US3512703A - Garment finisher - Google Patents

Description

GARMENT FINISHER Filed Dec. 23, 1968 4 sheets sheet 2 770mm d. Vamky @222 49 @imzasezz United States Patent 3,512,703 GARMENT FINISHER Norman A. Buckley, Wauwatosa, and Peter D. Rasmussen, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to McGraw- Edison Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 785,947 Int. Cl. A41h 5/00 U.S. Cl. 223-70 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garment finisher having a form upon which a garment is dressed and including means for admitting steam and air under pressure to the interior of the garment, and specifically having means to hold the garment relative to the form including a flexible sleeve or bag expandable by said pressure against the inside of the garment for frictionally confining the garment against outer restraining means or clamps, means including a control for the clamps wherein the clamps can be moved to and held at the operative positions and released simultaneously as desired, and further means for automatically controlling such steam and air admissions including a cycle having initial discharge of both steam and air followed by sustained discharge of steam only in turn followed by sustained discharge of steam and the simultaneous discharge of air further followed by sustained discharge of air only.

It is common in the laundry and dry cleaning fields to finish a laundered or cleaned garment by supporting it on a form and blowing heated air and possible steam into the garment and through it. Such steam-air finishers, as they are known in the trade, generally condition the garment with the steam and dry the garment in a relatively wrinkle free condition with the heated air. Several troublesome areas exist, however, in the present equipment. One particular problem is the manner of dressing the garment accurately and easily on the form and thereafter holding it in place during the finishing operation, and subsequently releasing it. A second shortcoming is the limited automatic steam and air cycles possible on the existing equipment.

This invention relates to a steam-air finisher which has improved means for dressing the garment on the form and for holding the garment in place during the finishing operation. Specifically, a front clamping means is actuated by manual depression to near its clamping position proximate the lower end of the front button flap of the garment, and is thereafter subsequently held by a power cylinder firmly in place against the garment. This permits the garment, such as a shirt to be easily dressed on the form with accuracy since only a small force is required to move the clamping means against the garment. A collar clamp is also provided, which can be closed in the same manner to hold the collar area of the garment in place. After the garment is dressed, a sleeve is inflated by the steam and/or air discharge to the garment and expands against the inside of the lower portion of the garment to trap the garment against outer spaced friction faces. This frictionally restrains the lower portion of the garment on the form and the sleeve defines a conduit to the garment which is open at its upper end to permit direct air and steam to discharge to and through the garment.

Another feature of this invention is the control for providing different automatic steam-air cycles. In one cycle, steam only is initially discharged to the interior of the garment to moisten and condition it. In another cycle,

both steam and air are initially and simultaneously dis- 3,512,703 Patented May 19, 1970 'ice charged to the garment for a short duration, and then the sustained normal steam discharge continues for its duration. For either of the cycles mentioned, during the final seconds of steam discharge, air is again concurrently discharged to the garment and this air discharge continues even after the steam discharge terminates and preferably until the garment is dried. This overlap of air discharge at the beginning and at the end of the steam discharge improves the conditioning efficiency because the steam is more forcefully driven through the garment.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a steam-air finisher having an improved front clamping means for accurately and easily dressing a garment on a form, and further including a bag or sleeve that expands within the garment to hold it against outer friction faces during the finishing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamping means which can be moved by an operator to close proximity of the clamping position relative to the garment and which automatically when proximate this clamping position is biased by a power cylinder to the actual clamping condition, and further to cooperating friction faces on a rear clamping means which are brought proximate the garment and the underlying bag or sleeve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collar clamping means which can be moved proximate the garment with a relatively small force and which when so positioned will be firmly urged against the garment and the underlying form by a power cylinder means.

Another object of this invention is to provide according to the preceding object means for releasing the particular collar clamping means and the rear clamping means from the respective operative position automatically upon the release of the front clamping means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steamair finisher having means for automatically discharging steam and air, concurrently and sequentially for given durations.

