US1599591A - Apparatus for and process of finishing hosiery and knit goods - Google Patents

Description

septQ14 1926. 1,599,591 Y TQ F. SHATTERS APPARATUS FOR AND PROCESS OF FINISHING HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS y Filed sept. 2a, m25 154 52- Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1 f 1,599,591 ra'rsN'r orrics.

TIILIE F. SIIATTERS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BURSON KNI'ITING COM- PANY, F RCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR AND PROCESS OF FINISHING I'IGSIEEY ANI) KNIT GOODS.

Application filed September My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for and process of finishing hosiery and knit goods.

My invention primarily concerns itself 6 with the ironing, pressing, steaming, Ior

final finishing of fancy knit socks and stockings. One type of popular, fancy knit stocking is one wherein the toe and the heel pocket are knitted with so-called plain or balbriggan knitting; the balance of the foot, including both the sole and top, the instep and the leg, are knit with a fancy stitch, which may be a drop stitch, a tuck stitch or any other type of fancy knitting, and the top of the stocking or sock is made of a hem or a selvedge portion, as the case may be, which also is plain or balbriggan knitting.

Experience shows that the value of the stocking depends upon the raised appearance of the fancy knitting in the top of the foot, the instep and the leg, and if this raised or fancy knit portion is ironed down the appearance of the stocking is greatly damaged. On the other hand, experience shows that it is desirable to iron or press the toe, the heel, and the top where the plain knitting occurs and also the sole where the fancy knitting occurs. Experience also shows that the ap pearance of the stocking is greatly enhanced if the fancy knit portion which is not to be ironed or pressed is lightly steamed and then stretched, because this raises yor brings out the beauty of the fabric.

In carrying out my process the stocking, which is usually in a comparatively dry condition, is boarded or placed on a thin board or form. The operator then irons the toe, the heel, the sole and the top, but carefully refrains from ironing the balance of the stocking. This ironing may be done by means of an ordinary hand iron and wet cloth, or may be done by means of a heated iron containing steam, with holes in the bottom through which the steam escapes to moisten the fabric as is necessary and well known in connection with ironing fabrics. The .steaming of the lbalance or unironed portion may be done by placing the iron with its escaping steam just above the stocking. so as to allow the steam to come in contact with the stocking, care being taken that the iron does not contact. This process is carried out first on one side of the stocking, and then on the other side: then the board is withdrawn from the stocking, the operator takes hold 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,236.

of the top and bottom of the stocking, stretches it lightly, and lays it out fiat before boxing.

In another exemplification of my process the stocking is boarded and then, instead of 00 being iron-ed, is pressed on the board between the surfaces of a press, the surfaces being so arranged as to contact only the heel, toe and sole, and the same press at the same time, or a different `press or the same press at a 05 different time, can then be used to press the top of the stocking. The operator then withdraws the stocking from the board and, holding it at both ends, passes it between two pipes from which thin steam jets are projected, so that the fancy knit portion of the stocking passes through the .steam zone and is there steamed; yor this can be done before the stocking is removed from the board, as the case may be.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of an iron suitable for my purpose; l

Figure 2, a stocking on a board;

Figure 3, the piping arrangement whereby the steaming may be done without the use of an iron, and

Figure 4, a section on the line 4 4 of 85 Fig. 3. y

The press is not shown because the press may be any one of many suitable, well known types and the details of the press form no part of my present invention.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the drawings and specification.

A'is a stocking, A1 the top, A2 the toe, -A8 the heel pocket. These parts A1, A2, A3 areV y made of ordinary flat or balbriggan knit- 95 ting. A4 is the sole of the foot, A5 the top,

A6 the instep, A7 the leg. All these parts, A4, A5, A, A7, are fancy knitting.

B is a work table upon which stockings may be rested while they are awaiting finish- 100 ing and after finishing. B1 is a steam supply' pipe. From it lead upper and lower steam jet pipes, B2, B3, these pipes extending from Ts B4, B5 on the pipe B1 and being provided with valves B6, B7, to control the flow of steam. These pipes B2, B3 are capped as at Bs. The upper pipe has a plurality of downwardly and outwardly discharging steam yorifices B9, and the lower' pipe B3 a plurality of upwardly and out- 110 wardly discharging steam orifices B10. It will be understood' that the steam is discharged from these orifices along the dotted lines B11, thus forming a steam Zone between the two pipes through which the stocking may be passed to nioisten and steam it.

C is the iron. It is provided with an electric conductor C1 leading to heating coils, not here shown. It hasa handle C2, a steam pipe C3 controlled by a Valve C4, and perforations C5 in the bottoni of the iron whereby steam may escape under control of the valve, to meisten or steam any work beneath the iron.

I claim: 'f

l. The process of finishing stockings which consists in boarding the completed stocking, pressing the toe, sole, heel and top of the stocking, and then separately steaming that portion of the stocking which has not been pressed.

2. The process of nishing stockings which consists in boarding the coinpletedl stocking, pressing the toe, sole, heel and top of the stocking, and then separately steaming that portion of the stocking which has not been pressed and while the stocking is on a board.

3. The process of finishing a stocking which consists in compressing part of the stocking between two relatively smooth surfaces and in steaming and stretching that part o'fthe stocking not otherwise treated;

Signed at Rockford, county ofl Winnebago and State of Illinois, this 19th day of September, 1925. s

TLLIE F. SEATTIERS.4

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