US2931545A - Shirt collar forming machine - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1960 F.'REN|CK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. 49 FELIX RENICK ATTORNEY F. RENICK SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE April 5, 1960 Filed April 3, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. FELIX RENICK BY Q ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1957 ll Shee ts-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

FELIX R NICK M k ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 7 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

FELIX RENICK ATTORNEY,

April 5, 1960 Filed April 3, 1957 F. RENICK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FELIX RENICK ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. /3

IN VEN TOR.

FELIX RENICK ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 2,931,545

' sum-r COLLAR FORMING momma Filed April 3. ,1957

l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1957 ll shegts-sheet 8 ll :0 n

,, FIG. 7

ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 Filed April 3, 1957 F. RENICK SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. /8

IN V EN TOR.

FELIX Ra ATTOR NEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 3, 1957 INVENTOR.

FELIX RENI K BY 5 ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 F. RENICK 2,931,545

SHIRT COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet ll FIG. 22

w 1 FIG. 24 HEAT ,/82

( 6 l8 INVENTOR. 49 425 FELIX RENICK ATTORNEY 2,931,545 sr COLLAR FORMING MACHINE Felix Renick, Southport, Maine Application April 3, 1957, Serial No. 656,356 1 Claim. or. 223-521 The present invention relates to a shirt ironing and collar forming machine and it particularly relates to a machine of the character described, which may either be used by shirt manufacturers or by laundries. 1

In preparing mens shirts and in some instances womens blouses for sale or return to the consumer, whether it be a shirt manufacturing concern or laundry, it is desirable to shape and form the collar in accordance with the established trade practices.

In connection with a manufactured new shirt, which is to be sold initially to a consumer, before laundering the collar desirably must stand up from the shirt at a substantial angle to the main body of the shirt, which re-, quires predetermined manipulation of the collar so that it will be in proper shape and project at a proper angle from the body of the shirt.

On the other hand, when a man's shirt is returned from the laundry the shirt is usually prepared so that the collar only slightly stands up from the body of the shirt or so that it is relatively flattened or positioned in the same plane as the body of the shirt.

To accomplish these collar forming and shirt preparation operations by hand requires considerable labor and manipulation and only a relatively limited number of shirts may be processed per unit time, with resultant great expense and increase inthe unit cost incidental to the laundering operation.

Furthermore, hand shaping and forming operations do not produce the desired predetermined finish and result in irregularity from shirt to shirt or even in each shirt, resulting in difficulties in packaging and boxing, which depend upon a predetermined width and depth being occupied by each shirt incidental to shipping, storing, merchandising and other handling operations.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel collar forming and shirt folding mechanism, broadly adapted for either manufactured or laundered shirts, which may be widely utilized by relatively unskilled labor and which will enable a high unit production of folded and collar formed shirts with a minimum of manual operation and a minimum of labor costs.

Another object is to provide a system for folding and forming shirts and shirt collars particularly incidental to the manufacture thereof in which a high degree of uniformity will be achieved particularly in connection with the shirt folding and forming operations and par ticularly in respect to the elevation and angle of the collars thereof.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the aboveobjects it has been found n s a e ice most satisfactory according to one-embodiment of the present invention to provide a table having a swinging leaf member which will carry the body of the shirt with the collar of the shirt being engaged by a series of swinging jaw members one of which is provided for each corner or angle of the shirt collar. V

In the preferred form a pneumatic expander is provided which will engage the collar of the shirt after the shirt has been buttoned, and hold it in the predetermined angled position in which the collar is to be permanently formed for merchandising or display.

At the same time the plate which holds the body of the shirt will serve as a carrier enabling the sleeves to be folded and the tails of the shirt to be placed in proper position so that when the shirt is removed from the table it will be in completely folded condition readyto be inserted in the box or into an external merchandising envelope or folder.

In the preferred form of the invention the collar expanding members are three in number, two expanding laterally to form the sides of the collar and the third expanding forwardly to form-the front of the collar adjacent the junction of the neckband.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the inventio'n consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

' line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a collar forming and shirt folding machine according to. the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom elevational view of the table and associated mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 5 is a top plan view anism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the collar forming mechanism taken from the'line 6-6 of Fig. 5. i

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line '77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 5 with the jaws expanded and with the top cover plate removed to r'no're clearly show the interior construction, taken upon of the collar forming mechthe line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 9 with the jaws collapsed and with the cover plate in position.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 8 but upon a small scale as compared to Fig. 8 showing the posi tion of the jaws when moved together.

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 12-12 of Fig. 5 showing the collar forming jaws together.

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar a to Fig. 12 showing the collar forming jaws in separated Fatented Apr. 5, 1960 upon the line 16-16 of Fig. 12 showing the guiding system for the collar forming jaws.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 17-17 of Fig. 13 showing the collar jaw guiding mechanism of Fig. 17 with the jaws in closed position.

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of an alternative construction with the jaws collapsed together.

Fig. 19 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 18 with the jaws in expanded position.

Fig. 20 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. 18 showing the jaws in contracted position.

Fig. 21 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. l9

with the jaws in expanded position.