Another object of this invention is to provide automatic means for initially discharging both steam and air automatically terminating the air discharge while continuing the steam discharge for the conditioning duration required and concurrently with the concluding seconds of the solo steam discharge of again discharging air which subsequently continues after the termination of the steam discharge, preferably until the garment is dried.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circuit to accomplish the steam-air cycle according to the preceding objects which has time delay characteristics that permit the concurrent steam and air discharges.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully understood and appreciated after reviewing the accompanying specification and the drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the subject finisher, showing part of the structure broken away for sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, similar in part to that shown in FIG. 1, except with the form being repositioned to face to the right of the figure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a fluid circuit showing the power cylinder means of the subject clamping mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a detailed elevational view of the subject front clamp power cylinder mount, as seen generally from line 4--4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view, as seen generally from line 55 in FIG. 4, except showing the cylinder proper and part of the valve structure in typical longitudinal section;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, of the collar clamp and clamp power cylinder, as taken generally from line 66 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, a seen generally from line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, as seen generally from line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of an electric control circuit for the subject finisher; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of an alternate embodiment of a collar or lapel clamp.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, the steam-air finisher 10 shown includes a base 12 of sheet metal, an upright frame 14 mounted rotatably on the base, and a bag 16 positioned over the frame and attached at its open lower end relative to the frame. A blower 18 in the base provides for air flow over steam heating coils 20 and into the bag, and a nozzle 22 connected through pipe 23 to a source of steam (not shown) provides for discharging steam into the bag. The frame 14 includes front and rear plates 24 and 25 connected at their upper ends to a neck form 26, and shoulder bars 28 extend laterally thereof just below the neck form. The garment G is dressed on the shoulder bars and hangs as it would on a human torso.

The bag 16 has an impervious lower sleeve portion 29 which extends up to and within the lower part of the garment, and the circumferential diameter at the upper end of the sleeve 29' preferably is larger than the garment in this area of overlap. Consequently, a positive pressure within the bag caused during the finishing operation by steam or air forces the upper end of the sleeve against the garment in snug air retaining manner. The top portion 31 of the bag is extremely open mesh and serves only to hold the sleeve over the form and within the garment and to separate the hardware of the form from the garment. During the finishing operation embracing clamps or friction faces outside the garment are engaged by the inflated garment to hold it relative to the form.

Front clamp includes a bar 32 pivoted generally at 34 to the frame 14 and further has an upper transverse arm 36 bent concave toward the bag. The rear clamp 40 is of similar construction and includes bar 42 pivoted at 44 and an upper transverse gripping arm 46.

Power cylinder is connected between the bar 32 and the frame 14 and the power cylinder 52 is connected between the bar 42 and frame 14 for separate actuation of the respective front and rear clamps. The front clamp bar 32 further includes a padded p ate 54 that can be pushed by the operators knee to move the clamp toward the clamping position proximate the front plate 24. This permits the operator to use both hands to dress the garment on the form, and yet clamp the garment accurately.

With the clamp near such a clamping position adjacent but not contacting the front plate 24, the power cylinder 50 is designed to become pressurized and thereby bias the front clamp arm 36 firmly against the back-up plate 24. This thereby traps and holds the front of the garment against the form in the properly dressed condition. Upon the front clamp cylinder 50 becoming pressurized, the the rear clamp power cylinder 52 is also pressurized to swing the rear clamp bar 42 towards the garment. The piston in the power cylinder 52 bottoms out when the rear clamp is generally vertical and spaced from rear plate 25. Each cross arm 36 and 46 is bent inwardly and presents side wings that more accurately embrace and conform to the shape of the inflated bag 16.

Antifriction means such as sponge rubber 58 is attached to each arm to engage the lower portion of the garment and prevent it from shifting relative to the clamp. The sponge rubber also provides a certain cushion to preclude creasing the garment between the clamp face and front plate 24, or breaking buttons on the garment in this area.

Also disclosed is a collar or lapel clamp 60 including a rod 62 extending outwardly from the front plate 24 and a bar connected to the rod and having horizontally spaced feet 64 which engage and hold, for example, the opposite sides of a shirt-like garment against the front plate 24. Power cylinder 66 is connected to the rod 62 and is pressurized upon the clamp being shifted toward its clamping position adjacent the front back-up plate 24 and subsequently forces the feet snugly against the back-up plate. The power cylinder preferably is pivoted to the frame about a vertical axis to accommodate bottoming of both feet against the back-up plate even if the underlying garment be of dissimilar thickness beneath each foot.

