US3679106A

US3679106A - Control system for garment finishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3679106A
Application number: US124834A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L North; William J Beckett
Original assignee: FORENTA Ltd
Current assignee: FORENTA Ltd
Priority date: 1971-03-16
Filing date: 1971-03-16
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A control system for a steam-air garment finisher, such as a pants topper, having an inflatable bag for supporting the garment, a solenoid valve for injecting steam into the bag, and a blower for delivering a flow of air into the bag. The system includes first and second air reservoirs, first and second air bleeding orifices, first and second control valves normally coupling the reservoirs to a source of air under pressure, and a manually actuated control element for actuating the control valve respectively to couple the reservoirs to the bleeding orifices. A first pressure actuated switch is coupled to the first reservoir for actuating the steam valve to inject steam into the bag in response to air pressure in the first reservoir above a predetermined value, and a second pressure actuated switch is coupled to the second reservoir for actuating the blower to deliver an air flow into the bag in response to air pressure in the second reservoir above a predetermined value. Actuation of the steam valve and air delivering means is inhibited when the reservoirs are coupled to the air source, and actuation of the blower is inhibited during actuation of the steam valve, the time of exhausting the second reservoir being substantially longer than the time of exhausting the first reservoir. The control element is actuated in response to termination of air delivery to actuate the control valve to recouple the reservoirs to the air source.

Description

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: William L. North, Morristown; William ,I.

Beckett, Talbott, both of Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Forenta, Limited, Kincordine, Ontario,

Canada [22] Filed: March 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 124,834

52] 0.5. CI .123/13 [51] Int. Cl ..D06c 15/00, D06c 5/00, A41h 5/02, D061 59/00, D06f 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..223/57, 51, 70, 67, 73, 69, 223/76, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,525,459 8/1970 Buckley et al. ..223/73 3,550,820 12/1970 O'Boyle .223/73 3,563,420 2/1971 Rasmussen ....223l70 3,578,790 5/1971 Radford et al... ....223/73 3,586,219 6/1971 Radford et al.., ....223/57 3,055,564 9/1962 Forse ..223/73 51 3,679,106 51 July 25,1972

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A control system for a steam-air garment finisher, such as a pants topper, having an inflatable bag for supporting the garment, a solenoid valve for injecting steam into the bag, and a blower for delivering a flow of air into the bag. The system includes first and second air reservoirs, first and second air bleeding orifices, first and second control valves normally coupling the reservoirs to a source of air under pressure, and a manually actuated control element for actuating the control valve respectively to couple the reservoirs to the bleeding orifices. A first pressure actuated switch is coupled to the first reservoir for actuating the steam valve to inject steam into the bag in response to air pressure in the first reservoir above-a predetermined value, and a second pressure actuated switch is coupled to the second reservoir for actuating the blower to deliver an air flow into the bag in response to air pressure in the second reservoir above a predetermined value. Actuation of the steam valve and air delivering means is inhibited when the reservoirs are coupled to the air source, and actuation of the blower is inhibited during actuation of the steam valve, the time of exhausting the second reservoir being substantially longer than the time of exhausting the first reservoir. The control element is actuated in response to termination of air delivery to actuate the control valve to recouple the reservoirs to the air source.

20 Claims, 3 Drawing'Figures PATENIEJBJM m2 3.679106 sum 1 BF 2 FROM M.\/

INVENTOEQ'.

WILLIAM L.NORTH, WILLIAM J. BEQKETT,

521 3: BY MM,M MJ Mm ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEEJMS 1912 Y 3.679.106 sum 2 BF 2 BUCK con. F I 6.2

' 58 :L CONDENSATE RETURN STEAM m STEAM 54 SOLV. BAG F-OOSTFEXVATCH I H8 BLOWER 44 mow-o2 fl/ f 0W 104,

1 ewwsra 128 N2 lib :74 No 7 FOOT SWITCH ///2 c Ms. M

4) /I/ N0 122 QCMOFF DAMPER DOOPSOLV.

