US2052354A - Method of and apparatus for starching garments - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Shet 1 H. KOPLIN Filed Sep't. 4, 1934 METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR STARCHING GARMENTS Aug. 2,5, 1936.

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(Ittornegs H. KOPLIN METHOD OF 'AND APPARATUS FOR STARCHING GARMENTS Filed sept. 4 2 sheets-sheet 2 Suventor l Gttomegs Patented Aug. 25, 1936' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STARCHING GARNIENTS Harry Koplin, Chicago, Ell., assignorQby mesne assignments, toReconstruction Finance Corporation, a corporation of the United States Application september 4, 193i, serial No. 742,668

17 Claims.

This invention pertains to an improved method of and apparatus for applying starch to garments, and more particularly to definite portions thereof, with a View of securing uniform and complete `impregnation of such portions, and likewise to prevent, to a greater or less extent, the application of starch to those portions of the garment which are adjacent the definite portions which are starched.

The method now commonly in vogue in laundries where say a shirt is to be starched, may be said to be as follows: y

After the washing operation has been completed, the last rinse is commonly impregnated `with starch or sizing, and as a consequence the entire shirt is thus starched or sized. If the customer desires a special starched collar and/or cuif, the method employed, insofar as I am aware, isV to dip these portions or sections into bowls containing a starch solution, where they become charged with starch, after which the shirt is wrung out by hand and placed in an extractor where all surplus moisture is removed. This last step, incidentally, produces starch spots throughout the body of the shirt and does not, moreover, bring about a uniform saturation or impregnation of the starch in those sections which have been hand-dipped. The weight of moisture and starch in a garment thus treated is equal to approximately one and one-half (l1/2) times its dryv weight. By the method of my invention, as hereafter set forth, the weight of the starch and moisture should and will not be over 75% of the `dry weight of the fabric, thereby materially reducing the time necessary to iron such starched elements or parts. What is more, my method ensures a uniform and complete impregnation of the elementscuffs collar, etc., without causing or permitting the starch to pass into the immediately adjacent portions of thegarment. Y 1

Stated somewhat broadly, the invention contemplates spraying a starch solution onto an outstretched, unwrinkled garment element, maintaining the impingement of the spray thereon for aV fixed interval of time, preferably effected by the speed of movement of the outstretched, unwrinkled element through the spray and finally (though not necessarily) subjecting the element to a compressive action, preferably a rolling one, whereby thestarch is caused to flow and permeate the element evenly throughout. The outstretching of the garment element necessarily does away with any `wrinltling and opens up the same, putting'threads running in the direction in which the feed takes place under more or less tension, while (ci. iss-2s) separating or temporarily .spacing the transverselyextending threads. ,Y

Means is provided whereby the spray is localized upon the element which is being sprayed, so

that adjacent portions of the garment are unaf- 5 fected, or in other words, remain unstarched. The invention as above noted is designed to starch denite portions of argarment, which in usual practice are the marginal portions, as the collar band, the cuffs and the button-hole strip, when V a shirt is the article considered.

, The annexed drawings disclose a machine by which the method above outlined may be practiced though, as will be readily appreciated,

equivalent mechanism will suggest itself to those15..=

skilled in the art.

` In the drawingszv `Figure l is a side elevation of a machine which has been employed to carry out my invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective view of the work supporting gridand .theV underlying open bottom supporting member;

Fig. 3, a transverse vertical sectional view of the machinetaken on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. ,4, a Vertical sectional View of the spray 25,

directing and confining chamber; and

l Figs. 5 and 6, transverse sectional views illustrative of different forms of bars or rods which may be employed in the formation of the work supporting grid.

Referring to the drawings, the mainframe of the machine may be said to comprise two vertically disposed frame members l and 2, each provided .with an upstanding column-like member denoted by,3 and 4, respectively, whichterminate at their upper` ends in overhanging and forwardly extending arms 5 and 6, respectively. The under faces of the arms lie in a common plane and have secured thereto longitudinally disposed frame members 1 and, which members also serve as a carrier for certain elements, hereafter referred to.

Mountedcupon and secured to the upper portion of the base elements of the frame members Land 2, are two longitudinally disposed frame members 9 and Iilwhich form the support for certain of the operating and other elements of the machine. As will be best seen upon reference to Fig. 3, said members!) and l) are substantially of inverted T-shape form, and to the outer portion of the member 9 there is secured av trough-shaped member HY supported in part by brackets I2. Said trough-shaped member is preferably formed of non-corrodlble metal and at its inner portion iti extends :upwardly in, line ,with .the ,upwardly extending element of the member 9 and is turned inwardly, forming a flange as at I3 (Fig. 3) which overlies a part of the upper face of the vertically disposed element of the member 9.

The machine is so designed as to provide a grid or screen surface over which the portion of the garment which is to be starched is passed, and cooperating therewith is a spray chamber which directs the fluid starch in sprayed form upon the section of the garment which is undergoing treatment.

