US3737080A

US3737080A - Short sleeve presser expander

Info

Publication number: US3737080A
Application number: US00160273A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Paris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-07
Filing date: 1971-07-07
Publication date: 1973-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-05

Abstract

An expander presser apparatus for short sleeve shirtlike garments is provided having a pair of telescopic spring-tensionexpanded sleeve-pressing assemblies that are retractably mounted to extend from armpit positions of a garment-receiving upright frame of a finishing machine that has a permeable fabric form into which steam and dry air are introduced.

Description

United States Patent [191 Paris 1 June 5, 1973 [541 SHORT SLEEVE PRESSER EXPANDER [76] Inventor: August F. Paris, 1415 McCullough Avenue, Brockway, Pa. 15824 221 Filed: July 7, 1971 211 App]. No.: 160,273

[52] [1.8. CI ..223/70 [51] Int. Cl. .A4lli 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..223/57, 70, 67, 72,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Richterkessing ..223/68 Forse ..223/57 2/1928 Gygi ..223/70 3,310,208 3/1967 Killey ..223/70 3,568,900 3/1971 Paris ..223/70 3,462,051 8/1969 Schlemon.. ..223/70 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Green, McCallister & Miller [57] ABSTRACT An expander presser apparatus for short sleeve shirtlike garments is provided having a pair of telescopic spring-tension-expanded sleeve-pressing assemblies that are retractably mounted to extend from armpit positions of a garment-receiving upright frame of a finishing machine that has a permeable fabric form into which steam and dry air are introduced.

20 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUJUH 5 1975 SHEET 10F 2 2m 1w? N? INVE N TOR.

HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 5 1975 SHEET 2 BF 2 I Illll IN VE N TOR. August E Paris HIS ATTORNEYS SHORT SLEEVE PRESSER EXPANDER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to improved apparatus for finishing the sleeves of a short sleeve shirtlike garment and particularly, to a presser expander for the sleeves of a short sleeve garment. A phase of the invention deals with apparatus for providing a one-operation improved finishing of the sleeve portions of a shirtlike garment.

2. Description of the Art The above-mentioned application discloses a machine for finishing laundered or dry cleaned shirtlike garments which employs an expandable permeable fabric form into which a mixture of hot air and dry steam are introduced. The machine has a pair of sidewise outwardly projecting gripping or clamping arm assemblies R which are adjustable to clamp the cuff or edge portions of either a long sleeve or to be short sleeve garment. Such clamping assemblies have been found to highly satisfactory particularly for long sleeves, but it has been determined in processing short sleeves, due to the closeness of the gripping action to the shoulder or armpit portions of the garment, that there has been some tendency to wrinkle the material such that a hand pressed touching-up operation may be required.

The present invention thus pertains to an improved apparatus that is adaptable for use with a machine such as set forth in my above-mentioned application, that is especially suitable for finishing the sleeves of shortsleeved garments, and that operates in such a manner that the sleeves are both expanded and pressed under the action of an application of steam and dry air coming from open armpit ends of the fabric form and the action of a pair of expander assemblies or units that are positioned within the sleeves and effect an oval-shaped resilient outward expanding action thereon. This provides a much improved finishing-pressing of short sleeve portions of a garment. It entirely eliminates any need for touch-up pressing such that the complete finishing of the garment may be effected in one operation.

The apparatus of the present invention provides for an increased or higher temperature application of heat to the sleeve portions through the usage of a staggered tier or assembly of open-end tubular members that define a heat chest at an upper end of the machine. Steam is-moved through a closed coil system from the head of a steamer in the base or stand part of the apparatus to the heat chest, while live steam and hot air are being moved upwardly within a permeable fabric or nylon form and at the heat chest are subjected to further warming heat before they are moved outwardly through armpit openings into the sleeves of the garment. The pair of expander-presser units or assemblies within the sleeves simultaneously apply a flexible expansion-shaping-pressing force internally to the sleeves while they are being finished by the application of the steam and hot air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of structural parts of the apparatus of the invention but broken-away for purposes of simplicity from the standpoint of a mounting base, a steamer head, steam and air supply means,

and a permeable garment bag or form. In this figure, a

pair of sleeve expander-presser assemblies are shown in a sidewise-outwardly extending relationship such as would normally be employed when a short sleeve shirtlike garment is to be finished.

