Patent GB-619314-A (GB)
Title: Garment levelling machine
IPC: A41H9/00
Filed: 1946-12-02
Abstract: 619,314. Cutting garments. HARRIS, M., and SOLE, E. E. Dec. 2, 1946, No. 35661. [Class 31 (i)] A garment levelling machine for trimming the bottom edge of the garment dur i n g manufacture ccmprises a frame having means for suspending the garment by its upper end so that its bottom edge lies against a backing plate, means for pressing the bottom of the garment on to the backing plate, and severing means movable across the frame to sever the lower edge of the garment. The means for suspending the garment preferably consists of a hanger which is adjustable vertically, e.g. by cable and pulleys, whereby different length garments may be dealt with; the hanger may be provided with a quick-release coupling. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a rectangular frame 2, 3, 4, 5 standing on feet 7, the hanger 26 for the garment being attached to a carriage 28 slidably mounted on two guide rods 30. Attached to the carriage 28 is a cable 31 which passes over pulleys 33, 34, round a drum 37 having a handle 41, and over pulleys 39, 40; rotation of the handle 41 raises or lowers the carriage 28 and hence the garment hanger, and its position is indicated by a pointer 43 attached to the cable and moving over a calibrated scale 45. An index 49 may be set at any position .on the scale by means of knob 54 to indicate the position to which the pointer should be brought to trim the garment to a particular length. The bottom of the garment hangs over an inclined plate 10 and a backing plate 9 having a transverse slot 19 therein. Projecting in to the slot 19 is the edge of a circular knife 20 mounted on the spindle of the electric motor 21, the motor being slidably mounted on the rail 22 so that it can be drawn across the frame by handle 21a, which may incorporate a switch 24. The garment is pressed against the backing plate 9 during cutting by a pressure bar 12 faced with sponge rubber or the like, the pressure bar in turn being pressed by a roller 14 which has projecting spigots carried in L-shaped slots 17 in fixed brackets 11, so that the roller may be slid into contact with the pressure bar by means of handles 15, the spigots then drop into the short vertical leg of the L slots whereupon the handles 15 are depressed and, since the spigots 16 are eccentric to the roller, so causing the roller to exert a cam action against the pressure bar 12. To facilitate placing and removal of the garment a pair of fixed U-shaped arms 59 embrace the shoulders of the garment, and the hanger is pressed against such arms by a spring 64, Fig. 7, disposed between the supporting bracket 27 and the collar 65 on the slidable rod 62 to which the hanger 26 is attached. The hanger may be pulled downwardly clear of the arms 59 and is held in its lowered position by a transverse spring-loaded plunger 69. (see also Fig. 8), which engages a slot 73 in the rod 62; pressure on the knobs 71 to restore the plunger to the position shown in Fig. 8 releases the rod 62 and enables the spring 64 to restore the rod 62 and hanger 26 to its raised position. The hanger 26 may be provided with a quick-release coupling as shown in Fig. 9. The hanger supporting rod 62 terminates in a sleeve 74 having an axial slot 78 and carrying a split ring 77 which has an inclined end face 80, a handle 89 and a tension spring 84 which urges the ring to the position shown. The hanger is provided with a spigot 87 having a lateral projection 88, the spigot being pushed into the sleeve 74 until the projection 88 thereon bears on the inclined face 80 to rotate the ring 77 and then clears the ring which then returns to the position shown.