DIAPHRAGM soL.v. SWITCH OPERATOR I 86 39 I62 I AIE AIR RESERVOIR RESERVOIR (STEAM TIMING) (BLOWER TIMING) KICK OFF BLOWER TIM\NG AIR BLEED STEAM TIMING A\R BLEED oemcs 0 b4 Ex PANDER CYL. I (KICK OFF u Q. & PEDAL N o L 86 I34 69 b :08 72 7o All? a W b2& /0 13 KICK-OFF U 2 SECOND POSIT.

\NTERMEDIATE FIRST Poem 62a, T INVENTORSZ WILLIAM L. NORTH,

WILLIAM J. BECKETT,

': IbO HMQ M MM ATTORNEYS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to steam-air garment finishing apparatus, such as pants toppers, and more particularly to a control system for such apparatus.

2. Description of the prior Art Garments are finished" following washing or dry cleaning by first heating and moistening the garment thereby to relax the fibers of the material from which the garment is made, then forming the garment in the desired shape, and finally drying the garment while it is retained in the desired shape. The application of high pressing pressure is not necessary in order to finish a garment and in fact, high contact pressure is undesirable since it tends to produce shine or moire and may substantially shorten the life of the garment, particularly in the case of garments made of certain synthetic fibers.

Air-steam finishers have commonly been employed for finishing the tops of trousers, such toppers conventionally comprising an inflatable bag suspended from a support and which shapes the top portion of the trousers. Steam is first injected into the bag thereby to heat and moisten the trousers top thereon, and air is then caused to flow into the bag to inflate the same thereby shaping and drying the trousers top.

Prior pants toppers known to the present applicants have employed various complex electrical and/or pneumatic control systems for automatically programming the cycle of operation, a typical prior pants topper and control system therefor being shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,564. In application Ser. No. 1 14,253, filed February 10, 1971 of the present inventor and George S. Eubank and assigned to the assignee of the present application, there is disclosed a control system for steam-air coat and dress finishing apparatus employing two air reservoirs which are initially charged to initiate a cycle of operation. Air bleeding orifices are respectively coupled to the reservoirs for bleeding the air initially charged therein over selectively adjustable periods of time. A first pressure switch is coupled to the first reservoir for actuating the steam valve in response to air pressure above a predetermined value and for deactuating the valve in response to air pressure below that value, and a second pressure switch is coupled to the second reservoir for actuating the blower in response to air pressure above a predetermined value and for deactuating the blower in response to air pressure below that value, the second reservoir having substantially greater air storage capacity than the first reservoir, means being provided for inhibiting energization of the blower during energization of steam .valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a control system for garment finishing apparatus including means for supporting a garment, means including a selectively actuable valve for injecting steaminto the interior ofv the garment thereby to heat and moisten the same, and means for delivering a flow of air into the interior of the garment thereby to dry the same. The control system, which actuates the steam valve and the air delivering means for predetermined times in a predetermined sequence, comprises first and second air reservoirs, and first and second orifice means for respectively bleeding air at predetermined rates. Means are provided for normally coupling the reservoirs to a source of air under pressure thereby to charge the reservoirs, and means are provided for actuating the coupling means respectively to couple the reservoirs to the first and second orifice means thereby respectively to bleed air from the reservoirs whereby the air second means is provided coupled to the second reservoir for actuating the air delivering means to deliver an air flow into the garment in response to air pressure in the second reservoir above a predetermined value and for deactuating the air delivering means in response to air pressure below such a value. Means is provided for inhibiting actuation of the steam valve and air delivering means when the reservoirs are coupled to the air source, and cycle terminating means is provided for actuating the coupling means to recouple the reservoirs to the air source upon completion of the steam injection and air delivery.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved control system for garment finishing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved control system for garment finishing apparatus of the airsteam type.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating'a pants topper incorporating the control system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the control system of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing one of the selectively adjustable air bleeding orifices employed in the control system of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. l,there is shown an air-steam pants topper, generally indicated at 10, comprising base housing 12 and upper housing 14 supported on base housing 12 by a pair of support posts 16 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1). Buck and bag assembly 18, which may be of the type more fully shown and described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,564, is suspended from upper housing 14. Buck and bag assembly 18 comprises rigid, padded buck 20 and inflatable bag 22, it being understood that the trousers are dressed on buck and bag assembly 18 with the front and fly region engaging buck 20 and being retained by clamp 24.

