US2884168A - Fabric pressing and shaping machine - Google Patents

Description

A ril 28, 1959 s. PORTERA- 2,884,168

I FABRIC PRESSING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sh eet 1 o is 0 I. r L -10 E 35 g INVENTOR. STEPHEN PORTER/1 ATTORNEY April 28, 1959 s. PORTERA 2,884,168

I -FABRIC PRESSING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E1 30 ZNVENTOR.

5 TEPHE/V PORTERA ATTORNEY United States PatenfO FABRIC PRESSING AND SHAPING MACHINE Stephen Portera, San Francisco, Calif.

Application December 5, 1957, Serial No. 700,843

3 Claims. (Cl. 223-38) This invention relates to improvements in fabric pressing and shaping machines.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in pressing and shaping pockets of the kind which are to be sewn on coats or other garments. The pressing machine embodies a fiat, steam-heated pressure member for supporting a cloth pocket or other fabric article and an electrically heated pressure plate arranged to overlie and apply a downward pressure upon the fabric article. The machine is also provided with inwardly slidable shaping elements which are automatically actuated to shape the fabric article by urging the edge portions thereof inwardly over the outer edges of the pressure plate simultaneously with the movement of the pressure plate into pressure applying relationship with the pressure member. The machine also embodies a steam chamber attached to and movable with the pressure plate for discharging jets of live steam upon the edge portions of the fabric article as the latter is being shaped and pressed. The provision of a steam heated pressure member or plate for supporting the fabric pocket which is to be pressed and shaped eliminates the possibility of its being scorched.

An object of my invention is to provide a combined pressing and shaping machine which is adapted to shape a fabric article automatically by turning its edge portions inwardly at the same time a pressure applying plate is actuated into pressing engagement with a steam heated pressure member upon which the fabric article is positioned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel pressing machine of the kind characterized, such machine embodying means for discharging jets of steam upon the edge portions of the fabric article as it is being pressed and shaped.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claims, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to show herein certain embodiments of a pressing machine which is representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiments of my invention shown and described herein are for illustration purposes only and that therefore they are not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fabric pressing and shaping machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, showing the top of the enclosure broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken through the machine, showing parts of the steam cham' ber broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine along the lines 4--4 of Fig. 1, showing the pressure members in pressure applying relationship with respect to a fabric article; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable supporting structure is shown as comprising a plurality of legs 1, side members 2, and a top panel 3. The top panel is formed with a rectangular opening 3a beneath which is supported a box-like steam compartment or chamber 4 supplied with live steam from a suitable source by a conduit 5. An outlet conduit 6 for the steam is connected to the lower side of the compartment 4, thereby effecting the circulation of hot steam through the compartment to maintain the upper side 4a thereof suitably heated. The upper side or top 4a is substantially flat, thereby providing a substantially horizontal pressure plate and support for the cloth pocket A or other fabric piece which is to be pressed and shaped.

Underlying the top panel 3 is a flanged horizontal support 7 upon which two (2) crease forming plates 8 adjustably rest. The crease forming plates are arranged to provide a substantially U-shaped structure, the inner edges of which extend inwardly with respect to the sides or edges of the opening in the top panel 3. The crease forming plates 8 are slidably supported on the flanged support 7, and they are normally held in a retracted or outwardly adjusted position by a plurality of springs 9. The crease forming plates 8 are simultaneously moved inwardly by means of an adjustable member 10 which is formed with inner diverging forward edges engaging with the converging rear edges of the crease forming plates 8. The adjustable member 10 is adapted to be shifted forwardly by a pivoted lever 11 which is pivotally attached as at 12 to an elongated adjustable bar 13 overlying the top panel 3 and the opening in the latter. When the bar is in a downwardly adjusted, substantially horizontal position, the lever 11 is adapted to be moved pivotally to bring its lower end into pressure engagement with the rear end of the adjustable member 10, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby causing the said member 10 to shift forwardly to actuate the crease forming plates 8 forwardly and inwardly against the tension of the springs 9. The inner edges of the creaseforming plates will thereupon be moved to positions extending inwardly above the lateral and rear edges of the top 4a of the steam compartment. A tension spring 14 extending between and connected to the upper end portion of the lever 11 and the bar 13 is adapted to swing the lever about its pivot 12 to a position in which its lower end no longer engages with the adjustable member 10. The springs 9 automatically return the crease forming plates 8 rearwardly and outwardly when the lever 11 no longer exerts a forward pressure on the member 10. 1 Y