Fig. 22. is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 2222 of Fig. 19. i

Fig. 23 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 23-23 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 24 is a front elevational view showing the control panel of the collar forming and shirt folding mechanism of Figs. 18 to 23.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a table A having the legs B and the treadle operator C.

At one end of the table is positioned the swinging holder plate D on which the body of the shirt is placed after the. front is buttoned, and over the back of which the sleeves and tails are folded and pinned into position.

The collar of the shirt will be formed by the collar forming mechanism E which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 5 to 17.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the table top has a central groove 10 to guide and receive the buttoned front of the shirt, and it has the side brackets .11 which are bolted or riveted as indicated at 12 upon the side legs B.

Connecting the side legs B are the transverse structures 13 which have the upper and lower cross bars 14 and the mesh 15.

The threadle structure C is supported by the angle member 16 from the transverse bar 17 which is held as indicated at 18 in the lower part of the transverse structure 13. i

The treadle structure serves to control a valving arrangement in the casing indicated at 19 in Figs. 1 to 4 which will admit air under pressure from the inlet conduit- 20 to the outlet conduit 21.

A gauge 22 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided to indicate the air pressure available.

Referring to the collar forming jaw mechanism as shown in Figs. 5 to 13, there are shown the front jaw F and the side .jaws G and H.

These jaws are operated by a pneumatic cylinder 1 and they are reciprocated under a triangular cover plate K which corresponds in size substantially to the neck opening of the shirt. I

The front jaw F as shown in Fig. '12 has the curved forward edge which contacts the collar adjacent the.

neckband, and it has the upper and lower projecting portions 31 and 32. i

This front-member F is mounted upon the plate 33 which in turn is carried by the reciprocating member 34. The upper and lower rods 35 and 36 form guides.

The rod 35 passes through the body of the member 34 and 37. The bottom guide rod 36 passes through a slot 38 in the lower portion of the member 34.

The guide rods 35 and 36 are mounted as indicated at 39 and 40 upon the end plate 41 which has an overhanging flange 42.

Between the guide rods 35 and 36 is the drive rod 43 which is driven by the motor I and which carries the collars 44 and 45. These collars are fixed on each side of the reciprocating member 34.

The collar 45 forms a forward extension of the triangular member 60 which, as shown in Figs. 14 to 16, has the inclined slots 61 and 62 into which project the 4 studs 63 and 64. These studs 63 and 64 project downwardly from the head members G and H.

It will be noted that the ends 65 and 66 of the guide rods 35 and 36 are fixed in position in the blocks 67 and 68 by means of the set screws 69 and 70.

In the same blocks 67 and 68 there are fixed the transverse guide rods 71 and 72 by the set screws 73 and 74. These transverse guide rods 71 and 72 guide the lateral reciprocation of the side forming blocks G. and H.

Between the laterally expanding blocks G and H is positioned the central standard member 75 on which the plate K is'mounted by means of the bolts or screws 76.

This upright member 75 has a flange 76 which is mounted upon the base plate. 77 which in turn is supported on the cross bar member 78.

The blocks G and H as shown best in Fig. 7 have the curved faces 79 and 80 and the corner elements 81 and 82 to form the side edges of the formed corner structure.

Each of the blocks G and H is provided with the sliding extensions 83 and 84 which telescope in back of one another to form a support for the back of the collar during the forming operation. v It will be noted that each of the elements'F, G and H is provided with electrical conduits 95, 96 and 97 (see Figs. 14 and 15) which heat the blocks F, G and H to the predetermined desired elevated temperature which is required during the collar forming operation.

These electrical conduits 95, 96 and 97 have sufiicient slack as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 to accommodate the movement of the blocks F, G and H when they are supplied from the junction box M.

The adjacent edges of the blocks F, G and H are beveled, as indicated at 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 and 103, so that they may nest together in collapsed position as indicated in Fig. 11.

At the same time the upright member 75 also has the beveled edges 104 and 105 to match with and nest with the edges 100 and 101 of the side blocks G and H.

As shown in Fig. 9 the blocks G and H are mounted upon the plates 106 and 107 which in turn are mounted upon the blocks 108 and 109 (see Fig. 9) which are carried by the bolts 110 and 111 upon the sliding base members 112 and 113.

As shown in- Fig. 9 these base members 112 and 113 have the openings or recesses 114 and 115 which receive the rod 71 and they also have the slots 116 and 117 which receive the lower guide rod 72.

Each of the members 112 and 113 have the clevises or yokes 118 and 119 which carry the guide studs 63 and 64 which ride in the slots 61 and 62 of the triangular member 60.

It is thus apparent as the motor I is actuated by the foot treadle C it will separate the jaw members or former elements F, G and H to stretch and correctly position and form the collar. Then release of the treadle will permit the elements F, G and H to resume their initial collapsed position for assembly as indicated in Fig. 11.

The plate K as shown in Fig. 5 will receive the collar in its original position before expansion of the forming elements F, G and H when they are in nested position as shown in Fig. 11.

The heating of the forming elements F, G and H may be regulated by means of the adjustment shown best in Fig. 6, which will come' slightly above the top flange 126 of the rear plate 127.