Rear portion 26 of bag 22 is mechanically expanded from a collapsed position, as shown by dashed lines 26a, to an expanded position thereby to retain the trousers thereon by bag expanding member 28 slideably mounted on track 30. Rod 32 has its upper end attached to expanding member 28 and its lower end pivotally mounted in base housing 12, as at 34. Rod 32 and expanding member 28 are selectively actuated between retracted and expanded positions by pneumatic cylinder 36, as more fully shown and described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,564. r

Upper housing 14 defines air duct 38 having opening 40 therein communicating with the interior of bag 22. Blower 42 driven by motor 44 is mounted in base housing 12 with its discharge end 46 coupled to duct 38 by duct 40, blower 42 thus delivering a flow of air into the interior of that bag 22 thereby to expand the same. Damper plate 50 normally closes opening 40 in duct 38 and is actuated to an open position by air cylinder 52.

Buck 20 iscontinuously heated by a steam coil or steam chest schematically shown at 54, and steam is injected into the interior of bag 22 by a steam injection noule schematically shown at 56, steam being supplied to buck heating coil 54 and nozzle 56 by steam line 58.

Control system 59 is partially enclosed in base housing 12 and partially enclosed in external housing 60 which projects forwardly from base housing 12. Control system 59 includes actuating foot pedal 62 and kick-off foot pedal 64.

Referring now to FIG. 2, air line 66 is adapted to be connected to a source of air pressure (not shown) such as at 90-100 psi. Regulator 68 in line 66 initially reduces the air pressure to a predetermined lower value, such as on the order of 50 psi. Air line 70 couples regulator 68 to microvalves 72, 74 and 76.

Microvalves

74, 76 are of the double-acting, camactuated type, microvalve 74 normally coupling air line 70 to air line 78 and when actuated coupling air line 70 to air line 80, and microvalve 76 normally coupling air line 70 to air line 82 and when actuated, coupling air line 70 to air line 84.

Air line 78 is coupled to steam tinting air reservoir 86 and air line 82 is coupled to blower timing air reservoir 88. Thus, microvalves 74, 76 normally couple air reservoir 86, 88 to air line 70 thereby charging reservoirs 86, 88 with air at the pressure established by regulator 68. Blower timing air reservoir 88 has a volumetric capacity substantially greater than the capacity of steam timing reservoir 86. In a specific embodiment, steam timing reservoir 86 is formed of a 2 9% inch length of 2 A inch ID pipe whereas blower timing reservoir 88 is formed for a inch length of 2 inch ID pipe.

Air line 80 is coupled to manually adjustable steam timing air bleed orifice 90 and air line 84 is coupled to a similar manually adjustable blower timing air bleed orifice 92. It will thus be seen that upon actuation of

microvalves

74, 76, reservoirs 86, 88 are decoupled from air line 70 and respectively coupled to

orifices

90, 92 thus exhausting the air previously charged in the reservoirs, the time required for exhausting the respective reservoir depending upon its volumetric capacity and the adjustment of the respective orifice. With the specific air pressure and volumetric capacity of reservoirs 86, 88 described above, steam timing air bleed orifice 90 will exhaust the air from steam timing reservoir 86 over a period of time ranging from one second to 6 seconds, and blower timing air bleed orifice 92 will exhaust the air from blower timing reservoir 88 over a period of time ranging from 8 to 30 seconds. As will hereinafter be more fully described, each of the

orifices

90, 92 is manually adjustable to bleed air at six different predetermined rates, thus providing adjustment of the exhaust time in six increments.

An elongated control member 94 is provided having foot pedal 62 on one end thereof, member 94 being movably by foot pedal 62 from a first or deactuated position 62a to a second position 62b through an intermediate position 62c.

Microvalves

74, 76 are in their first or deactuated positions coupling reservoirs 86, 88 to air line 70 in the first position of member 94 and foot pedal 62.

Microvalves

74, 76 are respectively actuated by

cam elements

96, 98 on member '94 in response to movement of member 94 by foot pedal 62 to second position 62b thereby respectively decoupling reservoirs 86, 88 from air line 70 and respectively coupling reservoirs 86, 88 to

orifices

90, 92 thus initiating the timed air bleeding operation.

