Improvements in Ironing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ironing Machines.
I, HENRY THOMAS TALLACK of 10 Great Turnstile, Holborn W.C. in the County
of London, Patent Agent, being a communication from abroad by Alexander Milton
Dolph, of The American Laundry Machinery Company of Cincinnati Ohio, in the
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an ironing machine which will be less
costly to make and turn out a larger quantity of work and of better quality than
machines of this class heretofore made, and to carry out my invention I construct my.
improved machine as follows.
Two upright supporting frames carry between them a large steam cylinder and parallel
thereto two concave steam chests in conjunction with two corresponding revolving rolls.
The two concave steam chests are placed preferably above the steam cylinder and
reversed position relatively to each other, the concave surface of the one facing in
opposite direction to concave surface of the other and are firmly fixed, together with
the large steam cylinder to the supporting frames. Journaled in the supporting
frames are the two rolls, so fitted that they may run with their peripheries in contact
with the two concave faces of the two concave steam chests. These rolls are
covered with a flexible or composite material. Around the fixed cylinder is
placed an endless apron carried by appropriate feed and idler rolls. The steam chests
and steam cylinder are provided with suitable intake and exhaust steam pipes for
heating the said steam chests and steam cylinder and appropriate mechanism is
provided whereby the composite covered rolls and the feed and idler rolls are rotated,
and special arrangements are provided for bringing the rolls and apron in contact
with the steam chests and steam drum respectively with a greater or less degree of
pressure and also for throwing them out of contact with all the heated surfaces when
the machine is out of work.
The steam chests and corresponding composite rolls are so placed in relation to each
other and to the steam cylinder and its travelling apron, that articles to be ironed
may be introduced between the first or uppermost steam chest and composite roll, and
be ironed on one side, and thence he carried to the second steam chest and its
corresponding roll and be ironed on the reverse side and then to the steam cylinder
with its travelling apron in such a manner as to pass between the said apron and the
steam cylinder, and it is thus carried around the steam cylinder and delivered by the
apron on to a suitable table affixed to the machine, being thoroughly dried by the steam
cylinder while passing around it.
The machine can be driven at high speed so that it will do the work as fast as it is
possible to feed it, and having no moving steam heated parts will keep in order and
maintain its efficiency longer than any other machine hitherto made.
Various modifications may be made and any suitable materials used.
Dated this 15th day of August 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Ironing Machines.
1 HENRY THOMAS TALLACK of 10, Great Turnstile, Holborn, W.C. in the County
of London, Patent Agent, being a communication from abroad by Alexander Milton
Dolph of The American Laundry Machinery Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and,
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to construct an ironing machine which will be less
costly to make and turn out a larger quantity of work and of better quality than
machines of this class heretofore made, and to carry out my invention I construct my
improved machine as follows:-
Around
Two upright supporting frames carry between them a large steam cylinder and
parallel thereto two concave steam chests in conjunction with two corresponding
revolving rolls. The two concave steam chests are placed preferably above the steam
cylinder and reversed position relatively to each other, the concave surface of the one
facing in opposite direction to concave surface of the other, and are firmly fixed
together with the large steam cylinder to the supporting frames. Journaled in the
supporting frames are the two mangle or ironing rolls, so fitted that they may run
with their peripheries in contact with the two concave faces of the two concave
steam chests. These rolls are covered with a flexible or composite material.
the fixed cylinder is placed an endless apron carried by appropriate feed and idler
rolls. The steam chests and steam cylinder are provided with suitable intake and
exhaust steam pipes for heating the said steam chests and steam cylinder, and
appropriate mechanism is provided whereby the composite covered rolls and the feed
and idler rolls are rotated, and special arrangements are provided for bringing
the rolls and apron in contact with the steam chests and steam cylinder respectively
with a greater or less degree of pressure and also for throwing them out of contact
with all the heated surfaces when the machine is out of work.
The steam chests and corresponding composite rolls are so placed in relation to
each other and to the steam cylinder and its travelling apron, that articles to be
ironed may be introduced between the first or uppermost steain chest and composite
roll, and be ironed on one side, and thence be carried to the second steam chest and
its corresponding roll and be ironed on the reverse side and then to the steam cylinder
with its travelling apron in such a manner as to pass between the said apron and the
steam cylinder, and it is thus carried around the steam cylinder and delivered by the
apron on to a suitable table affixed to the machine, being thoroughly dried by
the steam cylinder while passing around it.
The machine can be driven at high speed so that it will do the work as fast as it is
possible to feed it, and having no moving steam heated parts will. keep in order and
maintain its efficiency longer than any other machine hitherto made.