Preferably, the front and rear clamps 30 and 40 can be locked in place independently of the collar clamp 60, and the collar clamp 60 can be locked in place independently of the front and rear clamps. However, it has been found useful to release all clamps simultaneously, and in this regard, a release lever 70 is provided on the forward clamp arm 32. When the lever 70 is shifted about its pivot connection 72 to the arm, push rod 74 shifts axially of bar 32 against the bias of return spring 76 to depress release button 78 on the power cylinder 50. Depression of button 78 vents the power cylinder 50 and simultaneously vents the rear clamp power cylinder 52 and the collar clamp power cylinder 66. In this manner, all clamps release together and permit the finished garment to be shifted freely relative to the form.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5 for a more detailed explanation of the forward clamp, power cylinder 50 is pivoted on horizontally aligned trunnion mounts 80 to the side walls of front clamp bar 32 slightly above the bar pivot 34 to the frame. The power cylinder includes a cylinder case 82 having a rod 84 extending therefrom, the rod in turn being connected by means of adjusting nuts 86 to the front plate 24 of the frame 14. The cylinder case 82 has an interior cylinder bore 88, and a piston 90 is secured to the rod 84 and adapted to cooperate with the cylinder to define an expansible chamber 92. A compression spring 94 is confined between the piston 90 and rear wall 96 of the case 82 and tends to shift the power cylinder to where the chamber 92 is of a minimum volume and where the clamp 30 is spaced from the frame 14 in its inoperative position.

Air inlet connection 98 is made to the cylinder case and communicates through bore 108 and passage '114 with a cavity 100 defined annularly of the rod 84. The rod has an internal bore 102, and a first port 104 communicates the bore 102 with the chamber 92 while a second port 106 is spaced axially from port 104. This second port 106 normally is open to the atmosphere and thus vents bore 102 and the chamber 92; but when the piston and rod are moved within the cylinder against the force of spring 94 to Where the port 106 is brought into communication with the cavity 100, the pressure within the cavity in turn communicates through port 106, the bore '102 and the port 104 to the chamber 92. This urges the clamp 30 to its holding position snugly against the front plate 24 of the frame 14. Seals 109 adjacent the cavity 100 maintain pressure within the cavity while accommodating axial movement of the rod 84.

A plunger 1-10 is slidably disposed in the bore 108 with a peripheral seating area 112 cooperating with the bore. The pressure within the bore 108 thus tends to move the plunger 110 to its most extended position from the cylinder case where the seated area 112 is past passage 114 so that this passage communicates line pressure to the cavity 100. However, upon actuation of the release lever 70, the push rod 74 depresses stem 78 on the plunger 110 and the plunger seated area 112 passes downstream of the passage 114 and thereby blocks line pressure from this passage and further vents the cavity 100 through recess 115 about the plunger and opening 116. This in turn vents the chamber 92 and permits the spring 94 to shift the clamp 30 to its inoperative position spaced from the plate 24. After lever 70 is released, the plunger again is shifted in the bore 108 to where the seated area 112 is between passages 114 and 116 to establish pressure in the cavity 100; however, since the port 106 is not exposed to the cavity the clamp is not actuated but remains in the inoperative position.

The rear power cylinder 52, similar in many regards to front power cylinder 50, has a cylinder case 120 and a rod 122 extending therefrom, a piston 124 being connected to the rod and defining in the case an expansible chamber 126. The case '120 is pivoted by trunnion mounts 127 to the clamp bar 42 and the rod is connected to the rear face 25 of the frame 14 by means of adjustable nuts 128. The rear rod 122 is hollow having bore 129, and port 130 therefrom communicates with the chamber 126 of the rear power cylinder. A flexible hose 132 connects the open end of front power cylinder rod 84 and the open end of rear power cylinder rod 122. This communicates pressure to the rear power cylinder chamber 126 whenever bore 102 of the front power cylinder chamber is pressurized, and similarly vents the rear power cylinder chamber 126 whenever the front power cylinder is vented. A spring 134 disposed between the piston 124 and a rear wall 136 tends to bias the rear power cylinder to the position where the chamber 126 is of minimum volume which corresponds to the inoperative position of the clamp 40.