Diaphragm switch operator 100 is coupled to steam timing reservoir 86 and actuates microswitch 102. Diaphragm switch operator 104 is coupled to blower timing reservoir 88 and actuates microswitch 106. Cam-actuated microswitch 108 is ac tuated by cam element 1 10 on control member 94 in response to initial movement of member 94 and foot pedal 62 away from intermediate position 62c toward second position 62b, actuation of microswitch 108 closing its contacts thereby to couple one side 112 of a source of energizing potential to common contact 114 of microswitch 102. Normally open contact 116 of microswitch 102 is connected to one terminal of steam solenoid valve 118 which selectively couples steam line 58 to steam injection nozzle 56, the other terminal of valve 1 18 being coupled to ground, as shown. Foot switch 120 selectively couples steam solenoid valve 118 directly to potential source 112.

Normally closed contact 122 of microswitch 102 is connected to common contact 124 of microswitch 106. Normally open contact 126 of microswitch 106 is connected to one terminal of blower motor 44, the other terminal of blower motor 44 being connected to ground, as shown. Foot switch 128 directly connects blower motor 44 to potential source 1 12.

Diaphragm switch operators

100, 104 respectively actuate

microswitches

102, 106 to close their normally

open contacts

116, 126 and to open their normally closed

contacts

122, 130 when the pressure in the respective reservoirs 86, 88 is above a predetermined value, and respectively

deactuate microswitches

102, 106 to open normally

open contacts

116, 126 and to close normally closed

contacts

122, 130 when the pressure in the respective reservoir falls below the predetermined value. The particular diaphragrns switch operators employed will deactuate

switches

102, 106 at a pressure differential of about 20 psi or less.

Microvalve 72 is cam-actuated between closed and open positions, cam element 132 on control member 94 actuating microvalve 72 to its open position upon movement of control member 94 by foot pedal 62 to intermediate position 62c. Air line 134 couples microvalve 72 to expander cylinder 36.

Control member 94 is momentarily restrained in its intermediate position 62c by lever member 136 having end 138 which engages end 140 of control member 94. Lever member 136 is normally maintained in its restraining position by spring 142 and is actuated to release the restraint by pneumatic cylinder 144. Air line 134 also couples microvalve 72 to cylinder 144. Thus, upon actuation of control member 94 by foot pedal 62, end 140 initially moves into engagement with end 138 of lever 136 thus establishing intermediate position 620. Immediately thereafter, cylinder 144 is actuated in response to actuation of microvalve 72 thus pivoting end 138 of lever 136 in the direction shown by the arrow 146 to permit end 140 of control member 94 to move further in the direction shown by arrow 148 to second position 62b.

Control member 94 is returned from its second position 62b to its first position 62a by kick-off pneumatic cylinder 150. Kick-off cylinder 150 is coupled to air line 70 by solenoid valve 152 and air line 154. Operating coil 156 of kick-off solenoid valve 152 is coupled to normally closed contact 130 of microswitch 106. Damper door cylinder 52 is coupled to air line 70 by solenoid valve 158 and air line 160. Operating coil 162 of damper door solenoid valve 158 is coupled in parallel with blower motor 54, as shown.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 3, each

air line

80, 84 terminates in block 164, being surrounded by O-ring 166. Disc 168 is rotatably secured to bloc 164 by threaded fastener 170. Disc 168 has a plurality of radially spaced-apart, different sized orifices 172 formed therethrough, there being six such orifices in a specific embodiment of the invention In order to select the desired orifice, threaded fastener 170 is loosened, disc 168 is manually rotated to align the selected orifice 172 with the

respective air line

80, 84, and fastener 170 is then tightened to retain disc 168 in the selected position with O- ring 166 providing a seal around the selected orifice 172. It will be understood that the size of the selected orifice determines the exhausting time of the respective reservoir 86, 88 and thus the respective duration of actuation of

microswitches

102, 106 by

diaphragm switch operators

100, 104.

OPERATION In the operation of pants topper 10 by control system 59, with foot pedal 62 and control member 94 in the first or deactuated position 62a, steam timing reservoir 86 and air timing reservoir 88 are respectively coupled to air line 70 by

air lines

78, 82 and

microvalves

74, 76 in their first or deactuated positions. Reservoirs 86, 88 are thus charged to the pressure supplied by regulator 68.