FIG. 2 is a view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 1 but showing the sleeve presser-expander assemblies in a retracted, out-of-the-way or inward positioning with respect to armpit ends of a collar, shoulder and chest plate member of the apparatus. In this view, steam supply tubing and upper chest parts have been omitted, since they are illustrated in FIG. 1. a

FIG. 2A is a side section in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line IIA-IIA of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in the position illustrated in such figure and on the same scale as such figure.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged vertical fragment showing details of the construction and mounting of a fluid motor means shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 for moving the pair of sleeve presser-expander assemblies between their inner and outer positions.

FIG. 3B is a slightly enlarged vertical fragmental view, partially in section, showing details of the construction of a heat chest assembly, also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective elevation particularly illustrating a bifurcated connector head member or clevis for operating members of the sleeve presserexpander units. A

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragment in elevation on the scale of FIG. 4 and showing detailsof the construction of an intermediate cross member of the frame structure of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged side view in elevation through one of the sleeve presser-expander units or assemblies of the construction of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; in this figure, two telescopic parts are shown in their maximum outward, spring-pressed positions such as accomplished when steam and hot air are being supplied to finish a garment and its sleeves.

FIG. 7 is an outer end view in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line Vll-VII of FIG. 6. I

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views in elevation on a slightly reduced scale from FIGS. 6 and 7, and respectively taken along the lines VIIIVIII and lXIX of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 6, but showing the parts of a sleeve presser-expander unit or assembly in their innermost or fully collapsed telescopic positioning with respect to each other as accomplished by a fluid motor acting against spring tension; this view illustrates the location of the parts of each of the assemblies when a garment is being positioned on the machine over its fabric bag for finishing and also after completion of a finishing operation when the garment is to be removed.

FIG. 11 is a greatly reduced front view in elevation showing a short sleeve shirt positioned on apparatus of the invention while being expanded-pressed thereon.

and to enclose the IJIPPBI'IIIOSI member upwardment onv the member l2xto define an open-lead; hollow,

through the other upright tubular member Tl'iisenables theprovisionofa greater heat in thequpperpportion 3 a i t a v 9 motor 20 that is mounted on' a forwardly outwardlyex- E A ED ggzssxg; PREFERREP tending shelf 2l carried by the upright membersll and lower cross member 13. The motor 20 hasapiston rod It will be understood that the apparatus disclosed 23 that is shown mountedisee FIG. 3A) by the c lampherein will be carried on a base and frame structure ing action of an endwise-weld -secured, plug-like collar similar to that fully described and set forthin my '22 andanut22blThe weld metalisdesignated It will above-mentioned application, and will also berusecl be notedthat the nut 22b is mounted on an outwardly with a permeable fabric bag or nylon form such asfalso threadedstem portion 22a to grip the outer end portion disclosed therein. The apparatus herein disclosed has 1 of shelf 21 through which the stem portion extends.

been designed and constructed so that it may be used to The eXtremeouter end of the piston rod 23 is threaded with or adapted for use with an overallm achine structo receive a mounting nut 25 that is weld-secured on ture such as illustrated in said patent. It enablesthe cuff the forwardend portion of a short length connector gripping means of sucha machine to be iisedfor longer piece: or memberz i, A second mounting nut 25a is sleeved garments when the short sleeve .eXpahdei-as -w 1d emaoa the back end portion of the connector semblies of the presentdisclosure are in theircretracted l5 piece .24"(seeFlGSl2Aand 3) to receive the lower,

position of FIG. 2,,and enables the use of the short athre aded end of aforwardly positioned, upwardly exsleeve expander apparatus of the present disclosure by tending primary, lowenor main drive rod or member inactivating the outwardly positioned, upwardly ei t- .26.'The motor is employedto move thedri verod 26 tending sleeve clamping assemblies disclosedhinfsmd fwbetweenthe full'line upper position and the dot and patent. v t i dashlinelo werpositiori ofFIG.3.Thelowermost posi- Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, Z and 3., a tionis re..nforced by abutment of the connector piece" ary upright frame support stn icture 10 is shownwhi chf is adapted to be secured in a conventional mannerto 1 v v o a base or stand part of a machine and toreceivea per-I upVandfldown vertical movement, as accomplished 24 "stop: platformv \The primaryorlowendriverod 26 is positionedfo r meable fabric ba g thereover. With particular reference b e yalve contrblled operation or the fluid or pneuma f to FIG. 1, the frame structure l0 has a pairof horizon tic two-way cylinderormotor 20 for, as shown in FIGS. tally spaced-apart upright members -11 that aresecured .1 and 2, moving thepair of sleeve expander assemblies together at their upper ends by a cross-extending bar, nem a contracted-in positioning (see'FIG. 2) with head piece or uppermost member 12, and that arereinrespect; to the shoulder plate 15 to an outwardly exforced along their lengthsby cross-extending{brace 9 pande dJIeeve-engaging position (see FIGQI), and