It is thus seen that generally under normal conditions the plunger 110 is in position within the bore 108 to communicate the air inlet 98 with the cavity 100, and springs within the respective power cylinders 50 and 52 tend to maintain the clamps in the inoperative position so that a garment can be dressed on or removed from the form. However, upon the front clamp being moved near the front plate 24 to where port 106 is brought into communication with the cavity 100, the front power cylinder 50 is pressurized to hold the clamp in place and the rear power cylinder 52 is pressurized to move clamp 40 to its garment holding position relative to the form. Note that stop 137 on the rear power cylinder piston 124 hits rear wall 136 to maintain the rear clamp arm spaced from the frame face 25.

The collar clamp power cylinder 66 includes a case 140 having an internal cylinder which receives slidably a piston 144 in turn connected to the rod 62 and on which is connected the clamp bar 64. The piston defines with the case an expansible chamber 148, and a spring 150 confined between the piston and cross piny152 secured to the case normally tends to bias the clamp to its inoperative position where the chamber 148 is of minimum volume.

The rod itself has a bore 154 therein, and one port 156 communicates the bore with the chamber 148 and a second port 158 is axially spaced therefrom from port 156. A recess or cavity 160 is formed in the case annularly of the rod, and an inlet connection 162 is provided communicating with the cavity. Normally, a flexible hose 164 or the like communicates the inlet 162 with a tap '166 (FIG. 4) formed on the front power cylinder and communicating through passage 167 with the front cylinder cavity 100. When the piston 144 is in its normal position biased by the spring 150, the port 158 is out of alignment with the cavity 160 and open to the atmosphere to vent the chamher 148. However, upon the clamp 60 being shifted toward the frame 24 to where the port 158 is brought within the confines of the cavity 160 line pressure is communicated to the chamber 148 to force the clamp firmly against the frame. The case 148 is pivotally secured to the front wall 24 of the frame on vertically aligned trunnion mounts 170 so that the horizontally spaced clamping feet 64 can automatically equalize against the underlying garment if the opposite sides of the garment happen to be of unequal thickness.

The collar clamp power cylinder 66 is vented and released automatically upon the venting of the front power cylinder 50, and this is accomplished because of the direct connection between cavities and through the hose connection 164. The spring 150 thus shifts the clamp to its inoperative position.

A garment can be easily dressed on the form and adequately held in place by means of the subject clamps. The collar clamp and its related structure can be easily aligned over the edges of the garment and brought into clamping relationship simply by depressing the clamp against the force of spring 150. Thereafter, the front and rear clamps can be brought into clamping relationship by mechanically shifting the front clamp proximate the garment which pressurizes the power cylinders and thus also brings the rear clamp into clamping position. In this regard, note that the front clamp is adjusted such that it actually engages and traps the garment against the underlying front plate 24; whereas rear clamp cylinder bottoms out on stop 137 to maintain the arms 46 spaced from the frame 25.

After the finishing cycle begins, discharge of steam or air causes a pressure inside the garment and sleeve 29. Consequently, pressure built up in the bag balloons the sleeve 29 against the garment (FIG. 8) and traps the garment against the clamp faces. This also closes the garment in effect relative to the impervious sleeve to direct all air and steam within the sleeve through open mesh 31 and directly against the garment. After the finishing operation, all clamps can be simultaneously released by depressing lever 70 which vents the front clamp power cylinder 50, collar clamp power cylinder 66, and rear clamp power cylinder 52.

One very successful steam-air cycle for the disclosed finisher provides that both steam and air are initially discharged into the bag 16 for a short duration, viz a few seconds. This added pressure rapidly seats the sleeve against the garment and the garment against the clamps. Thereafter, the air discharge is terminated and the steam discharge continued until the garment is properly conditioned. However, before the steam discharge is terminated, the air discharge is initiated and continued until the garment is dry.

