means of the timer 6, at the end of which length of time the solenoid coil 24 is energized so that its working member 23 disengages the stopper a of the boiler 13 from the bar 21, The boiler 13 is then pulled backward by means of the helical spring 22, with the result that the steam outflowing therefrom no longer reaches the workpieces. Simultaneously with the operation of the solenoid coil 24, the motor 29 starts rotating so that cold air is blown toward the workpieces by means of the blower 28 out of the air blast bores 33 in the cooling tube 32. This cooling operation continues for a length of time preset by the timer 5. It is also possible to stop the heating operation prematurely, i.e., before the lapse of the preset length of time, and to begin cooling the workpieces immediately thereafter.

In event the water tank is exhausted of its water contents during the heating operation, its float switch 27 becomes operative to break the flow of current to the motor of the timer 6 and to the heaters 17a and 18. In this instance, however, the flow of current to the electromagnetic clutch of the timer 6 is kept unbroken, so that the pointer of the timer 6 remains at its position indicating the lapse of time up to that moment. As the water tank 25 is replenished, the flow of current to the motor of the timer 6 and to the heaters 17a and 18 is automatically resumed by means of the same float switch 27, and the workpieces are steamed for the remainder of the preset length of time.

The electrical equipment incorporated in the creasing apparatus to accomplish the above functions operates as follows:

Referring to FIG. 5, as the main switch L (marked 7 in FIG, 2) is turned on, the power indicator lamp RL (marked 8 and designated POWER in FIG. 2) is lit up. Then, upon depression of the starting push-button switch PBI (marked 8 and designated STARTING in FIG. 2), the water indicator lamp WL (marked 8 and designated WATER HEATER in FIG. 2) is lit up and current begins flowing to the timer T1 (marked 6 in FIG. 2). Its contact T11 is closed, thereby operating the electromagnetic switch MC. Upon closure of the contacts MCI through MC4 of the electromagnetic switch MC, current flows to the heaters H1 and H2 (marked 17a and 18 in FIG. 1).

As the heating operation terminates at the end of a preset length of time, the contact T11 of the timer T1 opens and the contact T12 thereof closes instead. Thereupon, the timer T2 (marked 5 in FIG. 2) and the heating stop relay Ryl become operative, followed by the solenoid coil SC (marked 24 in FIG. 1) and the motor CM (marked 29 in FIG. 2) of the blower. The contact T2c of the timer T2 closes upon lapse of the length of time preset thereby, so that the current flows to the time-delay relay TR, the cooling stop relay Ry2 and the buzzer B2. The contact Ry2l opens to break the cooling circuit and, with a time lag of approximately 5 seconds, the timedelay relay TR.

As mentioned earlier, it is possible to stop the heating operating prematurely and start cooling the workpieces. As the push-button switch PB2 (marked 8 and designated COOLING" in FIG. 2) is depressed during the heating operation, the solenoid coil SC becomes operative to pull the boiler 13 backward. Simultaneously, the current flow to the heaters H1 and H2 stops, and the motor CM (marked 29 in FIG. 2) of the blower sets in motion to start the cooling operation.

The entire creasing apparatus operation will stop at any time by depressing the emergency push-button switch P33 (marked 8 and designated STOP in FIG. 2).

Although the invention has been shown and described in the foregoing with connection to certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be obvious that a latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the above disclosure. It is therefore appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased;

fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location;

said second means for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased includes a substantially flat-shaped boiler having a steam port opening toward said workpieces to be creased;

said third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased includes at least one cooling tube having air blast bores opening toward said workpieces to be creased, and said cooling tube being disposed in the vicinity of said steam port of said boiler; and

said fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward said predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location includes means for pivotally supporting said boiler so that said boiler may turn toward and away from said workpieces to be creased.

2. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased;

fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; and

said second means for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased includes a first heater for vaporizing water and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

3. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased;

a timer for the heating operation;

a motor for driving said timer;

a water tank adapted to supply water to said boiler;

said water tank including a float switch which is connected so as to be able to break the flow of current to said motor and the heaters provided within said boiler; and

said timer including an electromagnetic clutch which is connected independently of said float switch so that when said water tank is exhausted of its water content, said float switch becomes operative to break the flow of current to said motor and said heaters, while the flow of current to said electromagnetic clutch is maintained unbroken so that the pointer of said timer is retained at is position indicating the elapse of time to that moment.

