Method of smoothing cloths to be finished and its device

The present invention relates to the method of obtaining a fine finishing condition of the cloth, for instance, pressing the cloths like collars and sleeves of the washed shirts and its device, wherein the upper smoothing iron is brought down against the cloth on the lower smoothing iron in order to press the cloth and during this step and in its previous step, vapor is sprayed to the cloth, extending it by a extending machine, while heat-pressing the cloth after it has recovered its original form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to an art of finishing cloths like collars or
 sleeves of shirts, which have been washed.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Collars or sleeves of the shirts are so constructed that a thin attaching
 core of the cloth is inserted between two cloths both sides of face and
 reverse and they have been high-pressed. The above attaching core of the
 cloth shrink by 10 to 15% after being washed. Therefore, the surface of
 cloths has many waves of shrinkage, thus making the size small. According
 to the conventional device, the size is small and easy to shrink as the
 cloths are high-heat pressed at once because of the preference for the
 operational efficiency, wherein the cloths are to be made out as they are
 shrunk without getting rid of shrinkage as indicated above.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The main purpose of the present invention is to be able to smooth the
 shrinking core of cloths even when using the machine to smooth it.
 In other words, it is designed to provide a method of smoothing cloths,
 wherein the upper smoothing iron is brought down against the cloth on the
 lower smoothing iron, thus pressing the said cloth, taking a step of
 smoothing the cloth applying thereto the power during the pressing step
 and in also the previous step, giving vapor to the above said cloth in the
 above said step of smoothing or in the previous step.
 It is also designed to provide a device for smoothing cloths, wherein the
 cloths are put between the upper smoothing iron and the lower smoothing
 iron to be pressed, providing a extending system to pull the edge of the
 cloths before the said step of pressing, which system is put in the
 vicinity of the lower smoothing iron to put the above said cloths on,
 while providing a vapor supplying system to spray vapor to the said
 cloths, which system is put in the vicinity of the lower smoothing iron or
 just on it.
 Here, the above mentioned step of pressing means to press strongly with
 much pressure and the pressing step takes a time from the moving upper
 smoothing iron touching strongly the cloth until it is detached from
 there. In other words, while the upper smoothing iron is moving as it
 should be, it is not the time of pressing until the upper smoothing iron
 touches the cloth strongly and it should rather be considered a previous
 step before pressing.
 In other words, according to the above said construction, the cloth on the
 lower smoothing iron is to be extended by effects of the extending process
 or an extending system during the pressing step or the previous step. The
 cloth will be immediately heated and given water so that the cloth will be
 easily extendible after vapor is sprayed to the cloth during the extension
 or in the previous step. Thus, even in the smoothing step by a machine to
 elevate the operational efficiency, the cloth can be pressed as it is
 extended, thus allowing for the good finishing condition like new goods
 without shrinkage or wrinkles.
 The above mentioned cloth includes the collars, the sleeves and the front
 part of the shirts having the attaching core of cloths as specified above
 together with the cloth of other cotton products.
 Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a fine finishing
 condition of the cloths by touching the cloths from above and regulating
 the move of the cloths during the extending process.
 Therefore, when the regulating device is set to regulate the move of the
 cloth during the extending step, a fine condition of the cloth can be
 obtained as it is possible to stop the move the cloth, even in the case
 the cloth is about to turn aside because of the timing difference or hook
 as the extending step finishes.
 So far, when washing, the temperature of water used to have to be regulated
 strictly for fear that the cloth might get shrunk. It is because the cloth
 will shrink very much when the temperature of water is high, even though
 dirtiness can be removed.
 This means that it used to be difficult to contain shrinkage while getting
 rid of the dirtiness. However, with this invention, all it concerns is to
 look at the side of removing the dirtiness rather than shrinkage, so that
 there is no need for the skill of the experts, allowing for rapid and easy
 washing, which is satisfactory.
 Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a fine smoothing of
 the collars or sleeves of the shirts to finish, which is liable to shrink.