vice members

13, 13a,l3 b, 13c; and by a centrally disposed versa. Theljdrive member 26 is slidably carried within brace and guidememberf l4(see also FIG. 5);jall of p L mountinglbracketsfl and2 8 which are positionedto which are secured thereto asby weldmetal tlo a extend frdntwardlyoutwardly from the cross-extending unitary structure. A collar, shoulder; and pche sttplateq frameybracihg member-$1321 and 14. The upperend of v member 15 of hollow construction and asuitablenietal ithefro'd2 6is also threaded andis provided witha pair landili) A secondary;

ly-shortened, tieredorE stepped assembly: of fsh ort length tube members 16, as"of rectangular or square" section (see FIGSQ;1,3 and 3B)aresecuredinaligm= heat pick-up chest a ssem blyefor cohciitratmgand recting heat from the upper end of an enclosed fsteam v v The s econdaryor auxiliarydrive rod 32 ismounted for coil system C. The system Cemploysa'paii' offinned,

steam-conducting, tubemembers that extend vertically project from an upper,"cross-extending reinforcing longitudinally along the frame structure 10 and that are r frame memberJScAThe threaded upper end of the secconnected at their upper ends by a pipeloop 18 which" extends through the itubularfheat chestassemblyf lfii within The enclosed steam systemC correspondsgt thefsysp tem disclosed in FIGJ 1180f my abovementionedpa-f tent, in that hot steam is introduced th roiiglione ofthe tubular members, is passed upwardly along theinside Asshown partifc of the frame 10, andco steamiislthen returned eachotiitsends; provided withendwisaopen; spaced part, slotted endportionsf355.. Each slotted end porof a permeable fabrice tpanderfort-n1?)(seecFIG. which fits downward i fiYihe shbu lder plater 15. The open arminithds brine form B wun as suppiy a more intense heatinto the short sleeves of a garment S and into the end areas defined by apair of sleeve 3 operating arm members 40 which, at theirlower ends, presser-expander units or.-assemblies A..

s 14 t. ei her in ondaryorfauxiliary rodQZ is adaptedfto be mounted hreadedfcentral boreportion 35ja of clevis y v .mij msu e riogzmibck tably. adjusted position within the j y rice 4, the sta es is, a

a showninFIGS 2 and3, there are opposite pairs of the are pivotally secured toin termediate length portions of The assemblies A are simultaneously operated to fan 'associated, vert icaLoperating leg member 43 by move them from a retracted 'positionofFIG. 2 to anexpivot pins42i Each operating leg member 43, asshown panded, outwardlyextended position of FIG. 1. by actuating means which, as shownin FIGS. ZAand 3, m ay 1 'allymbuntedon a pi comprise a reversible orvreciprocatingnfluidor air X a spacersleeve45.

\ a ticularly in FIGS.2and;3;is atits lower end pivotvot postfby a bolt 44 which carries It will thus be apparent that an upward movement of the primary drive member 26 and of the extension or secondary drive member 32 will cause the clevis 35 to move upwardly and close the opposite pairs of arms 40 inwardly to, through the agency of side legs 43, move the pair of assemblies A from their outer positions of FIG. 1 to their innermost or retracted positions of FIG. 2. On the other hand, a downward movement of the

