Improvements in Ironing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Ironing Machines.
We, CHARLES LLOYD BRAITHWAITE, ISAAC BRAITHWAITE, and EDWARD O'BRIEN,
of the Firm of Isaac Braithwaite and Son, of Kendal, in the County of West-
moreland, Merchants and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows;-
-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of ironing machine known
as "body and shirt ironers" but may be adapted to other classes of ironing or
polishing machines and is designed with the object of obtaining much more satis-
factory results than formerly and lengthening the life of certain portions of
the machine.
The machine is constructed of two end frames or standards, bearings being
provided therein for a back driving shaft and the heated top roller. The back
shaft runs the full length of the machine and consequently permits of the fast
and loose pulley being moved along it as found suitable for driving from the
main pulley or shaft.
About midway on the inner side of the framing are affixed or cast two ver-
tical (or approximately vertical) guides in which a further shaft is free to be
raised or lowered and upon the outer end of which is shrunk or otherwise secured
an arm or bracket carrying the bottom or padded roller and thus giving a par-
allel motion with adjustment in relation to the upper or heated roller.
The treadle shaft we also run the full length of the machine so that the pos-
ition of the treadle may be altered to suit the convenience of the operator, and
for obtaining a more efficient pressure we adopt a toggle arrangement, one point
of such being pivotted to any suitable part of the frame. Thus when the treadle
is depressed motion is given to the levers and they in turn raise the centre shaft
arm or bracket and bring the bottom roller in close proximity to the top one.
In order that an even pressure may be applied to the articles undergoing opera-
tion we construct the bottom roller with a tapered internal shaft fitted into a
sleeve in the interior of the roller forming therewith a knuckle joint which per
mits of a certain amount of oscillation and further to keep such roller rigid
a clutch box arrangement is formed with which the roller gears.
Having found there is also a very great strain upon the gears driving the
rollers when driving with spur gearing and considerable wear and risk of break-
age we propose to adopt a chain or band drive and for this purpose in order that
no excess of slack may occur in the chain or band we insert upon a small rod or
shaft attached to the arm or bracket and adjustable thereon by means of set
screws a further roll or toothed wheel to maintain the chain or band always
tight.
D
1 This 17th day of February 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: We, CHARLES LLOYD BRAITHWAITE, ISAAC BRAITHWAITE, and EDWARD O'BRIEN,
of the Firm of Isaac Braithwaite and Son, of Kendal, in the County of West-
moreland, Merchants and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of ironing machine known
as "body & skirt ironers" but may be adapted to other classes of ironing or
polishing machines and is designed with the object of obtaining much more sat-
isfactory results than formerly and lengthening the life of certain portions of the
machine.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2. End elevation partly in section.
The machine is constructed with two end frames or standards A suitably stayed
together with bearings for the operative parts of the machine. A driving shaft B
running the full length of the machine is carried on bearings 6 at the back the
fast and loose pulleys 61 62 on which can be placed at any position along its length
as found most suitable for driving from the main pulley or shaft and the heated
roller C is carried in bearing c. On each end frame A is cast or fitted a guide D
(which may be either vertical or inclined) in which a bearing E for a shaft F
can be raised and lowered by setscrews e. The shaft F is capable of rotation
in the bearings E and on its outer end is shrunk or otherwise securely fitted an
arm or bracket G by which the bottom or padded roller H is carried.
To the upper end of the arm or bracket G is attached a tapered arm or shaft K
which can be secured by shrinking the arm or bracket G onto the end of it or
otherwise.
The shaft or arm K has attached to it at its outer end by a knuckle or univer-
sal joint a sleeve L which fits the internal diameter of the roller H and upon
which the roller rotates. The knuckle joint permits of a certain amount of
oscillation of the roller which allows for unevenness in the thickness of the
articles or of the padding upon the roller and ensures an even pressure being
applied to the articles undergoing operation.
In cases where it is not considered necessary to allow for such unevenness the
shaft K is carried into or nearly through the roller H with a suitable bearing at
each end upon which the roller can readily turn.
The padded roller H is driven by a clutch h with which the end of the roller
engages.
The treadle shaft N is extended also across the machine to permit of the posi-
tion of the treadle being altered as required to suit the convenience of the
operator.
The shaft F has fitted to it a second arm or lever P extending downwards or
such arm may be attached to or form part of the arm or bracket G and on the
treadle shaft N is fitted a lever n which is connected to the arm or lever P by
the toggle R. The toggle levers R are pivoted together and to the lever n of the
treadle at the front r and to the framing and to the lever P at r² respectively
whereby an efficient pressure can be applied to the rollers. Thus when the
treadle is depressed an upward movement is given to the lever n on the treadle
shaft N the centre joint of the toggle levers are raised moving the depending

page_text: lever P outwards. The movement of the lever P causes a partial rotation of the
shaft F and with it the arm or bracket G thereby forcing the padded roller H
against the heated roller C.
Having found also that there is a very great strain upon the gear driving the
rollers when driving with spur gearing and considerable wear and risk of break-
age we drive the padded roller H by a driving chain S and sprocket wheel T
loose on the shaft or arm K to which is attached one part of the clutch h. Or
where the clutch can be dispensed with the sprocket wheel may be affixed to
the end of the roller C. The chain S is driven from the driving shaft B of the
machine by the wheels s¹s and a second chain $ gearing with the wheel s.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is:
1. An ironing machine constructed with a padded (or other adjustable) roller
mounted upon an arm or shaft passing into or through the centre of the roller
and rigidly supported upon an arm or bracket fixed upon a shaft parallel to the
heated roller whereby the padded roller may be moved to and from the heated
roller whilst maintained parallel thereto substantially as described.
2. In an ironing machine the combination with a fixed heated roller and mov-
able adjustable padded roller of an adjustable shaft F parallel with the fixed
roller an arm or bracket G affixed to the end of the shaft and an arm or shaft K
affixed to the other end of the arm or bracket G and a sleeve and knuckle joint
upon which the padded roller rotates substantially as described.
3. In an ironing machine the combination with the fixed heated roller, mov-
able padded roller H, adjustable shaft K an arm G and shaft K by which the
roller is supported of the lever P and the toggle levers R operated by the lever n
treadle shaft N and treadle ( substantially as described.
4. An ironing machine having the several parts constructed and arranged in
combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 16th day of December 1200