 In other words, when there are smoothing irons (an upper iron and a lower
 iron) to pinch the collars of the shirt and smoothing irons (an upper iron
 and a lower iron) to pinch the sleeves of the shirt or when having both of
 them, shrinkage of the collars and sleeves of the shirts can be resolved
 as they have been trying to do so for a long time. When two types of the
 smoothing irons are provided so that the collars and sleeves will be
 smoothed and finished, the operational efficiency will improve.
 Another purpose of the present invention will be clarified according to the
 examples set forth below.

EXAMPLES
 One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be particularly
 described below using the related figures.
 The device 1 (to be called the device in the following sentences,) a
 heat-pressing device, which lowers the upper smoothing iron 4 against the
 lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 and heat-presses the collar 5 and sleeve 6
 (the cloth) of the shirt. According to the FIG. 1, the above mentioned
 lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 are facing the upper smoothing iron 4.
 The device 1 is provided with one lower smoothing iron 2 for collars with a
 mild curve on its upper surface and two lower smoothing irons 3, 3 for
 sleeves with a roughly triangle form seen from front so that the collar 5
 and sleeve 6 can be heat-pressed at the same time, thus forming three
 pressing surfaces 4a and so on, on the upper smoothing iron 4,
 corresponding to the pressing surfaces 2a, 3a of the lower smoothing irons
 2, 3, 3.
 The upper smoothing iron 4 contains the heating device (not shown in the
 figures) as widely known and is provided with the heating plate (not shown
 in the figures), on the pressing surfaces 4a and so on. In addition, the
 upper smoothing iron 4 fixed on the point part of the two rocking arms 8,
 8, right and left, encased on the reverse side of the base 7, thus the
 upper smoothing iron 4 rocking from the inclining position backwards
 indicated with the solid line in the FIG. 2 to the position facing the
 lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, as shown with a virtual line. This rocking
 is done by the air-cylinder 9 for rocking, connected to the below end of
 the rocking arms 8, 8. The above mentioned two rocking arms 8, 8 and the
 upper smoothing iron 4 is fixed by the connecting plate 10 connecting
 between the rocking arms 8, 8 and through the air-cylinder 11 moving up
 and down, which air-cylinder is placed on the said connecting plate 10.
 The above said lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 are supported at a determined
 height by the support 12 above the base 7. Also, they are provided with
 the vapor-supplying device 13 so that heat and water will be given to the
 cloth to put thereon.
 The FIG. 3 shows the inner structure of the lower smoothing iron 2 for the
 collars, while the FIG. 4 shows the inner structure of the lower smoothing
 irons 3, 3 for sleeves. According to those section views, the inner part
 is divided between two layers, the upper and the lower (the space 15 on
 the upper side and the space 16 on the lower side) by the separating wall
 14. On the upper surface, there are many round holes 17 and so on, which
 have small diameter, on which the covering material 18 with airing is
 attached.
 The above mentioned support 12 is a vacant cylinder containing the
 air-supplying tube 19 connected to the air-supplying blower (not shown in
 the figures), provided inside the device 1, wherein the point part is
 fixed onto the separating wall 12a on the upper side inside the support
 12, thus connecting to the space part 15 above the said upper side. In
 front of the spraying side of the above said air-supplying tube 19 there
 is provided a little bit away the diffusing plate 20 for diffusing the air
 inside the upper space part 15. Also, inside the upper space part 15 there
 is installed the vapor tube 21 connected to the vapor generating device
 (not shown in the figures) through the vapor-supplying part (not shown in
 the figures).
 The vapor-supplying tube 22 is connected to the above said vapor-supplying
 part, communicating with the space part 16 of the lower side of the space
 parts including two layers, the upper and the lower, so that the lower
 smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 are heated by vapor to keep the determined
 temperature.
 In the vicinity of the lower smoothing iron, there is provided the
 extending machine 23 for extending the cloth (the collar 5 and the sleeve
 6) put on the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, as they are shown in the FIG.
 5 with a virtual line.