rods

26 and 32 will effect an outwardly positioning movement of the units A (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 shows an assembly or unit A in its sleeveexpanding pressing position, while FIG. shows it in a collapsed or sleeve releasing position, such as may be accomplished when the assemblies or units A are to be withdrawn towards the frame structure 10 or when a shirt is being mounted or removed from the machine.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, each unit or assembly A has a lower, inner, supporting expansion sleeve part 50 and an upper, outer slide expansion sleeve part 60 which are, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, of cylindrical or substantially rectangular, rounded-end cross-section taken endwise, and are of generally elongated elliptical shape having opposed planar wide side faces. The inner part 50 is also the main mounting part and, in this connection, has a backwardly extending, integral, mounting, support arm 51, a reinforcing, mounting, angle bracket 52, and a diagonal, supporting-reinforcing member 53, all of which are secured at their outer ends on an associated operating leg member 43 by nut and bolt assemblies 54. The upper end of the member 53 is secured to an intermediate knee or shoulder portion of the member 52 also by a nut and bolt assembly 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the part 50, like the part 60, defines an elongated, elliptical-like chamber, looking endwise from the back end of the assembly, with the parts in their cooperative telescopic or slidable relationship with respect to each other. The lower or supporting part 50 has a cross-extending, bottompositioned, lower mounting plate member 55 and an associated upper mounting plate member 56 which are removably secured in position at their angle-shaped forward ends or flanges to the side wall of the part 50 to provide a bottom closure therefor by mounting screws 57. The upper floor plate member 56 has holes therethrough to bypass bolts 58 which are threaded through the lower plate member 55 and through threaded bores in a mounting foot portion of the bracket 52. A slide guide pin or rod 66 is, at its lower end, threaded for removable mounting on the under floor plate member 55 by means of nuts 67 to extend upwardly within a guide sleeve 65 that is weld-secured to a cover plate. member 61 for the lower end of the part 60 to extend through it and through an associated upper closure plate member 62. It will be noted that the

members

61 and 62 have angle-shaped end flanges which are removably secured within the upper reaches or mouth of the lower part 50 by mounting screws 63 and 63'. The screws 63' which are located behind the side wall of the lower part 50, are inset in order to slidably bypass the skirt portion of the lower part 50 thereover; the screws 63 are used to secure the flanges of the

members

61 and 62 together at the open back end of the assembly or unit A.

An inward power stroke or collapsing movement of the part 50 with respect to the part 60 is accomplished by a fluid motor or cylinder, such as a pneumatic or fluid motor 70 which, at its upper end 700, has a central slot, recess or groove therein to fit over an inwardly projecting lug 60a. The lug 60a is secured as by weld metal w to the inside of the upper wall of the part 60. The housing of the motor 70 extends downwardly through the cover or

uppermost plate assembly

61 and 62 of the upper part 60. An angular-shaped mounting cup 74 receives the lower or forward end portion of the housing of the motor 70. The mounting cup 74 has a foot flange that is removably mounted on the underside of the cover or

upper assembly

61, 62, by means of threaded bolts 75. The mounting cup 74 at its lower end has an inwardly extending flange portion that carries an internally threaded collar 76 which abutsa forward end of the housing of the'motor 70 and securely maintains it in position within the mounting cup 74 and in tongue and groove locking engagement with the lug 60a. A gland nut 77 is threadably carried by the collar 76 and has a forwardly downwardly extending,

inwardly offset, end portion for mounting an upper end of a spiral tension spring 79 thereon that converges in the front end of the housing chamber of the motor through a nipple fitting 80, a flow setting valve 81, an

elbow 82, and a hose mounting adaptor 83 to positively move the piston 71 upwardly against the tension of the spring 79 when the part 50 is to be telescoped or moved upwardly within the part 60. The spring 79 normally, through the agency of its tension, will move the piston 71 and its rod 72 downwardly to the position of FIG. 6, and will continue to maintain such a positioning as long as a positive pressure flow of air is cut-off and the chamber of the motor 70 is being vented through the fitting 80. A flexible air supply tubing, line or hose 84 may be connected to the mounting adaptor 83 of each unit A and may alternatively through a suitable valve means, be supplied with air under positive pressure flow from a suitable source such as a storage tank of a compresser unit, or be exhausted to the atmosphere. As shown in FIG. 1, a downwardly-outwardly-extending, position-retention bracket 85 is mounted adjacent each end of the cross extending member 14 of the frame structure 10 to encircle each air tubing or line 84 and retain it close to the frame structure along its vertical side reaches.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, each unit A is somewhat flexibly carried by a strap metal support leaf or strap member 88 that extends within the open back end of the unit A and that is secured by weld metal w to the inside of the top wall of the upper part 60 to project at its opposite end portion within the shoulder plate member 15, A two-tiered, open-end, horizontally positioned, slotted guide sleeve, member or mount 89 is securely mounted on a top member of the heat chest assembly 16; one guide slot tier or portion is adapted to slidably-guidably receive the inner end portion of one flexible supporting strap member 88 and the other slot tier is adapted to, in a like manner, receive the inner end portion of the other flexible strap member 88. As