Secured to and carried by the bar 13 is a metal steam chest or box 15 having its interior supplied with live steam by a conduit 16 connected to a suitable source of supply. Outlet openings 17 arranged in spaced relation along the lateral and rear sides of the steam box adjacent the lower side thereof are formed to direct-live steam downwardly and outwardly. Metal plates 18 overlying and contacting the upper side of the steam box 15 are connected by electrical conductors 19 to a source of electricity. A rectangular pressure plate 20 mounted on and underlying the steam box 15 is electrically connected to the source of electricity through the box 15, the metal plates 18 and the conductors 19. The electrical current heats the steam box 15 as well as the pressure plate 20, and an asbestos insulating pad 21 overlying the upper side of the .steam box provides some measure of protection against possible burns from contact therewith. The forward end portion of the bar 13 is pivotally supported as at 22 on an upright member 23secured to the supporting structure. A tension spring 24 extendingbetween and 3 connected to the forward end of the bar 13 and a leg. 1 urges the rear end of the bar upwardly.

The size of the pressure plate is such that it is adapted to move freely into and out of the opening 3a inthe top side- 3- of the supporting structure. The pressure plate 20 corresponds substantially in shape to the opening 3a although it is slightly smaller than the latter. The plate 20 is arranged in combination with the top 4a of the steam compartment to provide means for pressing a pocket or other fabric piece A when the latter is extended over the top 4a, this relationship being effected when the rear end of the bar 13 is swung downwardly by manually pulling the upper handle end of the lever 11 downwardly.

The steam chest 4 may be stationary or it may be adjusted upwardly to a slight extent when the pressure plate 20, is moved downwardly into pressure applying relationship therewith. As illustrated, the steam chest is preferably supported on the upper ends of a plurality of adjustable screws which extend through threaded openings in a pair of transverse bars 26 and 26a which are adjustably suspended from the horizontal support 7 by means of vertical screws or threaded rods 27 and adjustable nuts 28. A lever 29 extending beneath the steam chest 4 and having an upturned forward end member 30 is adapted to be actuated by means of a depending rod 31 connected to a foot pedal (not shown) so such end member engages centrally with the bottom of the steam chamber and urges the latter upwardly a slight distance. The lever 29 is secured by a screw 2% to the transverse bar 26a, which in turn is loosely and pivotally mounted on a pair of depending screws 27. A spring 32 returns the rear end to its normal upward inactive position, thereby carrying the end member 30 to a disengaging position with respect to the steam chamber.

Suitable control means indicated generally at 34 is adapted to be manually operated to inject a charge of steam into the steam box 15 when it is desired to discharge such steam in the form of a plurality of jets through the openings 17 in the sides of thebox and onto the upturned edge portions of the fabric piece A.

It is to be noted that the pressure plate 20 is so attached to the steam box 15 that its edge portions are spaced from the bottom side of such box. When the pressure plate is in its downwardly adjusted position, it is positioned below a plane extending horizontally through the crease forming plates 8, thereby making it possible to project the plates inwardly so their inner edges extend above the outer edges of the pressure plate as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A tension spring 35 connected to and extending between the rear end of the adjustable member 10 and the lever 29 pulls the said adjustable member rearwardly when it is no longer urged forwardly by the lever 11.

The steam box 15 is so mounted on the bar 13 that it isself-a'djusting, thereby insuring a uniform contact of the pressure plate 20 with the fabric piece A extending over the top 4a of the steam chest 4.

In practice, the fabric piece A, which may be intended for a coat pocket and is larger than opening 3a, is extended over the upper side of plate 4a of the steam chamher 4. The pressure plate 20 is moved downwardly into pressing relationship with respect to the plate 4a, thereby firmly pressing the fabric piece A between them. The edge portions of the fabric piece are turned up as such edge portions engage with the sides of the opening 311 when the pressure plate moves downwardly upon the fabric piece. At the same time, the steam chamber 4. is urged upwardly by pressing the foot pedal (not shown) associated with the lever 29. As the fabric piece is pressed betweenthe plates, 20.. and 4a, the handle of the lever 1 1 is pulled rearwardly to actuate the adjustable member 10 forwardly, thereby causing the crease forming plates 8 to slide inwardly and forwardly into engagementwiththeupturned edge. portions of the fabric, piece A. As the plates 8 continue to move inwardly and forwardly, the edge portions of the fabric piece A are pressed inwardly and into engagement wtih the edges of the pressure plate 20. At this time, jets of steam are discharged from the outlet holes 17 in the steam box against the edge portions of the fabric piece by suitably manipulating the control means 34. The live steam upon engaging with the fabric piece moistens it sufficiently to enable a U- shaped crease to be formed therein where it is turned over and held against the edges of the pressure plate. The crease thus formed in the fabric piece provides a guide when such piece is stitched to a coat or other garment. The pressing and creasing operation also shapes and presses the fabric piece preparatory to its being sewn in place.