 This extending machine 23 is installed on the both end sides of each of the
 lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, provided with the pinching device 24 for
 pinching the edge of the cloth and the driving device 25 for moving the
 above mentioned pinching device 24 toward the lower direction the cloth is
 extending.
 The pinching device 24 has the receiving piece 26 in the shape of the
 quadrangle plate and the pressing piece 27 attaching and detaching from
 the said receiving piece 26. The receiving piece 26 is fixed on the tip of
 the rocking material 28, which rocks up and down, being encased on the
 side of the above said support 12. The rocking material 28 is so
 constructed as to reach along beneath of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3
 when moving upwards, wherein the receiving piece 26 stays a bit away from
 the upper side of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, fixing the receiving
 piece 26, making an acute angle toward the rocking material 28.
 Below the receiving piece 26 on the tip of the rocking material 28, there
 is formed the supporting piece 29 on which piece 29 there is provided the
 encasing supporting piece 30, thus encasing the pressing rod 31 in a
 rotating way, which rod is extended from the base end of the above said
 pressing piece 27. The pressing rod 31 is to be rotated through the
 pinching air-cylinder connected to the rear end of the pressing rod 31.
 The base part of this pinching air-cylinder 32 is encased in the below
 part of the above mentioned rocking material 28.
 In addition, the above said driving machine 25 rocking the said rocking
 material 28 up and down is to be encased on its tip in the below side of
 the rocking material 28, thus composed of the pulling air-cylinder 33
 which is encased in the below part of the support 12 on its base part.
 This pulling air-cylinder 33 is rocked in such a way that the pinching
 device 24 is to be placed below the down position of the upper smoothing
 iron 4 when the upper smoothing iron 4 is brought down and the above said
 air-cylinder is brought down, thus avoiding contact with the upper
 smoothing iron 4.
 With the device 1 thus constructed, the smoothing of the collar 5 and the
 sleeve 6 of the shirt will be finished as follows.
 First, the pressing piece 27 of the pinching device 24 is kept away from
 the receiving piece 26 and the pinching device 24 is to be placed on the
 upper side of both sides, right and left, of each of the lower smoothing
 irons 2, 3, 3. Furthermore, the cloth is extended over each of the lower
 smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, so that both edges of the cloth are to be pinched
 by the pressing piece 27 of the pinching device 24, being inclined.
 Here, the upper smoothing iron 4 is made facing the lower smoothing irons
 2, 3, 3 in order to drive the vapor supplying device 13. By driving the
 vapor-supplying device 13, vapor is spraying from the lower smoothing
 irons 2, 3, 3, thus touching the cloth.
 The cloth is fixed by the pinching device 24 without having to move
 suddenly and can be kept in such an original condition as it is extended.
 The temperature of vapor may as well be higher than about 150 degrees
 centigrade and the spraying may last from one second to 5 seconds
 approximately. The cloth will be heated while containing vapor and become
 easy to be extended.
 The driving machine 25 is to be driven at the same time as the spraying of
 vapor or a little later than this and by moving the pinching device 24
 away, the cloth will be extended (See the FIG. 6). Concretely, vapor may
 as well be sprayed for five seconds, for instance, thus driving the
 driving machine 25 at the same time as the spraying of the vapor. After
 driving the driving machine 25 for a certain period of time, the pinching
 air-cylinder 32 of the pinching device 24 will be driven in order to
 release the cloth. When the cloth has been released, the pinching device
 24 will retire beneath the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, by the move of
 the driving machine 25.
 The air-cylinder 11 will now be driven up and down in order to lower the
 heated upper smoothing iron 4 so that the cloth will be pressed strongly
 against the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 to finish by pressing (See the
 FIG. 7). After being pressed for a certain period of time, each part will
 be in its original place.
 In this way, the cloth can be extended in the previous step before pressing
 to finish, thus allowing for press-smoothing the cloth with the original
 size, which cloth has been shrunk because of washing. Because of this, the
 collar 5 and sleeve 6 will not get shrunk as they used to be in a
 conventional way, thus allowing for a fine finishing condition. In other
 words, even with the machine smoothing, which is designed to elevate the
 operational efficiency, the cloth can be pressed as it is extended, thus
 providing for a fine finishing condition like new goods without shrinkage
 or wrinkles.