Diaphragm switch operators

100, 104 will thus respectively actuate

microswitches

102, 106 to close their normally

open contacts

116, 126 however, energization of steam solenoid valve 118 and blower motor 44 is inhibited at this time since microswitch 108 is deactuated and its contacts are open thus disconnecting common contact 114 of microswitch 102 from potential source 112. Thus, steam valve 118 remains de'energized despite actuation of microswitch 102 so that steam is not injected into bag 22, and blower motor 44 remains de-energized despite actuation of microswitch 106 so that no air is caused to flow into bag 22. It

will be observed however, that actuation of foot switch 120 will energize solenoid valve 118 thereby to inject steam through nozzle 56 into bag 22 under the direct control of the operator in case presteaming of the garment is desired. Similarly, actuation of foot switch 128 will energize blower motor 44 thus causing blower 42 to deliver a flow of air into bag 22 again under direct control of the operator.

Assuming now that pedal 62 is actuated to move control member 94 in direction 148, end 140 of control member 94 will engage end 138 of lever 136 thereby establishing intermediate position 62c, and microvalve 72 will be actuated by cam element 132 thereby to apply air to expander cylinder 36 thus expanding bag 22 to retain the trousers top thereon. immediately thereafter, air is applied by microvalve 72 to cylinder 144 to pivot end 138 of lever 136 in the direction shown by the arrow 146 thus removing the restraint on control member 94 permitting it to be moved in direction 148 from intermediate positions 62c to its second position 62b when desired.

It will be observed that bag 22 is expanded in intermediate position 620 of pedal 62 and control member 94, however, microswitch 108 is not yet actuated. Thus, potential is not applied to common contact 114 of microswitch 102 and steam valve 118 is not energized despite actuation of microswitch 102 to close contacts 116 by switch operator 100 in response to the air pressure in fully charged cylinder 86. Thus in position 620, the operator can, if need be, adjust and smooth the trousers top and perform any desired presteaming by actuation of foot switch 120.

When it is desired to initiate the timed cycle of operation,

foot pedal 62 and control member 94 are actuated from intermediate position 620 to second position 62b. initial movement of control member 94 away from intermediate position 620 causes cam element 110 to actuate microswitch 108 to close its contacts thereby applying energizing potential to common contact 114 of microswitch 102. With steam timing reservoir 86 having the full air pressure supplied by regulator 68 charged therein, and with switch operator 100 having previously actuated microswitch 102 to close contacts 116, energizing potential will now be applied to steam solenoid valve 118 to actuate the same to inject steam into bag 22 through nozzle 56. It will be observed that actuation of microswitch 102 by switch operator 100 opened contacts 122 thus inhibiting energization of blower motor 44.

Upon further movement of pedal 62 and control member 94 to second position 621;,

microvalves

72, 76 are respectively actuated by

cam elements

96, 98 thereby decoupling reservoirs 86, 88 from air line 70 and respectively coupling the reservoirs to air bleeding

orifices

90, 92 to initiate exhausting of reservoirs 86, 88 and the steam and blower timing cycles. Upon completion of the the timed interval determined by selection of the desired orifice 172 in disc 168 of air bleed orifice 90, diaphragm switch operator 100 will deactuate microswitch 102 thus opening its normally open contacts 116 and closing its normally closed contacts 122, opening of contacts 116 deenergizing steam solenoid valve 118 and terminating injection of steam through nozzle 56 into bag 22. Closing of normally closed contacts 122 of microswitch 102 applies energizing potential to common contacts 124 of microswitch 106. Here it will be observed that by virtue of the substantially greater volumetric capacity of blower timing reservoir 88, considerable exhausting time remains following deactuation of microswitch 102 by diaphragm switch operator 100 and thus microswitch 106 remains actuated by diaphragm switch operator 104 with its normally open contacts 126 thus remaining closed and its normally closed contacts 130 remaining open. Thus, application of energizing potential to common contacts 124 of microswitch 106 by deactuation of microswitch 102 applies energizing potential to blower motor 44 causing blower 42 to deliver air to the interior of bag 22 through ducts 48 and 38 and opening 40, damper

door solenoid valve

162, 158 being energized simultaneously with blower motor 44 thereby opening damper plate 52.