The circuit suitable for controlling the above cycle, and others, is disclosed in FIG. 9, where electrical power sources are indicated as HOT and grounds are indicated with the conventional symbols. Physical items in the circuit include foot pedal 180, steam timer 182, air timer 184, blower motor 186, manual-automatic blower selector switch 188, steam solenoid valve 190, and manual-automatic steam selector switch 192.

The foot pedal actuates two separate single pole double- throw switches 200 and 202. In the switch 200, normally open contact 204 is hot while normally closed contact 206 is connected through lead 207 to center contact 220 of the steam timer 182 and to normally open relay switch 208. The center contact 210 connects by line 211 through solenoid coil 212 to the contact 213 of air timer 184 and normally closed contact 214 to ground, as indicated. Also connected off line 211 is the normally open contact 215 of the relay switch controlled by solenoid coil 212, the opposite contact 216 being HOT as indicated. Upon depressing the foot pedal 180 and relating only to the switch 200, the common contact 210 becomes closed against hot contact 204 to energize the solenoid coil 212 and thereby close the switch 215, which thereafter maintains the coil energized through the closed contacts 213 and 214 of the air timer 184.

Upon releasing the foot pedal, switch 200 returns to the position to start motor 218 on the steam timer 182. The timer is such that the switch maintains the position as shown until the time set on the timer has elapsed whereupon the motor 218 shifts the switch and the common contact 220 closes against normally open contact 222. As shown, however, the normally closed contact 224 of the steam timer switch becomes hot and is connected through half wave rectifier 226 to energize a delay control loop containing solenoid coil 228 for the switch 208, condenser 229 and resistor 230. The direct current charge applied 7 to the loop energizes the solenoid 228 to close switch 208 which now brings power through line 232, and contacts 233 and 234 of the manual-automatic steam selector control switch 192 to open the solenoid valve 190 for discharging steam from nozzle 22.

The control is such that even after the steam timer contact 220 is shifted from the positions shown to against normally open contact 222, steam will continue for a short duration, viz a couple of seconds, to be discharged from the nozzle 22. This is so because the condenser 229 discharges through the coil 228 to hold the switch 208 closed which maintains power at the steam valve solenoid 190.

Referring now to the switch 202 of the foot pedal 180, upon depression of the foot pedal, the hot common contact 238 closes against normally open contact 240 and thereby completes through rectifier 242 an energizing direct current charge to a delay control for air discharge. This control includes a loop having coil 244 which controls normally open switch 246, a condenser 248 and resistor 249. The switch 246 thus is closed by the energized coil 244 and is maintained closed by the discharging condenser 248 upon the foot pedal being released and switch 202 shifting to the position shown. Again the time of discharge is short, viz a couple of seconds, during which the switch 246 is maintained closed by the condenser 248. The release of the foot pedal 180 and the return of the switch 202 to its shown position brings hot common contact 238 against normally closed contact 252 and transmits power through line 254, the now closed switch 246 to juncture 255, and across the normally closed contacts 250 and 259 of the manual-automatic air selector switch 188 to energize the blower motor 186. After the condenser 248 discharges, the switch 246 opens to break the circuit and to terminate the operation of the blower.

This control thereby provides for initial simultaneous discharge of steam and air into the bag. The blower operation is limited only to the approximate two second duration of discharge of the delay control condenser 248 that maintains switch 246 closed while the steam discharges the typical -20 second duration as set on steam timer 182. After the steaming time lapses and timer motor 218 shifts contact 220 against contact 222, the blower once again is operated as is its timer motor 264, and steam delay condenser 229 simultaneously maintains the steam discharge. The blower operates after the steam discharge terminates and until the lapsed air timer motor 264 drives the contact 213 off grounded contact 214. This breaks the holding circuit through switch 200 and coil 212 to open switch 215 and stop the cycle.

