Abstract: A shirt or garment finishing machine with a mannequin or buck for holding the body of the garment or shirt with sleeve holders or grippers mounted on pivoting arms on each side of said mannequin or buck to hold the open end of the sleeve. The pivoting arms with sleeve holders/grippers pivot laterally to support various lengths of sleeves and provide tension to remove wrinkles. The sleeve holders/grippers move vertically on the pivoting arm to support sleeves that are attached to the garment body at a various angles. During either or both of these motions, the sleeve holder/gripper automatically adjusts its angle relative to the garment body to provide even sleeve tension.

Abstract: A peripheral safety guard apparatus for protection of an operator of a garment finishing press. The guard bar encircles the press head and includes connection to a pivotable connector member positioned to connect with a reciprocating activation device controlling actuating valves in communication with a source of pneumatic power for movement of the press head. Upon manipulation of the guard bar by an operator, the guard bar moves in advance of movement of the press head between an open, inoperative position and a closed, operative position. After manipulation of the guard bar, the activation device actuates valves with resulting movement by transfer of pneumatic power of the press head between inoperative and operative positions. Movement of the guard bar in advance of the press head between inoperative and operative positions, protects the operator from entrapment of a body part during downward movement of the press head to the operative position.

Abstract: A vacuum control barrier and buck cover system for positioning on the press buck of a garment press for reducing the force of the vacuum applied to a portion of a garment by the press buck. The vacuum control barrier includes a barrier sheet dimensioned to cover at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck through which a vacuum is applied to a garment such that the barrier sheet reduces or eliminates the force of the vacuum applied to the garment through the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck relative to the vacuum force applied to the garment through the air pervious surface of the front portion of the press buck. The buck cover system includes a front cover portion for covering at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the front portion of the press buck, and a rear cover portion for covering at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck.

Abstract: A peripheral safety guard apparatus for protection of an operator of a garment finishing press. The guard bar encircles the press head and includes connection to a pivotable connector member positioned to connect with a reciprocating activation device controlling actuating valves in communication with a source of pneumatic power for movement of the press head. Upon manipulation of the guard bar by an operator, the guard bar moves in advance of movement of the press head between an open, inoperative position and a closed, operative position. After manipulation of the guard bar, the activation device actuates valves with resulting movement by transfer of pneumatic power of the press head between inoperative and operative positions. Movement of the guard bar in advance of the press head between inoperative and operative positions, protects the operator from entrapment of a body part during downward movement of the press head to the operative position.

Abstract: A vacuum control barrier and buck cover system for positioning on the press buck of a garment press for reducing the force of the vacuum applied to a portion of a garment by the press buck. The vacuum control barrier includes a barrier sheet dimensioned to cover at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck through which a vacuum is applied to a garment such that the barrier sheet reduces or eliminates the force of the vacuum applied to the garment through the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck relative to the vacuum force applied to the garment through the air pervious surface of the front portion of the press buck. The buck cover system includes a front cover portion for covering at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the front portion of the press buck, and a rear cover portion for covering at least a substantial portion of the air pervious surface of the rear portion of the press buck.

Abstract: An air control valve system for a shirt body press wherein the shirt body press includes at least one mannequin which is positionable between two press plates. The mannequin defines at least two inflatable side air bags. The shirt body press further includes a blower system including a blower and a heat exchanger through which the blower exhausts. The air control valve system controls the flow of air out of the heat exchanger into inflatable air bags located at the sides and shoulders in two stages, a soft, or initial, air stage and a full pressure stage. The air control valve system includes at least one valve assembly for inflating the air bags. A flow controller can be mechanically adjusted to control the restricted flow rate of the soft air stage. A metering valve controls the rate at which the air flow rate is increased to the full pressure stage. The full pressure stage is timed to commence coincidentally with the closing of the press plates.