Upon completion of the blower timing period determined by selection of the desired orifice 172 in disc 168 of air bleed orifice 92, diaphragm switch operator 104 will deactuate microswitcli-106 thus opening its normally open contacts 126 gizes kick-off solenoid operating coil 156 thus actuating solenoid valve 152 and applying air to kick-off cylinder causing its piston rod to extend to return control member 94 and foot pedal 62 to the first or deactuated position 62a. Return of control member 94 from its second to its first position deactuates microvalves 74, 76 respectively decoupling reservoirs 86, 88 from

orifices

90, 92 and recoupling the reservoirs to air line 70 thus recharging reservoirs 86, 88 with air supplied by regulator 68. Upon return movement of control member 94 through its intermediate position 620, microvalve 72 is deactuated thus deactuating expander cylinder 36 and cylinder 144. Similarly, microswitch 108 is de-actuated removing energizing potential from common contacts 114 of microswitch 102, thus completing the automatic cycle of operation. 5

it will be observed that the timed cycle of operation may be terminated at any point in the cycle by actuation of kick-ofi pedal 64 which will return the control member 94 and foot pedal 62 from the second position 62b to the f'u'st position 620.

it will be understood that pants topper 10 may be provided with manually operated placket shoes for retaining the pleats provided in the front of some trousers top, however, such placket shoes do not form a part of the present invention.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In garment finishing apparatus including means for supporting a garment, means including a selectively actuable valve for injecting steam into the interior of said garment thereby to heat and moisten the same, and means for delivering a flow of air into the interior of said garment thereby to dry the same: a control system for actuating said steam valve and said air delivering means for predetermined times in a predetermined sequence comprising first and second air reservoirs, first and second orifice means for respectively bleeding air at predetermined rates, means for normally coupling said reservoirs to a source of air under pressure thereby to charge the same, means for actuating said coupling means respectively to couple said reservoirs to said first and second orifice means thereby respectively to bleed air from said reservoirs whereby the air pressure previously charged therein is exhausted over predetermined times, first means coupled to said first reservoir for actuating said steam valve to inject steam into said garment in response to air pressure in said first reservoir above a predetermined value and for deactuating said steam valve in response to air pressure below such value, second means coupled to said second reservoir for actuating said air delivering means to deliver an air flow into said garment in response to air pressure in said second reservoir above a predetermined value and for deactuating said air delivering means in response to air pressure below such value, means for inhibiting actuation of said steam valve and air delivering means when said reservoirs are coupled to said source, and cycle terminating means for actuating said coupling means to recouple said reservoirs to said air source upon completion of said steam injection and air delivery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises first and second control valves each selectively actuable between first and second positions, said control valves in said first positions thereof respectively coupling said reservoirs to said air source and in said second positions thereof respectively coupling said reservoirs to said first and second orifice means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first-named actuating means includes a control element movable between first and second positions, said control element in said first position thereof actuating said control valves to said first positions thereof, said control element in said second position thereof 5 actuating said control valves to said second positions thereof, said inhibiting means being actuated to disable said steam valve and air delivering means when said control element is in said first position thereof, said terminating means including means for moving said control element from said second position to said first position thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control element is manually moved from said first to said second position thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said inhibiting means further includes means for disabling said air delivering means during actuation of said steam valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control valves are cam-actuated, said control element including cam means for actuating said control valves to said second positions thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said steam valve is a solenoid valve, said air delivering means comprising a motordriven blower, said first actuating means comprising a first pressure-actuated switch, said inhibiting means comprising another switch actuated in response to movement of said control element away from said first position thereof to couple a .source of energizing potential to said first switch, said first switch coupling said steam valve for energization in response to air pressure in said first reservoir above the respective predetermined value, said second actuating means comprising a second pressure-actuated switch coupled to said other switch by said first switch in response to air pressure in said first reservoir below the respective predetermined value whereby said blower is disabled during actuation of said steam valve, said second pressure-actuated switch coupling said motor for energization in response to air pressure in said second reservoir above the respective predetermined value, said second reservoir and second orifice means being propor tioned so that the time of exhausting said second reservoir is substantially longer than the time of exhausting said first reservoir.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said moving means includes an air cylinder, and another solenoid valve for coupling said air source to said cylinder, said other valve being coupled to said potential source for energization thereby by said second switch in response to air pressure in said second reservoir below the respective value whereby said moving means is actuated upon de-energization of said motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an air duct communicating between the discharge side of said blower and the interior of said garment, a damper in said duct, an air cylinder for actuating said damper between open and closed positions, and another solenoid valve for coupling said air source to said cylinder, said other solenoid valve being coupled to said potential source for energization thereby by said second switch in response to air pressure in said second reservoir above the respective value whereby said damper is opened upon energization of said motor and closed upon deenergization thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control element is movable from-said first position to said second position through an intermediate position, said inhibiting means being deactuated in response to movement of said control element from said intermediate position to said second position thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for momentarily restraining said control element at said intermediate position, and means for releasing said restraining means in response to movement of said control element to said intermediate position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said restraining means includes an air cylinder, said releasing means comprising another selectively actuable valve for couplin said air source to said cylinder in response to movement 0 said control element to said intermediate position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for expanding a portion of said garment, said expanding means including a second air cylinder, said other valve coupling said air source to said second cylinder in response to movement of said control element to said intermediate position.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for expanding a portion of said garment, said actuating means including means for actuating said expanding means prior to actuation of said coupling means.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inhibiting means further includes means for disabling said air delivering means during actuation of said steam valve, said second reservoir and second orifice means being proportioned so that the time of exhausting said second reservoir is substantially longer than the time of exhausting said first reservoir.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for actuating said terminating means in response to deactuation of said air delivering means.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a normally closed damper in the path of air flow from said air delivering means, and means for opening said damper in response to actuation of said air delivering means.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for selectively adjusting each of said orifice means thereby respectively to bleed air from said reservoirs for selectively adjustable times.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of said lastnamed adjusting means varies the size of the respective orifice in a plurality of discrete increments.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said orifices means includes a conduit connected to the respective coupling means, each of said last-named adjusting means comprising a member having a plurality of spaced, different sized orifices therethrough, said member being movable thereby to position a selected one of said orifices in communication with the respective conduit.

