Abstract:
An apparatus to measure ease of ironing comprises a base supporting a vertical rail assembly; a lockable roller bearing block that rolls vertically on a vertical rail assembly for locking and raising and lowering the block at a selected location according to the raising and lowering along the vertical rail assembly. An adjustably inclinable ironing board for accommodating a test cloth is supported at one end by the lockable roller bearing block. The block is raised and lowered along the vertical rail assembly; a standard ironing structure secured overhead to the guide strut and resting at or near the board upper end includes a release mechanism, which releases the iron. The iron moves along the incline and a start sensor and a finish sensor sense the glide of the ironing structure down the board for measuring ease of ironing when the standard ironing board is in an inclined position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus and method to evaluate ease to iron a fabric or textile. 
     Ease of ironing is an important claim in fabric care applications. Fabrics and textile treatments that can be incorporated into clothing items that reduce effort in ironing or increase ease of ironing are important. Ease of ironing should not be confused with wrinkle reduction, which may be realized by chemical energy. Ease of ironing is the smoothing of a fabric with a flat object achieved by applying mechanical force to the fabric. Ease of ironing is reduction in the amount of labor or effort to iron. 
     Consumer care customers use various ease of ironing test protocols to evaluate a reduction in amount of effort involved to iron. Rose, U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,583 relates to a fabric treatment that has a lubricating effect that reduces frictional resistance to the movement of an iron. Thus the effort of ironing garments treated with the Rose compositions is appreciably lessened. The Rose patent further discloses a method and mechanism for determining “ironing ease.” In the Rose test method, cotton and polyester/cotton handkerchiefs are washed at 140° F. in a 0.1 percent solution of an anionic detergent-based commercial heavy duty household washing composition (“Cheer”—Procter and Gamble) for 10 minutes, rinsed in water at 105° F. for 10 minutes, spin-dried and tumble-dried at 140° F. for 20 minutes. A 20/1 ratio of water to dry fabric by weight is used in both the wash and rinse. The rinse water for reference fabrics contained no additives other than the 7 gr/gal. hardness present in all wash and rinse solutions. The treatment rinse contained varying amounts of ammonioamidate or a quaternary ammonium compound. Rose then determined “ease of ironing” by a measurement of frictional force within a fabric and between fabric and an iron using a modified Instrom tensile strength apparatus. In Rose, ironing is continued to an end point of removal of wrinkles from the fabrics. The ironing effort tensile strength values relative to water rinsed cotton at a value of 100 and water rinsed polyester/cotton blend at a value of 63 are determined by the Instrom instrument. 
     The Instrom instrument is designed for a wide variety of uses, only one of which is tensile strength. First, it is questionable whether a tensile reading is relatable to ease of ironing in a real operational environment. Additionally, the Rose methodology to determine “ease of ironing” on this instrument is not always accurate. The methodology to prepare samples and to operate the Instrom instrument is complex and often inaccurate. As such, the Instrom instrument is of little real value for the specific measuring of a fabric&#39;s ironing ease. 
     There is a need for a standardized, simple apparatus and method to quickly measure and compare an ease of ironing metric among test cloths to permit selection of cloth compositions and treatments that provide superior ease of ironing and appearance. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a standard apparatus and method to quickly evaluate and compare ease of ironing of test cloths. 
     The apparatus of the invention comprises a base supporting a vertical rail assembly and a framework with a guide strut; a lockable roller bearing block that rolls vertically on the vertical rail assembly for reversibly raising and lowering the block and for locking the block at a selected location according to the raising and lowering along the vertical rail assembly; an adjustably inclinable substantially flat board for accommodating a test cloth and supported at one end, designated the board upper end, by the lockable roller bearing block to support the board in an inclined position as the block is raised and lowered along the vertical rail assembly; a standard ironing structure secured overhead to the guide strut and resting at or near the board upper end; a release mechanism inserted to the guide strut to prevent movement of the standard ironing structure or to release the standard ironing structure to glide down the board when the standard ironing board is in an inclined position; wherein the standard ironing board further comprises a start sensor and a finish sensor to sense glide of the standard ironing structure down the board from the start sensor to the finish sensor when the standard ironing structure is relapsed by the release mechanism when the standard ironing board is in an inclined position. 