 As the cloth will return to the original size by a extending step with the
 extending machine 23 being used automatically, the operation is easy and
 the extending process can be done evenly on the cloth, thus providing for
 an even finishing condition.
 In addition, vapor can be sprayed against the cloth, elevating
 instantaneously to a high temperature and easily extended with a high
 operational efficiency. Also, as vapor is sprayed, the cloth can easily
 contain water. Therefore, the cloth can be smoothed and finished with high
 efficiency upon the cloth starting to get dry some hours after it has been
 washed.
 The vapor supplying device 13 for supplying vapor is contained in the lower
 smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, so that vapor will be given evenly to the cloth.
 The operation is easy as there is no need for installing any device for
 giving vapor separately, thus allowing for clearing the surroundings of
 the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 and obtaining the safety of the
 operation.
 Furthermore, the rocking device 23 has a structure encasing the base part
 of the rocking material 28 in the support 12 and making good use of the
 space around both below sides of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, with
 allowance of space between the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, the device 1
 becoming compact as a whole, giving good appearances.
 So far, when washing, temperature of water used to have to be strictly
 regulated for fear that the cloth might get shrunk. It is because the
 cloth will shrink very much when the temperature of water is high, even
 though dirtiness can be removed.
 This means that it used to be difficult to contain shrinkage while getting
 rid of the dirtiness. However, as the above said finishing step of
 smoothing the cloth can get rid of shrinkage, all it concerns is to look
 at the side of removing the dirtiness rather than shrinkage, so that there
 is no need for the skill of the experts, allowing for rapid and easy
 washing, which is satisfactory.
 There may be provided a smoothing iron for either one of the collar and the
 sleeves, appropriate for serving for them. When a smoothing iron for other
 cloths than the collars or sleeves of the shirts is provided, it may serve
 as a smoothing iron for other cloths to finish.
 The FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show the device as is shown in other
 examples. This device 1 is provided with the regulating device in order to
 regulate the move of the cloth immediately before the cloth has been
 extended as described above so that a fine smoothing condition of the
 cloth can be obtained. This regulating device is provided in the vicinity
 of the upper smoothing iron 4 and the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, and 3.
 The device 8 as shown in the FIG. 8 is provided with the sheet body 34
 serving as a regulating device so that the pressing surface 4a is closed
 below the upper smoothing iron 4. Other structures including the lower
 smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 are as described above, which lower smoothing
 irons 2, 3, 3 contain the vapor supplying device 13.
 The above mentioned sheet 34 is designed to regulate the unnecessary move
 of the cloth on the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 while pressing the cloth
 during the pressing step, wherein it is formed with a length corresponding
 to that of the longitudinal direction of the upper smoothing iron 4, being
 attached in such a way that it bridges the lower part of the pressing
 surface 4a.
 The above said regulation is done when the sheet body 34 is in a plane
 condition as shown in the FIG. 8, presenting the form of an arch along the
 above mentioned pressing surface 4a after the sheet body 34 having been
 transformed at the time of pressing. For this, on both sides, right and
 left, of the sheet body 34 there is formed a long rut 34a in the
 latitudinal direction, retaining the sheet body 34 in such a way as to
 rock from right to left through the said long rut 34a and the retaining
 protrusion 35 with a head of a large diameter.
 This type of the sheet body 34 is made of a thin metal plate having
 plasticity like stainless, for instance, or the plastic sheet material
 having heat-resistance by coating polyethylene tetrafluoride, for
 instance, wherein the resilient material 36 with a pulling coil spring,
 for instance is attached on both right and left ends in such a direction
 that the sheet body 34 is kept flat.