In Fig. 2, the grid surface is illustrated. It may be said to comprise a series of rods or bars I4 spaced from each other and secured as by spotwelding or otherwise to the oppositely disposed outwardly projecting flanges I5, I 5a formed upon the upper portion of a rectangular shaped member I6. This member, as are the rods, will preferably be formed from non-corrodible metal, and in addition to the flanges heretofore referred to, is provided with side flanges I1, I1a, which lie in the same plane With the flanges I5, I5,

'I'he bars may be round in cross-section, or of the cross-section shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. In the former, it will be noted that they taper toward the upper end; while in the latter, the reverse form is shown. Preferably the bars will present a smooth or planished surface, in order to facilitate the movement of the garment element being starched thereover.

The box-like member I6 is seated upon the upper end of the members 9 and IIJ (see Fig. 3), being open at the bottom and standing above a removable receptacle I 8 supported by the inwardly projecting flanges of the oppositely disposed members 9 and I0. v

Located above the grid and spaced slightly therefrom is a spray-directing chamber, designated generally by I9 and produced from noncorrodible metal. As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1, and 3 and 4, said chamber tapers or flares in both directions toward its lower end, said lower end being upturned inwardly, forming a groove or channel 20 extending around such lower end and leading to a cut-out portion or drainage opening 2| (see Fig. 4). Y

The chamber I9 is open at its lower end and the opening formed by the upturned lower edge thereof will be of such dimension as not to extend fully in either direction, laterally or transversely of the grid surface.

The upper end of the body I9 is secured to a plate 22 which rests upon the inwardly projecting flanges of the frame elements 1 and 8 (see Fig. 3) by which it is supported. A spray nozzle of any approved form and indicated generally by 23 extends through the plate 22 and terminates in the upper portion of the spray-directing member I9 centrally with reference to the oppositely disposed sides of said chamber, which, as above stated, is preferably oblong in cross-section with the major axis extending transversely of the grid composed of the bars I4.

It will, of course, be understood that the starch solution will be supplied to the nozzle element 23 under a given head or pressure and will, likewise, have a definite or fixed consistency so that the elements of the garment or garments being starched will be evenly treated and impregnated. Inasmuch as the starch supplying and projecting means, as well as the mechanism or means for maintaining the starch in its proper consistency form no part of the present machine, they are not illustrated.

At the forward end of the frame of the machine and secured to a fixed portion thereof is a guide and guard plate 24 which extends across from the member 9 to the member I0, said plate facilitating proper placement of the garment with reference to the infeeding devices about to be described.

Overlying the members 9 and I0 and extending from the intake end of the machine toward the grid is a plate 25 which likewise bridges the space between the members 9 and I0. Said latter plate, 25, forms the support for the upper run of an endless belt 26. Located above said belt is a second belt 21, the lower run whereof is held in close juxtaposition with reference to the belt 26 and moves in the same direction with the upper run thereof. This forms the intake or initial feeding mechanism for the garment element which is to be starched, and positions and moves such element onto and over the grid or equivalent open support.

Belt 25 passes around an idler roller 28 and about a driven roller 29 secured upon a shaft 30. Belt 21 at the intake end of the machine passes about an idler roller 3l and adjacent the grid about a roller 32 secured to a driven shaft 33. The ends of the shaft 33 are supported in bearings 3'4 and 35, respectively, carried by the lower end of spring-pressed plungers- 36 and 31, respectively. These plungers are mounted in vertically disposed bearing recesses formed in the members 1 and 8, respectively, and the compression springs are held in position by threaded elements 38, 38, respectively. By this means, the belts 26 and 21 are held close together adjacent the forward end of the grid and any suitable belt-tightening connection may be used in conjunction therewith, as for instance rollers 39 and 4l), carried upon arms 4I, 62, secured to shafts 43, 44. Pins or arms 15, 45 are likewise secured to said shafts,l and a spring 1 interconnecting the outer ends of said arms, tends to rock the shafts and force the rollers 39, 45 toward each other and against the outer runs of the belts.

Mounted in the frame members 9 and I0 at the discharge end of the machine is a shaft 59, said shaft having secured thereto a relatively large pulley 5I about which passes a belt 52, the belt likewise passing about a pulley secured to the shaft of a variable speed electric motor 53. Any suitable means may, however, be employed for imparting motion to the shaft 5i).

Secured to the shaft 58 is a sprocket wheel 54 about which passes a sprocket chain 55, the chain likewise passing about a sprocket 56 secured to shaft 39. Shaft 39 also carries a gear 51 which meshes with a similar gear 58 secured to shaft 33. As a consequence, the rollers 29 and 32 rotate in unison and impart equal speed of travel to the belts 26 and 21, feeding any article which may be placed between them forwardly without wrinkling or displacement onto the grid bars I4.

Secured upon shaft 5i) is a roller 59 which cooperates with a roller 59 secured to a shaft 6I carried by spring-pressed plungers similar to the plungers 36, 31 which are mounted in suitable housings or bearings in the frame elements 1 and 8, respectively. Shaft 6I also carries a gear 62 which meshes with a gearY 63 secured to the shaft 59, so that equal peripheral speed is imparted to the rollers 59 and 60, which rollers bite the edge of the advancing goods and tend to draw the same forwardly over the grid surface.