Since the pressure plate 4a is steam heated rather than electrically heated, it will not scorch the fabric piece even though such fabric piece might remain in contact therewith for an appreciable length of time.

The crease forming plates 3 are guided in their inward and outward movement by means of upwardly extending screws or projecting members 36 secured to the flanged support 7, the said projecting members extending through obliquely disposed slots 37 in the plates 8. As shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2, the crease forming plates 8 are adapted to move inwardly to positions in which their inner edges are above the edge portions of the plate 4a. The adjustable member 10 is prevented from moving rearwardly beyond a predetermined position by a stop member 38 which is adapted to abut the rear side of the supporting structure.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing and shaping machine, a supporting structure having a substantially horizontal top panel wall having an opening therein, a steam chamber mountedon the supporting structure and underlying the opening and having a substantially flat top forming a first pressure plate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet means connected to the steam chamber, steam outlet means connected to the steam chamber, a second pressure plate mounted on the supporting structure and arranged for movement through the opening and into pressing relationship with the first pressure plate, a pair of substantially horizontal crease forming plates mounted on the supporting structure beneath the top panel and arranged. for movement into engagement with the edge portions of the fabric piece as the latter is pressed between the first and second plates, a steam box connected to and movable with second plate, the steam box having a steam inlet and a plurality of peripheral steam outlet openings arranged to discharge jets of steam against the edge portions of the fabric piece as the latter is pressed between the first and second pressure plates.

2. In a pressing and shaping machine, supporting structure having a substantially horizontal top panel wall having an opening therein, a steam chamber mounted on the supporting structure beneath the opening, the steam chamber having a flat, substantially horizontal top forming a first pressure plate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet and steam outlet means connected to the steam chamber, a second pressure plate mounted on the supporting structure and arranged for movement through the opening and having a shape corresponding to but slightly smaller than the opening, the second pressure plate being mounted for movement into pressingvrelationship with the first pressure plate, a steam box COIl'. nected to and movable with the second pressure plate, the steam box having a steam inlet opening and a plurality of spaced outlet openings arranged in the sides thereof, and a plurality of substantially horizontal crease forming plates mounted on the supporting structure be heath-the horizontal top panel and arranged for inward movement and outward movement, the said crease forming plates being adapted to extend slightly above the edge portions of the second pressure plate when positioned at the end of their inward movement.

3. In a pressing and shaping machine, a supporting structure having a substantially horizontal top panel having an opening therein, a steam chamber mounted on the supporting structure and underlying the opening and having a flat, substantially horizontal top forming a first pressure plate for supporting a fabric piece, steam inlet and outlet means connected to the steam chamber, an adjustable bar mounted on the supporting structure for upward and downward swinging movement and to a position overlying the top panel and the opening therein, an electrically heated second pressure plate secured to and carried 'by the bar and arranged for movement through the opening and having .a shape corresponding to but slightly smaller than the opening, the second pressure plate being adapted to overlie the first pressure plate when the bar is in its downwardly swung position, a steam box carried by the bar and mounted above the second pressure plate, the steam box having a steam inlet and a plurality of peripheral steam outlets arranged to direct jets of steam outwardly and downwardly, a plurality of substantially horizontal crease forming plates mounted on the supporting structure beneath the top panel and arranged for inward and outward movement, the crease forming plates being adapted to extend slightly above the edge portions of the second pressure plate when in a position at the end of their inward movement, a slidable pressure member engaging with the crease forming plates and arranged for reciprocating movement to and from a position actuating the crease forming plates inwardly, and a lever mounted on the bar and arranged to engage with and actuate the slidable pressure member in a direction whereby the crease forming plates are moved inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,860 Thomas Sept. 4, 1923 2,238,048 Gilbert Apr. 15, 1941 2,281,970 Gilbert May 5, 1942 2,453,623 Gilbert et al Nov. 9, 1948 2,673,666 Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 2,726,020 Fenby Dec. 6, 1955

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