It has been found adequate to have the controlled discharged time of each condenser 229 and 248 approximately two seconds, thereby giving simultaneous discharges of steam and air for approximately two seconds at the beginning and at the end of the steam cycle. By including a variable resistor (not shown) in series with the condenser in each delay control, the controlled discharge time of the condenser can be varied within limits for adjustable durations of concurrent steam and air discharge. This overlap of the air and steam discharges improves the operation of the unit by preventing steam migration through the blower and also by driving the steam through the garment more completely. Switch 258 is provided in line 254, which, if opened, would eliminate the air puff concurrently with the steam at the beginning of the steam cycle, but the remainder of the cycle would be the same.

An alternate embodiment of the collar clamp is disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 11 which is particularly useful where independent release control is desired for the collar clamp, but yet which can be released automatically with the other clamps as previously indicated. In this embodiment, the clamp 270 includes a rod 272 which is secured to and projected forwardly of the front plate 24 of the frame 14. The rod has secured thereto a piston 274 which is received within a cylinder of a cylinder case 278, and which thereby defines an expansible chamber 280. A spring 282 confined between the piston and the rear wall of the case normally tends to maintain the chamber at a minimum volume which corresponds to the position where the clamping face 284 on the case is spaced from the back-up plate 24. The rod 272 has a bore 286 which is connected by flexible hose or the like 290 connected to a source of air, such as provided at the tap 98 of the front power cylinder 50. A first port 292 connects the bore 286 with the chamber 280, and a second port 294 connects the bore with the atmosphere as vented through opening 298 in the rear wall of the case.

An independent plunger 300 having a sealing area 302 which cooperates with the bore 286 is movable within the bore, and lever 304 pivoted on pin 306 to the rod has a cam surface 308 thereon which engages the plunger through ball 310 for actuation of the plunger 300. The plunger 300 normally is maintained against the ball by the air pressure within the bore 286. The plunger 300 has a peripheral recess 312 of sufiicient breadth to connect the ports 292 and 294 together (as shown) when the plunger is properly aligned within the bore. When this occurs, the chamber 280 is vented to permit the spring to bias the clamping case relative to the rod to its inoperative position spaced from plate 24. Upon downward pivoting of the lever 304 from that shown, cam surface 308 releases the plunger to permit the air pressure within the bore to shift the plunger axially until the sealed area. 302 passes the port 292 to communicate line pressure to the chamber 280. This shifts the case axially along the rod until the clamp face 284 bottoms against the garment and the back-up plate 24 on the frame 14. To release the clamp at the collar section, the lever is shifted upward to the position shown to move the plunger 300 within the bore until the cavity 312 interconnects the ports 292 and 294 and vents the chamber 280.

It would be possible also to connect the source of air for the collar clamp cylinder 270 in a modified manner, namely connecting the hose 290 to the top 166 of the front clamp power cylinder 50. This provides that the pressure in the cavity of the front power cylinder 50 is communicated to the bore 286, which under normal conditions will be line pressure. However, upon venting the front clamp power cylinder, the cavity 100 and thus the bore 286 will be vented automatically also. A torsion spring 314 can be disposed between the lever and rod loaded to shift the lever to its clamp released position as shown, but of capacity to do this only when the plunger is not biased by air pressure against the cam face 308. Consequently, upon the bore being vented, both the plunger and the lever would automatically be shifted to the position as shown where the clamp is in its released or inoperative position.

The source of steam for the heat exchanger 20 and for discharge from the nozzle 22, and the source of air for operating the various power cylinders can be provided by conventional structure. For example, a steam inlet connection 320 can be provided to the unit and tubing 322 connect this to the heat exchanger coil 20 and tubing 324 return the steam to outlet connection 226. Moreover, a suitable connection such as T 328 can be provided from the inlet line 322 through solenoid valve for discharge of steam from the nozzle. Water traps, filters and pressure regulators (not shown) can be upsteam of the steam inlet connection and of conventional design. The air source is conveyed through filter trap 330, a pressure regulator 332, and line 334 to the inlet tap 98 on the front clamp power cylinder 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a frame, a pervious bag disposed over the frame; means including a nozzle and a valve for controlled discharge of steam in the bag; means including a blower for forcing air into and through the bag; a clamp mounted adjacent the frame adapted to be moved between an inoperative position spaced therefrom and a garment holding position thereagainst; and means including a source of fluid pressure and a power cylinder connected to the clamp, and valve means responsive to the clamp being manually moved proximate but not to the garment holding position to communicate the pressure source to the power cylinder effective thereafter for urging the clamy to and maintaining it at the garment holding position.