It will be appreciated, of course, that any driving means may be employed and in fact in the broader aspect of f the invention, the initial .feed. ing belts 26, 2lV may bei omitted and `the Agoods placed over and upon the grid :by hand, the drawing of theelement to'be starchedover such grid beingeffected by the final combinedfeed and compression rollers 59 and (i9. As above indicated, the degree of impregnation is dependent upon several factors, to wit, the consistency of the starch, the force with which it is sprayed upon the article being starched, the speed .of travel of the goods over the grid and beneath the `spray chamber, and also upon the tension exerted 'between the compression rollers 59, 60. If said rollers are so set as to exert considerable pressure upon the article, there will be a tendency for the rollers to squeeze out the starch solution. In any event, said rollers tend to cause the starch to permeate the goods evenly throughout, this owing to their pressure action.

If one portion happens to be carrying too much starch and another portion too little, the overcharged portion will be depleted of its charge and the other, uncharged portion will in all likelihood be properly charged as the surplus will tend to well up between the downgoing surface of the roller Gil and the forwardly traveling garment element charged with starch.

As above noted, the opening or mouth of the member I9 is such as to preclude the starch spray from passing beyond the edge thereof, or in other Words, beyond the edge or margin of the supporting grid upon and over which the garment element is being drawn. Thus, the starch does not pass outwardly into the adjacent portion of the garment, except perhaps to a very slight extent by conduction.

Any excess starch will be caught by the trough 20, flowing around the same and outwardly of the opening 2| and down into the receptacle I8 which may be emptied from time to time, either automatically or by removal and manual emptying.

The trough Il is designed to receive the bulk of the garment, while the particular element, cuff, collar or lapel, is being placed within the machine and treated. It sustains the major weight of the wet garment and allows the operator to give his undivided attention to the placement of the particular sector or section of the garment which is to be starched.

It is manifest that insofar as the broad invention, particularly as it may be expressed in method, is concerned, it is not to be limited to the present showing.

What is claimed is:

1. That method of applying starch to a definite portion only of a vgarment while leaving the remainder unstarched, which consists in holding such portion in an unwrinkled, outstretched condition, passing it while in such condition through the path of a spray of fluent starch, and thereafter subjecting such starched portion to compressive action whereby uniform or homogeneous and complete impregnation of the definite portion by the starch is effected.

2. In an apparatus. of the character described, the combination of an open-Work support; means for traversing material to be starched there'over; and means for projecting a spray of starch upon the exposed surface of the material.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an open-work support for the article to be starched; means for traversing said article thereover; means for projecting a spray of starch upon the exposed surface of the article;

and means for thereafter subjecting the body so starched to a compressive action.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an open-work support; means for traversing material to be starched thereover; means for projecting starch onto the material; and means for confining the effective area of the spray within predetermined limits.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein means is provided for subjecting the starched material to a compressive action to secure thorough impregnation of the material by the starch.

Y6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an open-work support; means for traversing a definite portion of a garment to be starched thereover; means for projecting starch onto said portion; and means cooperative with the starch projecting means acting to prevent application of starch upon the garment cutward of such portion.

'7. A structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein means is provided for subjecting such garment element to a compressive action after starch has been applied thereto.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an open-work support for the article to be starched; means for traversing said article thereover; a spray chamber located above said support, the lower end whereof opens directly above said support; and means for projecting a spray of starch into said chamber and directly therethrough onto the article on the support.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the chamber is provided with means for conning the spray as it passes therefrom within given limits laterally with reference to the chamber.

l0. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the chamber at its lower end is provided with a gutter to receive any excess starch, said gutter being provided with a drainage opening.

1l. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the lower end of the chamber is upturned inwardly, forming a restricted opening for the lower end of the chamber through which the starch spray may pass and likewise forming a gutter to receive excess starch, said gutter having a drainage opening formed therein.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a grid-like support for the article to be starched; means for traversing malterial to be starched thereover; a spray chamber located above said grid; means for projecting starch into and through said chamber onto the article on the support; and a receptacle for receiving starch which may pass through the article and grid.

i3. A structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein the grid-like support is formed of a series of bars secured to the open upper end of an openended chute; and the receptacle is placed below said chute.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an open-work support; means for traversing material to be starched thereover; means for projecting starch onto the material within predetermined confined limits thereon; and a pair of rollers for thereafter subjecting the starched material to compressive action, at least one of said rollers being urged toward the other through spring action.

l5. In an apparatus of the character described,` the combination of a supporting frame; a pair of feeding belts arranged in superposed relation with reference to each other in said frame; means for driving said belts to effect movementJ of the adjacent runs of the belts in the same direction; a support for the article to be starched, said support being located adjacent the point or plane of the discharge of the belts andvin line therewith; and means for projecting starch upon the article as it passes onto said support from the belts.

16. A structure as set forth in claim l5, Wherein a pair of positively driven rollers are located to that side of the support opposite that upon which the article is introduced by the feeding belts,

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