     In an embodiment, the invention is a method to evaluate ease of ironing, comprising: securing a test cloth to a plane inclined at a designated slope; releasing a standard ironing structure to glide down the inclined plane from an upper end to a lower end; sensing a glide time of the standard ironing structure from a set point at or near the board upper end to a set point at or near the board lower end; comparing the glide time of the standard ironing structure on the test cloth with a glide time of another test cloth determined at the same standard ironing structure inclination and same standard ironing structure to determine a comparative ease of ironing metric between the test samples. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an ironing ease measurement apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a horizontal position and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the same apparatus in a raised board position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic detail of the guide trolley of the  FIG. 1  apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of parts of the apparatus with a computer; and 
         FIG. 7  is a bar graph showing test results. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In this specification, the term “cloth material” is intended to include fabrics, textiles, garments and the like. The terms “ease of ironing” or “improved ironing effort” mean that a cloth material requires less effort to iron. The terms mean that wrinkles can be removed from cloth materials more easily with improved glide of an iron on the materials. 
     The “ease of ironing” metric determined by the apparatus and method of this invention may be relatable to tribology (the study of interacting moving surfaces, including the study of friction, lubrication, and wear) but is not necessarily limited to determining a tribology metric. The metric of the invention is an easily determined and reproducible metric that can be used to quickly compare ease of ironing of numerous and varying cloth materials. The invention provides a consistently reproducible and straight forward test protocol. 
     Features of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and following detailed discussion, which by way of example without limitation describe a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of ironing ease measurement apparatus  1 , FIG.;  2  is a side view of the apparatus  10 ;  FIG. 3  is a side view of the same apparatus  10  in a raised board position; and  FIG. 4  is a top view of the apparatus  10 . The ironing ease measurement apparatus  10  includes ironing board  12 , standard iron structure  14 , guide trolley  16  and framework  18 . Ironing board  12  includes material fasteners  20 . The ironing board  12  rests on a support frame  24 . Support frame  24  comprises four legs  26  that are secured to base  22  and four rectangularly arranged horizontal beams  28  supported by the legs  26 . The ironing board  12  is not secured to the support frame  24  but only rests on the horizontal beams  28 . Included with the frame  24 , are L-shaped brackets  29 , that can extend above of ironing board  12  to prevent lateral board movement. 
     Framework  18  can be an aluminum strut channel frame comprising a lower clasp with bracket-shape  33  that holds the lower end of the ironing board  12  and an underlying grid support  70  with bar extension  66  that supports board  12  and holds an upper end of the board  12  in a position determined by connection to vertical rail assembly  32 . The underlying grid support  70  is pivotally connected by means of the bar extension  66  to eyebolts  68  to a rail assembly  32  that rises vertically from and is supported by the base  22 . The pivotal connection comprises lockable roller bearing block  40 , which is described more in detail hereinafter. The pivot connection can be raised and lowered up and down the rail assembly  32  and locked into place at a position that defines the incline orientation of the framework  18  and correspondingly that defines an incline of the ironing board  12  held by the bracket  33  and grid support  70 . 
     Further, the framework  18  comprises an upper longitudinal strut  36  that provides stability to the framework and that connects its bracket-shapes  33 ,  34  to form a detent for the board and a hollow guide strut  38  that runs longitudinally between the bracket-shapes  33 ,  34 , parallel to the upper longitudinal strut  38  to complete the framework  18 . The guide strut  38  provides a guide function to the guide trolley  16 , which is suspended from the guide strut  38  to operate up and down the length of the guide strut  38  in a direction to the ironing board  12  defined by the guide strut  38 . The standard iron structure  14  is controllably connected to the guide trolley  16  in a manner hereinafter described with respect to  FIG. 5  so that a glide path of the standard iron structure  14  is determined by orientation of the guide trolley  16 , which in turn is determined by operation of the guide trolley  16  along the longitudinal axis of the guide strut  38 . 
     Further, the ironing board  12  of the ironing ease measurement apparatus  10  includes start photoelectric sensor  42  and finish photoelectric sensor  44 . Start photoelectric sensor  42  is located near the board  12  end that is closest to the bar extension  66  connection to the rail assembly  32  and the finish photoelectric sensor  44  is located near the opposing end of the board  12 . The photosensors are connected to a timing device  46 . 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  show a connection between the board  12  and vertical rail assembly  32  via lockable roller bearing block  40  described as follows: In the FIGs., a frame of C-channels (not shown) supports the board  12  and extends as grid support  70  that supports aluminum plate  62 . The grid support  70  has a further bar extension  66  that curves in the shape of a handle outward from one side of the grid support  70  to return to form an opposing side of the grid support  70 . Each of a pair of openable eyebolts  68  is held through lockable roller bearing block  40  by a nut  64 . The bar extension  66  can be connected through the eyes of the eyebolts  68  to allow inclining and locking of the board  12 . This approach allows for multi angle positioning of a secured test cloth so that once the release mechanism  50  is disengaged it will allow discharge of the cordless iron at a measurable optimum angle. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic detail of trolley  16  comprising a double clevis hanger  72 . Each clevis hanger  72  comprises a yoke  76  and upper U-frame  78 . The handle  58  of the iron structure  14  is secured by each yoke  76 , each of which is clamped to the upper U-frame  78  by threaded rod  80 . Each double clamp structure  72  is slidably slung from smooth bar  56  by an eyebolt  82  that is threaded to a respective U frame  78 . 
