Abstract: A shield for the inflatable side bags of both shirt and sleeve presser bag assemblies to substantially prevent the folding or pinching of the inflatable side bags during pressing. The shields are preferably fabricated from the same material as the body bag which is stiffer and less prone to folding than the side bag material. Folding and pinching of the inflatable side bags can be prevented when the shields extend to the point just past the point of maximum ballooning of the inflatable side bags.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically and simultaneously ironing front, rear and top portions of a shirt comprises two vertical movable ironing plates therebetween there is provided a dummy bearing a shirt to be ironed, the dummy including an upwardly movable top portion and the ironing plates having two concave top seats negatively reproducing the profile of the top of the dummy, the apparatus further comprising gripping elements to automatically grip and transfer the ironed shirt.

Abstract: An ironing machine for automatically ironing garments or other articles which are conveyed through the machine on hangers. The machine comprises an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed and a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at the ironing zone. The heat applying means is mounted on a shuttle which is movable relative to the ironing zone for traversing that zone. The heat applying means includes two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of the ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at the ironing zone and conforming to the surface contour thereof while traversing the ironing zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing wrinkles from a table skirt includes a cylinder capable of holding the table skirt and having a porous portion. The apparatus further includes devices for rotating the cylinder and for delivering steam from an outside source through the cylinder so that the steam passes through the porous portion and removes the wrinkles.

Abstract: Mannequin 14 includes upper torso portion 15 and lower torso portion 16. Upper torso portion 15 moves vertically with respect to the lower torso portion, and both portions expand laterally to mechanically distend a garment placed about the mannequin. Steam and air are introduced into the mannequin and pass outwardly through the garment draped on the mannequin while the garment is distended both vertically and laterally.

Abstract: A laundry presser includes body, shoulder and tack presser units which are driven for substantially concurrent pressing of several sections of an article of clothing such as a shirt, for saving of time, labor and a reduction in necessary equipment space.

Abstract: A steam kiln (10) for the setting of pleats in fabrics. The steam kiln (10) has shielding walls (32, 40) disposed at a distance from the lateral inside walls (26) and from the roof (22). These shielding walls form an integrated system of air guiding chambers (34, 42) for the return of steam aspirated by a fan (46) through an opening (44) in the horizontal top shield (40) from the interior of the kiln into the bottom area of the kiln interior. Heating elements (28) are provided in the air guiding chambers (34) for the reheating and superheating of the steam atmosphere. The steam is injected into the bottom part of the steam kiln from an external steam source (54).

Abstract: A method of drying and shaping a clothing primarily formed of vegetable fiber or blended with vegetable fiber and synthetic fiber, which has the steps of forming a body-shaped bag formed of grey of hard air permeability, mounting the clothing, and pressing the hem of the clothing, then blowing hot air into the bag, thereby drying and shaping the clothing with the surface heat and the hot air slightly exhausted from the texture of the bag. Thus, the clothing can be advantageously finished via the body-shaped bag formed to provide the surface heat and hot air hardly exhausted through the surface.

Abstract: An ironing machine comprises two half-manikins including four portions, that is a bust portion, a sleeve top portion, a shoulder portion and a sleeve portion, capable of supporting corresponding portions of a coat or similar cloth articles. The sleeve supporting portion may be horizontally withdrawn or advanced, with respect to the bust-shoulder assembly, and furthermore is provided with a resilient structure for recovering the sleeve size and shape. The half-manikin bust forming portion includes a movable board for ironing the sleeve top portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressing a jacket or the like includes a plurality of pressing heads and bucks whereby substantially one half of a jacket may be pressed automatically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressing dummy for finish pressing sweaters, jackets and similar garments, primarily made of knit fabric, consisting of a hollow body for the body portion and two pivot arms for the sleeves of the sweater, the jacket or a similar garment, with the pivot arms being able to be pivoted independently of the hollow body on the base support of the dummy used for pressing about a vertical axis by means of a manual lever via linkages out of the operative position, in which they are located in a plane in a manner in which they are aligned with the hollow body, forwardly towards the operating personnel into a receiving position, in which the operating personnel can without difficulty pull the sleeves of the garment onto the pivot arms after the body portion of the garment have been drawn over the hollow body, whereupon the pivot arms can again be pivoted back into their operative position, in which the finish-pressing operation takes place, in which a hot air-steam-mixture is blown into the h

Abstract: The garment presser bag assembly includes an inner bag of woven nylon material open at its lower end and defining at its upper end neck and arm openings. An outer bag of net-like material also includes an open lower end and neck and arm openings at its upper end, with the two bags being connected together about their respective neck and arm openings, leaving the lower end of the outer bag movable with respect to the inner bag. An expandable ring element is movable along the length of the outer bag so as to constrict the expansion of the bags when inflated.

Abstract: An upright machine for finishing a sweater-like garment has a non-permeable bag that defines a lower hot air and steam-receiving and mixing chamber. A cross-extending, vertically adjustable stretch carriage is provided and has means for gripping the lower edge of the body of a garment being processed; it cooperates with an upper pair of horizontally outwardly extending sleeve and shoulder receiving and stretching, supporting arm frames. A vertically extending perforated plate assembly supplies steam bursts directly within the body of the garment, and means is also provided for directly supplying steam within shoulder and sleeve portions of the garment along the arm frames. A pair of oppositely positioned vertical side arms are adjustably suspended from inner end portions of the arm frames for inside engagement with the body of the garment for stretching it horizontally outwardly; and the carriage is employed to stretch the body longitudinally downwardly.

Abstract: An upright apparatus for heating and conditioning shirts, blouses, jackets and leisure top clothing or garments has a hot-air-supplying, supporting and positioning base part on which an upright, tubular steamer assembly having inner and outer tube element pairs is operatively positioned. A steam supply and recycling system is connected to inner tubes of the pairs in such a manner to continuously indirectly apply heat along outer tubes of the pairs within a garment conditioning chamber defined by an upwardly extending, garment-supporting, permeable bag; dry, high pressure steam is supplied to the outer tubes to periodically directly apply bursts of hot steam within the chamber. To enable a maximum utilization of the heated steam as supplied from a source, such as a boiler, the output from the tube assembly is passed through an air heating heat exchanger positioned in the base part before it is returned to the boiler.

Abstract: A "stretcher" machine for ironing the shoulder, arm-hole and sleeve of an upper garment comprises a former and a stretcher. The former has an outer shape corresponding to the contour of at least one shoulder for carrying the garment in the wearing position. Means are provided for injecting steam and/or air at least into the interior of the sleeve when the garment is placed on the former. The stretcher is generally elongate and is firmly fastened to the former so as to occupy, in relation thereto, the natural position of an arm relative to the chest. The stretcher is arranged to engage longitudinally within the sleeve of the garment and to match the interior shape of the sleeve by tensioning the sleeve transversely. The means for injecting steam and/or air terminates within the stretcher and the stretcher comprises means for passing steam and/or air to the exterior and to the sleeve positioned on the stretcher.

Abstract: An improved device for holding at least several garments during a garment steaming operation so that a large number of garments are more quickly processed through a steaming operation; the device including a bar assembly that is pivotable at a front of a steam table and which carries several sets of novel holding clamps which support garment wire forms on which the garments are stretched flat for pivoting against the steam table surface.