Patent GB-993866-A (GB)
Title: Garment finishing machine having pleat clamp
IPC: D06F73/00
Filed: 1962-05-15
Abstract: 993,866. Ironing machines. WICHITA PRECISION TOOL CO. Inc. May 15,1962 [May 15, 1961; Feb. 8,1962], No. 18572/63. Heading D1A. In a finisher for waisted garments 236 (e.g. trousers), an upright support 14 has a lateral extension 16 from which the garment 236 is suspended by means of expansible structure 15, 160 which holds the waist taut, there being an opening in extension 16 and a steam discharge manifold 94 for directing air and steam respectively into the garment 236. Unit 15 of the expansible structure 15, 160 is fixed and consists of a vapour-permeable sock 107 surrounding manifold 94 and spaced from it by a coil spring 110, a semicylindrical backing member 102 fixed to extension 16 and consisting of a perforated plate with a vapour-permeable cloth covering 116, and a vapour-permeable bag 118 with draw-string 122. Unit 160 of expansible member 15, 160 consists of several flexible plates which can be moved towards unit 15, against the pins of a spring 178, by pressing a foot lever 162. A heating pipe 124a. . . h carrying steam serves to heat (a) unit 15 and extension 16 to discourage condensation of steam, and (b) air supplied by a blower 26. The last is done by means of two sets of finned steam tubes 38, 48. Air from blower 26 passes over tubes 38, through a flow control device 40, 42 (if open), is then passed over tubes 48 for further heating or by-passes them depending on the position of baffles 52, 54, and then passes along exterior 16 and down into unit 15. A support 232, 234 is provided to support the bottom of the garment 236 folded over so that vapours are forced through the material of the garment. A manually-operated switch enables the operator to choose one of two cycles controlled by adjustable timers, viz. (a) steam, followed by air heated by tubes 38 and 48, or (b) steam together with air heated by tubes 38 only, followed by air heated by tubes 38 and 48. A footoperated starting switch 278 is provided. Air can be supplied even when not automatically provided for, by means of another manually-operated switch. Air from blower 26 is used to cool the motor. An auxiliary steam supply line, other than that supplying manifold 94, is provided, ending in a handoperated valve 240 to which a hand-operated steam gun may be connected. Pleat clamps. Pleat clamps 190 (Figs. 1, 6) are movably mounted on a semi-circular strip 106 mounted around the top of unit 15. Each clamp 190 has two rollers 196, 200 for gripping strap 106 and includes a clamp plate 226 spring-biased away from the garment 236 but movable into contact with the garment by manual means 218. Figs. 9-16 (not shown) show modified clamps in which the clamp plate 226 is replaced by a foraminous mesh of very fine metal or plastic wire stretched across the front of either (a) a part-cylindrical slightly flexible plate, the concave surface of which is covered with a condensation-absorbing material, e.g. crok, and faces the garment 236 against which the mesh is pressed, (b) a flat perforated plate, or (c) a frame of rods coated with a flocculent, condensation-absorbing material.