     The trolley  16  further comprises a suspension bracket  84  and spring  86 . Suspension bracket  84  has an upper riding lip  88  that fits within slot  92  of the hollow guide strut  38 . The riding lip  88  encompasses freely rolling ball bearings  90  that permit the trolley to freely traverse down an inclined guide strut  38  in a test run of the invention. The connection of the guide trolley  16  by means of the freely rolling ball bearing  90  and riding lip  88  combination through the slot  92  of guide strut  38  restricts the path of the gliding iron structure  14  to a designated course from the upper end to the lower end of a plane of an inclined board  12 . At the same time, free rolling of the bearings  90  permits a glide of the iron structure  14  along the course and on a test cloth  96  secured to the board  12 . Spring  86  acts to cushion the iron structure  14  against stop bracket  94  at a conclusion of a test glide. 
       FIG. 1  shows a timer  46  that registers glide time according to readings of photosensors  42 ,  44 . In another embodiment as depicted schematically in  FIG. 6  and as applied hereinafter in the described EXAMPLE, a computer  60 , shown in  FIG. 6 , is used to record results of the apparatus and method and to provide meaningful information concerning ease of ironing. The  FIG. 6  system can be part of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 to 5 . In the figures, an angle sensor can be set on L-shaped bracket  34 , which in turn is supported on plate  62  at a start glide location of the standard iron structure  14 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the readings of photosensor  42 , photosensor  44  and the angle sensor are transmitted to computer  60 , where the readings are stored and used to calculate glide times for test cloth ease of ironing comparisons. The computer  60  can include an alterable memory to retain a control program and operation parameters to register and compare glide times. Preferably, the computer  60  is a microprocessor operating under stored program control to record operation of the ironing ease measurement apparatus  10 . 
     To any extent applicable, sample preparation and conditioning and results evaluations can be adapted into this invention from standard testing procedures such as for example, the smoothness evaluation of irons of the International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) International Standard 60311 section 10. As relevant and adopted herein, this standard provides a preparation of test cloths for assessment of smoothing. In operation, a test material is secured to the ironing board  12  by means of the material fasteners  20 . Lockable roller bearing block  40  can be run up and down the vertical rail assembly  32  to a desired position. Then, board  12  is inclined by connecting its end to the vertical rail assembly  32  by means of the lockable roller bearing block  40  at an inclined angle that is sensed by an angle sensor  48 . 
     Further,  FIGS. 1 to 4  show an activating mechanism  110  that includes a trigger  114  that is spring loaded within housing  112 . The trigger  114  is modified to accept an end of timing cable  116 , which in turn is connected to release mechanism  50 . The timing cable  116  runs over timing pulleys  118  inside of strut channel framework  18  to its connection to the release mechanism  50 . Release mechanism  50  is bolted to a modified L shaped bracket  120 , which in turn is bolted to framework  18 . The release mechanism  50  includes spring latch  122 , which restrains roller bearings  90 . 
     In operation, a tester elevates an end of board  12  to a connection with vertical rail  32 . Iron  14 , which can be first heated in heating dock  124 , is placed at a start position. An initial reading of timer  46  and a reading of the angle sensor are recorded. Then, the tester activates trigger  114  downward against the spring bias. Activation of trigger  114  is translated via cable  116  to activate latch  122  of release mechanism  50 . Activation of latch  122  releases ball bearings  90  to roll the trolley  16  and correspondingly move the iron  14  down the board  12  incline, guided by guide strut  38 . Along its path, the start sensor  42  senses a start time and finish sensor  44  senses a finish time to define an elapsed time. Elapsed times can be determined for the iron  12  on a variety of fabrics or on a fabric with a variety of treatments to provide comparative ease of ironing values. 