4. A creasing apparatus as in claim 1, including:

a bracket arm:

a spring extending between said bracket arm and said boiler for urging said boiler away from said workpieces to be creased;

stopper means extending between said bracket arm and said boiler;

a solenoid coil having a vertically movable member which is capable of tripping said stopper means when elevated;

a blower and a motor therefor;

a timer for the cooling operation;

whereby said solenoid coil is energized at the end of the heating operation so that said vertically movable member moves upwardly and trips said stopper means to permit said boiler to be pulled backwardly by means of said spring, and said motor of said blower is simultaneously energized with the energization of said solenoid coil so that cooling air is applied to said workpieces by means of the air blast bores of said cooling tube.

5. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased;

a liftable table on which said workpieces are mounted;

stop means disposed above said liftable table on which said workpieces are mounted; and

said stop means including a stationary outer member, a movable inner member, a spring disposed between said inner and outer members, and a scale disposed outside of said outer member to indicate the pressure exerted upon said workpieces which are sandwiched between said liftable table and said inner member.

6. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased;

said third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased includes at least one portion thereof which is disposed adjacent to said predetermined location; and

7. A creasing apparatus as in claim I, wherein said boiler includes a first heater for vaporizing water contained therein and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

8. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased;

third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; and

said fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward said predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location includes means for pivotally supporting said source of steam so that said said source of steam may turn toward and away from said predetermined location which communicates with said workpieces to be creased; and

said source of steam includes a first heater for vaporizing water and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

Claims

1. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; said second means for applyinG heat to said workpieces to be creased includes a substantially flat-shaped boiler having a steam port opening toward said workpieces to be creased; said third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased includes at least one cooling tube having air blast bores opening toward said workpieces to be creased, and said cooling tube being disposed in the vicinity of said steam port of said boiler; and said fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward said predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location includes means for pivotally supporting said boiler so that said boiler may turn toward and away from said workpieces to be creased.

2. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; and said second means for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased includes a first heater for vaporizing water and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

3. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; a timer for the heating operation; a motor for driving said timer; a water tank adapted to supply water to said boiler; said water tank including a float switch which is connected so as to be able to break the flow of current to said motor and the heaters provided within said boiler; and said timer including an electromagnetic clutch which is connected independently of said float switch so that when said water tank is exhausted of its water content, said float switch becomes operative to break the flow of current to said motor and said heaters, while the flow of current to said electromagnetic clutch is maintained unbroken so that the pointer of said timer is retained at is position indicating the elapse of time to that moment.

4. A creasing apparatus as in claim 1, including: a bracket arm: a spring extending between said bracket arm and said boiler for urging said boiler away from said workpieces to be creased; stopper means extending between said bracket arm and said boiler; a solenoid coil having a vertically movable member which is capable of tripping said stopper means when elevated; a blower and a motor therefor; a timer for the cooling operation; whereby said solenoid coil is energized at the end of the heating operation so that said vertically movable member moves upwardly and trips said stopper means to permit said boiler to be pulled backwardly by means of said spring, and said motor of said blower is simultaneously energized with the energization of said solenoid coil so that cooling air is applied to said workpieces by means of the air blast bores of said cooling tube.

5. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; a liftable table On which said workpieces are mounted; stop means disposed above said liftable table on which said workpieces are mounted; and said stop means including a stationary outer member, a movable inner member, a spring disposed between said inner and outer members, and a scale disposed outside of said outer member to indicate the pressure exerted upon said workpieces which are sandwiched between said liftable table and said inner member.

6. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; said third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased includes at least one portion thereof which is disposed adjacent to said predetermined location; and said second means for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased includes a first heater for vaporizing water and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

7. A creasing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said boiler includes a first heater for vaporizing water contained therein and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.

8. A creasing apparatus comprising, in combination: first means for applying pressure to workpieces to be creased; second means including a source of steam for applying heat to said workpieces to be creased; third means for cooling said workpieces to be creased; fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward a predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location; and said fourth means for selectively moving said source of steam toward said predetermined location in which said steam may be applied to said workpieces and away from said predetermined location includes means for pivotally supporting said source of steam so that said said source of steam may turn toward and away from said predetermined location which communicates with said workpieces to be creased; and said source of steam includes a first heater for vaporizing water and a second heater for reheating the steam produced by said first heater.