 When the cloth is smoothed and finished with the device as above
 constructed, the steps must be taken as above specified. This means, while
 pinching the both of end sides of the cloth, the vapor supplying device 13
 is driven to spray the vapor to the cloth from the lower smoothing irons
 2, 3, 3. At the same as this spraying or a little after this, the driving
 machine 25 is driven to move the pinching device 24 away, thus extending
 the cloth. The very moment the cloth is released after the driving machine
 25 has been driven, the upper smoothing iron 4 is lowered, which iron is
 heated by driving the air-cylinder 11 for moving up and down. Then, by
 lowering this upper smoothing iron 4, the sheet body 34 touches the upper
 surface of the cloth as shown in the FIG. 9, which sheet body is attached
 to the below part of the upper smoothing iron 4 against the cloth which
 has been extended and processed. If at this stage the cloth is released
 from the pinching device 24 of the extending machine 23, the regulation by
 pressure of the sheet body 34 prevents the cloth from turning aside on the
 lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, even in the case that the pressing piece 27
 or the receiving piece 26 get stuck in the end of the cloth or even if
 either of the right or left side of the pieces releases inconveniently.
 After the pinching device 24 has released the cloth, it will retire beneath
 the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, by the movement of the driving machine
 25 (pulling air-cylinder 33).
 Consequently, after the upper smoothing iron 4 is lowered, the sheet body
 34 will be transformed, almost touching the cloth, just beside the
 pressing surface 4a of the upper smoothing iron 4, providing for a
 smoothing of the cloth to be finished. After pressing for a certain period
 of time, each part will be back in its original place. When the upper
 smoothing iron 4 is elevated, the sheet body 34 will be flat again,
 wherein the sheet body 34 will be pulled by the operation of the resilient
 material 36, going back to the original form.
 Thus, at the end of extending the cloth by the extending machine 23, the
 sheet body 34 regulates the cloth so that it will not turn aside
 unnecessarily on the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, while pressing the
 cloth, thus providing for a sure smoothing of the cloth without shrinkage
 and like a new one.
 Furthermore, the regulating step is done automatically before pressing,
 going smoothly to the pressing step so that the effect of the operation is
 secure.
 The device 1 in the FIG. 10 shows an example of the form recording metal
 being used for the sheet body 34 to regulate the movements of the cloth.
 Thus, the sheet body 34 is formed as regulating the movements of the
 cloth, sometimes flat, wherein it takes a determined form necessary for
 pressing at the pressing step, thus transforming actively according to the
 temperature with a corresponding form above the lower smoothing irons 2,
 3, 3.
 In other words, three upper smoothing irons 4 and so on, which have the
 sheet body 34, are installed together corresponding to the lower smoothing
 irons 2, 3, 3 and these upper smoothing irons are contained in the
 supporting body 37 with a form of a rectangular parallelepiped with the
 below side open. The supporting body 37 goes up and down by the
 air-cylinder 11, which moves up and down.
 The upper smoothing iron 4 for collars and the upper smoothing irons 4, 4
 for sleeves are composed of the supporting axle 38 to turn the cloth
 across backwards and forwards to a determined position inside the above
 said supporting body 37 and two supporting cases 39, 39, rotating with a
 certain angle toward up and down around the said supporting axle 38 and of
 the above said sheet body 34 fixed on the below part of these supporting
 cases 39, 39. The below surface 39a extending from the below part of the
 above mentioned supporting cases 39, 39 to the upper supporting axle is
 formed above the surface of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 in the shape
 of a corresponding curve, supporting the sheet body 34 as the sheet body
 34 is transformed. On the positions corresponding to each of the upper
 smoothing irons 4 and so on, being found on the upper space of the
 supporting body 37, there is formed the vapor spraying outlets 40 and so
 on, for heating the sheet body 34 as shown in the FIG. 11. The sheet body
 34 transforms with a high temperature necessary for a pressing step, and
 is made out in such a way that it recovers the original form when getting
 cooled without being exposed to vapor.
 The lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 other than the above mentioned smoothing
 iron 4 and the extending machine 23 and others are the same as in the
 first examples and their particular explanation will be omitted.