     Standard iron structure  14  can be any structure that can be defined to represent a garment iron such as any electric iron. The standard iron structure  14  usually represents a portable appliance that has an electrically heated sole-plate and that can be used for ironing a textile or fabric. Examples of the irons that can be represented by the standard iron structure  14  include an iron known as a thermostatic iron, which is fitted with a thermostat that can be adjusted to alter sole-plate temperature an electric iron with non-self-resetting thermal cut-out such as a fusible link that disconnects a heating element if the iron attains excessive temperature; a dry iron that has neither means to produce and supply steam nor to spray water onto the textile material; a shot-of-steam iron that is provided with means to supply a shot of steam to textile materials while ironing and that can emit a single emission of an increased volume of steam from a sole-plate for a short duration; a vented steam iron that has an atmospheric pressure reservoir to produce steam when water contacts the sole-plate; a pressurized steam iron that produces steam in a boiler at a pressure exceeding 50 kPa; an instantaneous steam iron that pumps small quantities of water from a water reservoir to produce steam when the water contacts walls of a boiler generator; and a spray iron that can spray water onto the textile materials while ironing to name a few. Standard iron structure  14  is replaceable within the ironing ease measurement apparatus  10  to provide a structure for testing of these various iron structures for ease of ironing of various textile materials. For example, when the ironing ease measurement apparatus  10  is used to evaluate different textile materials, the same standard iron structure can be tested with a variety of textile materials. And, the ironing ease measurement apparatus  10  can be used to evaluate different irons by testing the different iron structures with a standard textile material. 
     In operation, release mechanism  50  is engaged to prevent rolling of the guide trolley  16  and correspondingly the connected iron structure  14  down the board  12  incline until disengaged. To start a test run, the release mechanism  50  is disengaged to release the guide trolley  16 , which by gravity propels the iron  14  down the incline of the ironing board  12 . At the commencement of the test run, the start photosensor  42  senses a traverse across a scanned line  52  that transverses a guide path of the standard iron structure  14  to sense passage of the standard iron structure  14  along the path across the line  52  to sense a start and correspondingly the finish. Photosensor  44  senses a traverse across a scanned line  54  that transverses the iron  14  guide path to sense passage of the standard iron structure  14  along the path across the line  54  to sense a finish time. The photosensors  42 ,  44  are connected to a timer  46  that registers an elapsed time from the start and finish sensed by the photosensors  42 ,  44 . 
     The test apparatus  10  of the invention provides a mechanism to quickly and reproducibly test cloths for ease of ironing. In operation, board  12  is positioned to a set incline and then the iron  14  is permitted to glide down the inclined board  12  between the start photoelectric sensor  42  and the finish photoelectric sensor  44 . A comparison of elapsed time between start and finish of cloth samples provides a measure of relative ease of ironing of the cloth samples. 
     The following EXAMPLE is illustrative and should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claims unless a limitation is specifically recited. 
     EXAMPLE 
     In these runs, the test set-up used was the same as depicted in the figures. A commercial grade ironing board was securely mounted in a framework that allowed for multi-inclined positioning. The board was equipped with photoelectric sensors, an electronic timer, and configured with a manual release device. The apparatus configuration included a track roller that allowed a guide trolley to move without restraint. The connected cordless iron then could glide down the board without restraint when released from its starting position. 
     Silicone chemistries that were thought to be substantive to fabric and exhaustible from dilute aqueous systems were evaluated for ease of ironing after 5× wash/dry cycles. 100% cotton twill and 100% cotton print were washed with a commercial liquid laundry detergent and treated in the rinse cycle with silicone additives, which were post-added to a commercial liquid fabric conditioner at 1 wt %. Silicone A was a pendant polyalkylene oxide modified polydimethylsiloxane. Silicone B was a high molecular weight unmodified silicone fluid, and Silicone C was a cationic amino silicone terpolymer. 
     The test cloths were tested according to the apparatus and process described in connection with the figures above. Uniformly treated fabric specimens were securely fastened to the inclined ironing board and the times it took for the iron to glide from one sensor to the other were reported in seconds. The values reported are an average of 20 readings. Low numbers are indicative of faster ironing and translate to less work (easier ironing). 
     The  FIG. 7  chart demonstrates that the present invention can detect small differences in silicone treatments allowing consumer care companies to make label claims. At the 95% confidence level, most examples in a set of data are close to the average with few extremes. Differences in treatments were statistically different. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, the present invention is capable of variation and modification and therefore should not be limited to the precise details of the Examples. The invention includes changes and alterations that fall within the purview of the following claims.