' above-mentioned application.

i result, eachju nit or' assembly A is'icarried on both yassociated legmernber43 and, a'strap member 88;The

lines or hoses 84as well as the operating mechanism andoperatingconnections between piva r d tions of said legs andeach at said units which includes the drive rod 26 and the legmembers i 43 are all adapted to be enclosed within a nylon or permeable fabric garment bag B, such as I claim:

1. In a machine construction for finishingthe s leeves of a short-sleeve sh ir tlike garmenti whe rein the con: struction has an uprightframefor receiving a garmenb f thereon and has means for positioning a garmenton the disclosed frame and for supplying hot drying fluid in ternally of the garment; a pair of garment sleeve finishing "units mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and each of said units having a pairjoftelescoping internalsleeve,

like pressing parts that are slidable into and out ofan expandable and contractable relation with respect to each other transversely crosswise within and about the 2. In a machine construction as definedwin claim 1,

interior of a sleeve of the garment.

j for s pprtins dl a 9i lna machjine construction as definedxiiiclaini 8, mounting portions extending frorn eac h of saidunits and secured to an associated one of said legs; a pair of inwardlyyextending flexible members said flexible V f m enibersbeing secured to an assofciatedlqtle braid 3 units, and said flexible members being guidably slida bly mountedjon the frame and cooperating with said legs 10 lna machine construction as defined in claim 1,

i an upper guide mount carried by the frame and having fopen-end guide slotportions facing towards said units, each of said units having'an upper and a lower-part, straplike members secured to the upper partsof each ofsaid units and mounted in aslidably guided position within said guide slotportions for in and out guided f r novement therealong and an operating mechanism 7 having connectingmember means extending therefrom means positioned fully within the parts ofeach ofsaid; t

' units and connected thereto for movingthemalter nately into a transversely crosswise expanded sleeve pressing position and a contracted sleeve releasing position with respect to eaclifother. i

3. In a machine construction as defined iniclaim 2," said means comprisingfluid motor meansforcoritract-f ing the parts of each unitinwardly with respect to each f other, and spring meansfor urging thepartsof eachof said units towards an outwardly expandedsleeve press ing position withrespect to each other; t i

4. In a machine construction as defined in, claim 1,3 each of saidunits having a substantially continuous hollow construction of elongated oval cross-extendingQ shape within the sleeveyofza garment. 3 1;

5. In a machine construction as defi nedzinclaim 1, an

and secured to the lower partof each of said units for cooperating with said straplike members in carrying said initsxand in movingfthern transversely inwardly and outwardlywith respect to the frame'.

arner. t,

sl2ulneamachine construction as defined in claim 1, g

3 each of said unitshaving an outer hollowmemberp art i,andanzinner hollowinernber part mountedin a tele-y scopic ,sli dable relation with respect to each other for V expandable and"contractablemovement within a sleeve of the garment, a fluid motor having a substantially cyj lindricalhousing mounted within each side unitto exv operating mechanism carried by said frameandcon-i nected to each of said units for moving them' between f a trariversely inwardly withdrawn position andvatrans-5 9 versely outwardly"extendingposition with respect to the frame, and internally positioned meanswithinsaid 9 units for expanding and contracting saidpartstransversely crosswise withinsleeves of thegarme nt,

means mountingeach of said units on the fram e fori, their inward and outward movement" with respect thereto, and said operating mechanism for moving said t units being a lever mechanism operativelyca rried the frame and connectedto each of said, units.

7. in a machine construction as defined'in claim 6 said means for mounting each of said sleevet units being 7 a guide member carried onan'upper endjportioniofthe? frame, and a flexible s trapme mbcr secured tojeacli of tion within said guide member for transverseflinward and outward movementfwith respect theretolf f 8. In a machine construction as defined in claim 5, said operating mechanism for moving each ofsaidunits operatively connectedto saidfluid motor for actuation thereby, means mountingsa id drive rodassemblyto excom prising a fluidlnotor an upright drive rod assemblyi p tend substantiallyfcentrally upwardly along the frarne for up and down movement with respect thereto,a corinecting head secured to an upper end partie of said drive rod assembly; a pairwofside-positionedoperatingQi legs, connecting arms betweensaid head and said legs,