 The device 1 thus constructed, drives the extending machine 23 while
 spraying vapor from the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, after the cloth is
 put on the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 to be ready for operation by the
 extending machine 23. At the same time or a certain time later, the
 supporting body 37 will be lowered.
 By the lowering of this supporting body 37, the sheet body 34 of each of
 the upper smoothing irons 4 and so on, touch the top surface of the cloth
 becoming extended, which cloth is pressed. Thus, even when the cloth is
 fully extended by driving the extending machine 23, which machine 23 turns
 aside from the cloth, the sheet body 34 regulates unnecessary movements of
 the cloth by touching directly the cloth. Then, vapor is sprayed to the
 upper smoothing irons 4 and so on, from the vapor spraying outlets 40 and
 so on in order to transform the sheet body 34 of the upper smoothing iron
 4, thus pressing the cloth (See the FIG. 11.) by lowering furthermore the
 supporting body 37 (the upper smoothing iron 4). After a certain period of
 time of spraying vapor and pressing the cloth, each part will be back in
 its original place.
 The FIG. 12 shows the regulating device provided in the vicinity of the
 lower smoothing irons 2, 2, 3, of the device 1. Besides providing this
 regulating device, the whole structure is the same as in the primary
 examples.
 The sheet body 34 as the said regulating device is provided in such a way
 as to rotate and cover the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, from the back
 side of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3. Concretely, the sheet body 34
 is formed of a thin metal plate having plasticity, for example and made
 with a form and size of an arch, roughly corresponding to the upper
 surface of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, supported by the supporting
 rod 41 on both below ends of its back side as shown in the FIG. 12. The
 supporting rod 41 with both rear ends, right and left, connected, encases
 and supports the connecting rod 42 on a determined place on the back side
 of the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3. Furthermore, below the nearby space
 from the lower smoothing irons, 2, 3, 3 of the above mentioned connecting
 rod 42 of the supporting rod 41, there is provided the encasing support
 43, thus connecting the link 44. On the end of the link 44 and the above
 said encasing support 43, there is formed the long hole 44a, the other end
 of the link 44 connecting to the air-cylinder 45.
 In other words, when the air-cylinder 45 is driven to elevate the link 44,
 the encasing support 43 will be situated below the long hole 44a of the
 link 44, raising the sheet body 34 vertically. Furthermore, when the link
 44 is lowered, the link 44 drags the encasing support 43 to bring down the
 sheet body 34, thus covering the upper surface of the lower smoothing iron
 2, 3, 3 as shown with a virtual line. Then, the axle of the above said
 encasing support 43 is installed in such a way as to be located roughly in
 the middle of the long hold 44a of the link 44, wherein the sheet body 34
 will move downwards when the sheet body 34 is pressed against the lower
 smoothing irons 2, 3, 3 by the lowering of the upper smoothing iron 4.
 According to the device 1 thus constructed, the sheet body 34 will be kept
 upright as shown with a solid line in the FIG. 12 and with this position
 the cloth will be put on the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, thus setting
 the cloth for the extending machine 23. Afterwards, the sheet body 34 will
 be brought down as shown in the FIG. 16 in order to cover the upper
 surface of the cloth or the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3. After this,
 vapor will be sprayed from the lower smoothing irons 2, 3, 3, thus driving
 the extending machine 23. Vapor sprayed from the lower smoothing irons 2,
 3, 3, will heat the cloth enough while keeping it moist, without escaping
 upwards because of the presence of the sheet body 34, thus steaming the
 cloth. When the cloth is fully extended by the spraying of vapor and the
 driving of the extending machine 23 for a certain period of time, the
 upper smoothing iron 4, which is heated, will be lowered. When the
 extending machine 23 is removed from the cloth, the sheet body 34 prevents
 the cloth from turning aside by softly covering it with its own weight so
 that the cloth will be pressed by the lowering of the upper smoothing iron
 4 while staying unmoved. After pressing for a certain period of time, each
 part will be back in its original place.