2. A garment finisher according to claim 1, further comprising control means including first circuit means for opening the valve to provide steam discharge, second circuit means effective upon the deenergization of the first circuit for operating the blower, and third circuit means operable independently of the second circuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith for sustaining steam discharge a short duration concurrently with the operation of the blower.

3. A garment finisher according to claim 2, further comprising a fourth circuit means operable independently of the first circuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith to operate the blower only a short duration concurrently with the steam discharge.

4. A garment finisher according to claim 1, further comprising means to vent the power cylinder operable to release the clamp to its inoperative position.

'5. A garment finisher according to claim 3, wherein the third circuit or the fourth circuit includes condenser that discharges to determine the overlap of the steam and air discharges.

6. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a frame, a pervious bag disposed over the frame; means including a nozzle and a valve for controlled discharge of steam in the bag; means including a blower for forcing air into and through the bag; and control means including first circuit means for opening the valve to provide steam discharge, second circuit means effective upon the deenergization of the first circuit means for operating the blower, third circuit means operable independently of the second circuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith and supplemental to the first circuit means for sustaining steam discharge a short duration concurrently with the operation of the blower, and fourth circuit means operable independently of the first circuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith and supplemental to second circuit means to operate the blower a short duration concurrently with the steam discharge at the initial phase thereof.

7. A garment finisher according to claim 6 further including a relay and a condenser in each of the third and fourth circuits, and wherein discharge of the condenser operates to hold the relay for the duration of concurrent steam and air discharge.

8. A garment finisher according to claim 6, wherein a first timer automatically shifts switch means to energize the second circuit means at the conclusion of a given set duration, and wherein the third circuit means responds automatically upon the switch means being shifted.

'9. A garment finisher according to claim 8, wherein a second timer is initially operated upon the second circuit means being energized, and wherein the second timer shifts switch means to deenergize the second circuit at the conclusion of a given set duration.

10. A garment finisher, comprising a frame having a vertical member and horizontally disposed shoulder elements upon which a garment can be dressed and an outlet disposed generally below the shoulder elements, a generally impervious sleeve having its lower end attached to the outlet and having its upper end extending inside and overlapping with a lower portion of the garment and being expandable at the area of overlap against the lower portion of the garment, means to support the upper end of the sleeve inside the garment, spaced faces disposed adjacent the overlap of the sleeve and garment and outwardly of the garment to be engaged by the garment and to restrain the expansion thereof, at least some of said spaced faces being formed on one arm structure, said one arm structure being movable to an operative position closely adjacent the sleeve and restrained against the frame to trap the garment therebetween and maintained there during the finishing cycle and also being movable to an inoperative position more remote from the sleeve and maintained there for increasing clearance and the ease of dressing and removing the garment relative to the frame, power cylinder means connected between the one arm structure and the frame, valve means operated responsive to the relative position of the one arm structure for automatically connecting a pressure source with the power cylinder means when the one arm structure is moved proximate but not to its operative position restrained by the frame operable thereafter to maintain the one arm structure in its said operative position, friction means on the faces suitable to minimize slippage of the garment relative thereto, the upper end of the sleeve being open to the inside of the garment, means for discharging steam under pressure to within the sleeve and means for discharging heated air under pressure from the outlet to within the sleeve, whereby pressure within the sleeve balloons the overlap area thereof against the garment in a substantial snug air retaining manner and holds the garment against the spaced faces.

11. A garment finisher according to claim 10, wherein another arm structure has thereon some other of said spaced faces, wherein the other arm structure can be moved to its operative position adjacent but spaced from the frame and maintained there during the finshing cycle and can be moved to its inoperative position spaced further from the frame for increasing the ease of dressing and removing the garment relative to the frame.