Claims

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first-named actuating means includes a control element movable between first and second positions, said control element in said first position thereof actuating said control valves to said first positions thereof, said control element in said second position thereof actuating said control valves to said second positions thereof, said inhibiting means being actuated to disable said steam valve and air delivering means when said control element is in said first position thereof, said terminating means including means for moving said control element from said second position to said first position thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said steam valve is a solenoid valve, said air delivering means comprising a motor-driven blower, said first actuating means comprising a first pressure-actuated switch, said inhibiting means comprising another switch actuated in response to movement of said control element away from said first position thereof to couple a source of energizing potential to said first switch, said first switch coupling said steam valve for energization in response to air pressure in said first reservoir above the respective predetermined value, said second actuating means comprising a second pressure-actuated switch coupled to said other switch by said first switch in response to air pressure in said first reservoir below the respective predetermined value whereby said blower is disabled during actuation of said steam valve, said second pressure-actuated switch coupling said motor for energization in response to air pressure in said second reservoir above the respective predetermined value, said second reservoir and second orifice means being proportioned so that the time of exhausting said second reservoir is substantially longer than the time of exhausting said first reservoir.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an air duct communicating between the discharge side of said blower and the interior of said garment, a damper in said duct, an air cylinder for actuating said damper between open and closed positions, and another solenoid valve for coupling said air source to said cylinder, said other solenoid valve being coupled to said potential source for energization thereby by said second switch in response to air pressure in said second reservoir above the respective value whereby said damper is opened upon energization of said motor and closed upon de-energization thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control element is movable from said first position to said second position through an intermediate position, said inhibiting means being deactuated in response to movement of said control element from said intermediate position to said second position thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said restraining means includes an air cylinder, said releasing means comprising another selectively actuable valve for coupling said air source to said cylinder in response to movement of said control element to said intermediate position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of said last-named adjusting means varies the size of the respective orifice in a plurality of discrete increments.