The side box M may be provided with the switch 128 to switch the heating arrangement on and 011.

In operation the shirt is first buttoned and slipped over the piate D which may be hinged upwardly on the hinge structure 129 as shown in Fig. l. The collar is facing downwardly and the sleeves and the tail are loose. Then the plate D is lowered so that the collar will extend downwardly over the collapsed jaws F, G and H and over the triangular top plate K.

Actuation of the treadle C will then expand the jaws The tail of the shirt is then turned upwardly over the plate D and the sleeves are pinned in position, by which time the collar will have been formed. Then upon lifting the swinging plate D theentire shirt with the formed collar may be removed.

In the alternative structure shown in Figs. 18 to 24 the reciprocating members P, Q and R serve the same function as the members F, G and H of Figs. 5 to 13.

As shown in the bottom views of Figs. 20 and 21 there is a rectangular frame structure S which carries the pneumatic motor T and the reciprocating plate U. I

The plate U has the upturned flanges 150 and 151 at the rear and forward ends thereof respectively. The plate 151 has mounted upon it an auxiliary plate 152 with the downwardly extending tab 153 (see Fig. 22).

The tab 153 is connected to the connecting rod 154 associated with the pneumatic motor T. The motor T has the pressure connection 155 (see Figs. 18 and 19) and the junction 156. The junction 156 is provided with the control valve 157.

The motor T is mounted upon the front plate 158 having the top flange 159.

The flange 151 carries the base structure 160 ofthe front element P. i

The base structure 160 carries the top structure P on which the collar forming jaw may be mounted.

Referring to Fig. 23 it will be noted that there are two guide rods 161 fitting in the opening 162 and 163 fitting in the slot 164.

The plate U as best shown in Figs. 20 and 21 has the oblique slots 165 and 166 which receive the rollers 167 and 168 which are connected to the plates Q and R which carry the lateral forming block members.

These members are guided in their lateral movement by means of front guide rod 169 and the rear guide rod 170 and they are connected at their ends in the side plates 171 and 172 as indicated at 173 and 174.

The laterally expanding members are provided with the base structures 175 and 176 which, as shown in Fig. 22, have a recess 177 to receive the guide rod 170 and the slot 178 to receive the forward guide rod 169.

The elements Q and R are associated with the fixed block 179 which carries the top block 180 provided with the electrical heating cable connections 181.

The panel board 182 as best shown in Fig. 24 has the section 183 with switches 184, 185 and 186 respectively to control the electrical connections to the sides, rear and front. There is also provided the light 187 indicating when the power is on.

The main control knob 188 may be used to adjust the mechanism. The mount of heat is regulated by the tuming knob 189 on the panel 190 which is provided with the graduations 191.

Suitable head members or forming elements may be positioned upon the reciprocating members P, Q and R as shown in Figs. 5 to 13 to give the desired forming operation by means of a treadle and other associated mechanism as previously described.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has devised a simple shirt folding and collar forming mechanism useful both for laundries as well as for shirt manufacturing concerns which will correctly position and adjust the collar and form it at the desired angle to the Shirt body.

The blocks may be changed depending upon the shape and form of collar desired and various changes in the blocks may be made depending upon the angle which is to be formed in the shirt collar.

The entire arrangement enables a high speed operaand 226 mounted upon the rotating shaft 163 having the handle 188.

When the handle 188 is rotated, the pins 225 and 226 may be moved into the slots 228 and 229 in the fixed block 179 and the movable structure 160. In this position the member P will be held fixed while the members R and Q may reciprocate together or apart.

It willbe noted that the reciprocating plate U also is provided with the slot 230 into which the pin 226 may be rotated.

In other words, the pin 226 may either be in disengaged position as shown in Figs. 22 and 23 or in the slot 229 to fix the structure or in the slot 230 to fix the plate structure U.

While there has herein been illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that applicant does not limit himself to the precise construction herein disclosed, and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

A collar forming machine of the type having an elevated horizontal table top member with a central longitudinally extending groove to guide and receive the buttoned front of the shirt, a swinging holder plate to carry thebody of the short and over the back of which the sleeves and tails are folded, said top member having a central recess under said plate; a collar forming mechanism positioned in said recess having a triangular top cover plate, a fixed back structure and a longitudinally reciprocating front block and laterally reciprocating side blocks moving outwardly from under said cover, upper and lower laterally and longitudinally extending pull rods guiding the movement of said blocks, a triangular guide plate member having obliquely extending slots, studs projecting downwardly from said laterally moving blocks projecting into said slots, said laterally moving blocks having rear telescoping extensions, the adjacent edges of the blocks being bevelled so that they will nest together when collapsed, a pneumatic motor, treadle operated actuated means for actuating said motor, means to lock the blocks against movement and actuating connections between said pneumatic motor and said guide plate member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,857 Steele Sept. 12, 1939 2,192,786 Campbell Mar. 5, 1940 2,665,039 Neckel Jan. 5, 1954 2,768,774 Rieck Oct. 30, 1956 2,769,585 Goldstein Nov. 6, 1956 2,829,809 Freeman Apr. 8, 1958

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