12. A garment finisher according to claim 11, wherein other power cylinder means are connected between the other arm structure and the frame, and wherein means connect the one arm structure power cylinder means to the other arm structure power cylinder means to shift the other arm structure to its operative position automatically upon the one arm structure being positioned and maintained in its operative position.

13. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a form; a bag disposed over the form and having a lower impervious sleeve and an open upper portion, and the garment being dressed over the form and having its lower portion and the upper end of the sleeve overlap one another; means for controlled discharge of steam to within the :bag; means for forcing heated air to within the bag; a front clamp mounted adjacent the front of the form adapted to be moved between a garment release position spaced from the form and a garment holding position confined against the form over the overlap area of the sleeve, said front clamp including an arm circumferentially extended relative to the overlap area of the sleeve and presenting friction faces spaced from the form but lined up with and engageable with the overlap area; means for maintaining the front clamp in the garment holding position; a rear element adjacent the rear of the form and having an arm circumferentially extended relative to the overlap area of the sleeve and presenting friction faces spaced from the form but lined up with and engageable with the overlap area, and the overlap area of the sleeve being generally larger than the corresponding overlying areas of the garment sufiicient thereby to balloon outwardly in an air retaining manner against the garment upon air and/ or steam being discharged to within the bag and operative also thereby to hold the garment against said friction faces.

14. .A garment finisher according to claim 13, wherein the total circumferential length of the front clamp arm and the rear element arm friction faces is but a small percent of the total circumferential length of the overlap area of the sleeve.

15. In a garment finisher, the combination comprising a form corresponding generally to a human torso, and upon which the garment is to be dressed; a first clamp having horizontally spaced faces adapted in the operative position of the first clamp to straddle and hold the collar or lapel areas of the garment against the underlying form and being movable to an inoperative position spaced from the garment; a second clamp pivoted at its lower end about a generally horizontal pivot axis and supporting a resilient face at its upper end adjacent the front element, and the second clamp being pivoted to an inoperative position where the resilient face is spaced from the garment and an operative position where the resilient face straddles and holds the lower areas of button flaps on the garment against the form; and means including first and second power cylinders operable, respectively, to hold the first and second clamps in the respective operative position.

16. A garment finisher combination according to claim 15, wherein a valve between each power cylinder and a source of pressure responds to the position of the respective face to communicate pressure to the respective power cylinder when said face is almost at but slightly spaced from its operative position, so that the respective power cylinder thereafter creates a large force biasing the face against the frame.

17. A garment finisher combination according to claim 16, wherein means are provided to vent the second power cylinder, and wherein means connects the second power cylinder to the first power cylinder operable to release the first and second faces substantially simultaneously.

18. A garment finisher combination according to claim 17, wherein a third clamp is provided at the rear of the form, and wherein said third clamp presents faces that remain at all times spaced from the form but within close enough proximity to be engaged by the garment.

19. A garment finisher combination according to claim 18, wherein the third clamp is movable in its inoperative position to an even more remote location spaced from 12 the form, and wherein a third power cylinder for the third clamp is connected to the second power cylinder to be vented substantially simultaneously therewith.

20. A garment finisher according to claim 13, further comprising control means including first circuit means for providing steam discharge, second circuit means effective upon the deenergization of the first circuit for providing air discharge, and third circuit means operable independently of the second circuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith for sustaining steam discharge a short duration concurrently with the air discharge.

21. A garment finisher according to claim 20, further comprising a fourth circuit means operable supplemental to the first circuit means and responsive simultaneously therewith to provide discharge air only a short duration concurrently with the initial steam discharge.

22. A garment finisher according to claim 21, wherein the third and fourth circuits each includes a condenser that discharges on a controlled basis to determine the overlap of concurrent steam and air discharges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,649 11/1953 Rosenthal 223-73 3,333,747 8/1967 Glover 223- 3,385,485 5/1968 Aloi 22370 3,428,228 2/1969 Frauendorf 22370 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,142,830 1/1963 Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 223-52.1

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