6.In a machine construction as defined in claims,

said units and extending inaslidably supported posi- 1141s a machine construction as defined in claim 1', each of said unitshavinga pair of hollow telescopic parts,fluid motorjandguide means operatively con nected between said parts for moving them in one tele; pmgqnesqfl with respect to'each other, spring I" *"nieans connected between said parts for urglrigthem in an oppositetelescopic directionwith respect" to each tendbfrom a wall ofo n e part of said unit, said motor I having a piston rod connected at its extending end to f a wall of the other part of each said unit for movin'gsaid innerahd outer parts towards an outwardlyexpanded relation with respect to eachother, a spiral spring posi- "'ment with respect to each other. V

; t l 4.,ln arnachine construction as defined inclaim l3, 1 said operating mechanism having a pair of leg members operatively connectedthereto at'their lower end poi- \tionsand operatively connected to an associated one of said units at theirupper end portions, anda pair of members extendingfromthe upper end portions of each of said leg memberslan d connectedto a walliof one partof said pairsfor supporting the unitson said i 15. In amachinejfor finishing a short sleeve shi rtlike garment wherein themachine has an upright frame, a i j Y permeable garment bagextending along the frame and having closed-endsleeve portions, and an upp er shoulder plate member for supportably suspending the garment bag; a pair of oppositely positioned sleeve finishing units, means mounting each of said units for transversely inward and outward movement with respect to the shoulder plate member and within the closed-end sleeve portions of the garment bag, and each of said units having a pair of sleevelike parts movable into and out of an expanded relation with respect to each other transversely within an associated sleeve portion of the bag for finishing the sleeves of a garment positioned on the bag.

16. In a machine as defined in claim 15, an enclosed steam pipe assembly extending upwardly along the frame, a heat chest positioned within the shoulder plate and having open end portions facing transversely towards said units, and a return pipe loop connecting upper end portions of said pipe assembly and positioned in a heat transferring relation with respect to said heat chest.

17. In a machine as defined in claim 15, means carried by each of said units for expanding and contracting them within the associated sleeve portion of the fabric bag, each of said units havinga pair of telescopic parts, and said means for expanding and contracting said units comprising: a fluid motor operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units and adapted to impart a positive inwardly contracting movement thereto, and spring means operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units for urging the parts of each said pair into an outwardly expanded relation with respect to each other.

18. In a machine as defined in claim 17, means for positioning each of said units in a transversely opposed endwise position with respect to each other on the frame and for moving each of said units between a withdrawn position within and an outwardly extending position with respect to said frame and into and out of an operating position with respect to an associated sleeve portion of the garment when said units are in their extending positions with respect to the frame.

19. In a machine construction for finishing the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the construction has an upright frame for receiving a garment thereon and has means for positioning a garment on the frame and for supplying hot drying fluid internally of the garment; a pair of garment sleeve finishing units mounted on opposite sides of the frame, each of said units having internal sleeve pressing parts that are expandable and contractable with respect to each other within and about the interior of a sleeve of the garment, each of said units having a pair of telescopic parts of metal material and of hollow sleevelike construction, one part of each of said pairs being slidable within the other part, means carried by each of said pairs for resiliently urging the parts thereof into an outwardly expanded telescopic relation with respect to each other and into pressing engagement within an associated sleeve of the garment, and means within each of said pairs for positively moving them into an inwardly contracted telescopic relation with respect to each other when each of said units is being positioned within an associated sleeve of the garment and after an associated sleeve of the garment has been finished-pressed thereby.

20. In a machine construction as defined in claim 19, said means for expanding the parts of each pair being a tension spring, and said means for contracting them with respect to each other being a fluid motor.

Claims

1. In a machine construction for finishing the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the construction has an upright frame for receiving a garment thereon and has means for positioning a garment on the frame and for supplying hot drying fluid internally of the garment; a pair of garment sleeve finishing units mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and each of said units having a pair of telescoping internal sleevelike pressing parts that are slidable into and out of an expandable and contractable relation with respect to each other transversely crosswise within and about the interior of a sleeve of the garment.

2. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, means positioned fully within the parts of each of said units and connected thereto for moving them alternately into a transversely crosswise expanded sleeve pressing position and a contracted sleeve releasing position with respect to each other.

3. In a machine construction as defined in claim 2, said means comprising fluid motor means for contracting the parts of each unit inwardly with respect to each other, and spring means for urging the parts of each of said units towards an outwardly expanded sleeve pressing position with respect to each other.

4. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having a substantially continuous hollow construction of elongated oval cross-extending shape within the sleeve of a garment.

5. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, an operating mechanism carried by said frame and connected to each of said units for moving them between a tranversely inwardly withdrawn position and a transversely outwardly extending position with respect to the frame, and internally positioned means within said units for expanding and contracting said parts transversely crosswise within sleeves of the garment.

6. In a machine construction as defined in claim 5, means mounting each of said units on the frame for their inward and outward movement with respect thereto, and said operating mechanism for moving said units being a lever mechanism operatively carried by the frame and connected to each of said units.

7. In A machine construction as defined in claim 6 said means for mounting each of said sleeve units being a guide member carried on an upper end portion of the frame, and a flexible strap member secured to each of said units and extending in a slidably-supported position within said guide member for transverse inward and outward movement with respect thereto.

8. In a machine construction as defined in claim 5, said operating mechanism for moving each of said units comprising a fluid motor, an upright drive rod assembly operatively connected to said fluid motor for actuation thereby, means mounting said drive rod assembly to extend substantially centrally upwardly along the frame for up and down movement with respect thereto, a connecting head secured to an upper end portion of said drive rod assembly, a pair of side-positioned operating legs, connecting arms between said head and said legs, and operating connections between upward end portions of said legs and each of said units.

9. In a machine construction as defined in claim 8, mounting portions extending from each of said units and secured to an associated one of said legs, a pair of inwardly extending flexible members, said flexible members being secured to an associated one of said units, and said flexible members being guidably slidably mounted on the frame and cooperating with said legs for supporting said units.

10. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, an upper guide mount carried by the frame and having open-end guide slot portions facing towards said units, each of said units having an upper and a lower part, straplike members secured to the upper parts of each of said units and mounted in a slidably guided position within said guide slot portions for in and out guided movement therealong, and an operating mechanism having connecting member means extending therefrom and secured to the lower part of each of said units for cooperating with said straplike members in carrying said units and in moving them transversely inwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame.

11. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having a pair of hollow telescopic parts, fluid motor and guide means operatively connected between said parts for moving them in one telescopic direction with respect to each other, and spring means connected between said parts for urging them in an opposite telescopic direction with respect to each other.

12. In a machine construction as defined in claim 1, each of said units having an outer hollow member part and an inner hollow member part mounted in a telescopic slidable relation with respect to each other for expandable and contractable movement within a sleeve of the garment, a fluid motor having a substantially cylindrical housing mounted within each side unit to extend from a wall of one part of said unit, said motor having a piston rod connected at its extending end to a wall of the other part of each said unit for moving said inner and outer parts towards an outwardly expanded relation with respect to each other, a spiral spring positioned about and along said piston rod and extending between the wall of the other part and a forward end of the housing of said motor for urging said inner and outer parts of each of said units towards an outward sleeve-pressing position with respect to each other.

13. In a machine construction as defined in claim 12, a guide sleeve carried by a wall of one of said parts, and a guide rod slidably positioned within said sleeve and carried by a wall of the other said parts for guiding said parts during their inward and outward expansive movement with respect to each other.

14. In a machine construction as defined in claim 13, said operating mechanism having a pair of leg members operatively connected thereto at their lower end portions and operatively connected to an associated one of said units at their upper end portions, and a pair of members extending from the upper end portions of each of said leg members and connected tO a wall of one part of said pairs for supporting the units on said leg members.

15. In a machine for finishing a short sleeve shirtlike garment wherein the machine has an upright frame, a permeable garment bag extending along the frame and having closed-end sleeve portions, and an upper shoulder plate member for supportably suspending the garment bag; a pair of oppositely positioned sleeve finishing units, means mounting each of said units for transversely inward and outward movement with respect to the shoulder plate member and within the closed-end sleeve portions of the garment bag, and each of said units having a pair of sleevelike parts movable into and out of an expanded relation with respect to each other transversely within an associated sleeve portion of the bag for finishing the sleeves of a garment positioned on the bag.

17. In a machine as defined in claim 15, means carried by each of said units for expanding and contracting them within the associated sleeve portion of the fabric bag, each of said units having a pair of telescopic parts, and said means for expanding and contracting said units comprising: a fluid motor operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units and adapted to impart a positive inwardly contracting movement thereto, and spring means operatively positioned between the pairs of parts of said units for urging the parts of each said pair into an outwardly expanded relation with respect to each other.