"In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line xx, Fig. 4.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of one of the mangle-rolls.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the steps and clothes-basket removed and parts of
the driving mechanisur omitted on the left-hand side.
Fig. 5 is an inside sectional elevation of one end of the frame on line y y, Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation of the spring-housing operating the roller-
journals.

page_text: Fig. is a detailed view of one of the apron-rolls with the adjusting mechanism
retracted.
°
A represents the main frame of the machine supported upon posts A' A'.
B represents the drum, or cylinder which is preferably composed of sheet metal
connected to circular heads by rivets a.
a' represents brackets by means of which the drum or cylinder is bolted to the
frame. This drum is heated in the usual manner by currents of steam or hot
air.
C represents an endless apron. It travels upon the idler-rolls 1 2 3 and
driving-rolls c e'. The rolls c c are pivotally supported by means of rods d d' upon
the stud-shafts D D'. The rolls c c are driven by the following mechanism :
C
E represents the main driving-shift. Upon it at each end is mounted a pinion e,
each of which meshes with and drives a pinion F upon the stud-shaft f, there being
two pinions F and two stud-shafts f. G represents a sprocket-chain engaging with
sprocket-wheel g, secured to pinion F on stud-shaft and with sprocket-wheel g' on
the shaft h, around which the chain G travels. On shaft h are mounted two other
sprocket-wheels which drive the sprocket chains H H', transmitting motion to
sprocket-wheels H2 H³. These in turn drive the sprocket-wheels H H on the ends
of the shafts of the rollers c c'. The endless apron C is thus caused to continuously
travel around the periphery of the steam cylinder or drying-drum. In order that the
said apron may be removed from contact therewith when the machine is not in
operation, we provide the following instrumentalities;
I represents a shaft journaled to arms of the yoke-guards J, each of which guards
is simply a horizontally-arched frame of such form as will permit passage of the
mechanism concerned in moving the apron to and from the drum. To said shaft I
is keyed or secured a crank-arm j, which engages with the link i, which is pivoted to
the stirrup k engaging the rod d. K represents a stirrup connecting said rod d
through link K¹ with the crank-arm L.
L' represents a connecting-rod connected to the crank-arm L, and to the stirrup L³,
secured to the rod d'. When the shaft I is turned in its bearings the link i is moved
from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 5. This moves
inwardly the pivotal rods dd, upon which the rollers e c¹ are journaled, thereby
drawing the apron C carried on said rolls up against the periphery of the drum.
A reverse movement carries the rollers c c' outwardly and loosens the apron, as shown
in Fig. 2, thereby preventing it from becoming unduly heated when the same is not
in use.
C
represents a stud on the crank-arm j, which travels over to a bearing-contact
with the guard-arm J, as shown in Fig. 5, to arrest the motion and hold the rolls c <
in a rigid position for operation, the link i and crank-arm j being then substantially
in line with each other.
M N represent the ironing or mangle-rolls which are revolved and operated in
conjunction with the concave beds m n, which concave beds are heated in the usual
manner, the devices for which are not shown. The mangle-rolls are constructed as
follows:-
0 represents a series of arms of spider form extending the whole length of the
roll. represents a series of connecting-ribs cast at intervals along the arms.
0 represents a series of wooden segments securely attached to said ribs and, form
the barrel of the cylinder. P represents the outside facing for said roll and is prefer-
ably formed of zinc, a sheet of which is wrapped around said roll, the ends not quite
coming in contact, leaving the space between them. represents a piece of zinc
seated in the recess formed between the ends of the facing. r represents a strip of
metal tacked to one end of the facing-sheet and projecting out and overhanging the
other end. The object of this is to allow the contraction and expansion of the sheet
metal without interfering with the cover of the roll and to confine the facing on the
roll. Said metal facing is covered over with suitable fibrous material. By this
construction the discolouring of the garments by contact with the roll is prevented.
and the contraction and expansion are duly provided for inside of the outer covering.

page_text: These rolls MN are journaled at each end in sliding boxes Q Q'. The concave
beds m n are rigidly connected to the frame in any suitable manner.
When the mangle-rolls are not in use it is desirable to remove them from close
contact with the concave beds, so that the covering will not become unduly heated or
scorched. To accomplish this we provide the following instrumentalities:-
S
represents lever-arms pivoted to the sides of the frame at one end, the opposite
end being hinged respectively to the lever-arms S', as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
T represents an arm provided with a housing in which is seated the coil-spring T¹,
one end of which seats against the arm S'. The arms TS-S' and their connected parts
are applied to each side of the machine. To said arins S' are attached crank-arms RR¹
connecting with the sliding boxes QQ in which the mangle-rolls are journaled.
Each arm T is provided in one end with a slots' that connects with the hinge-pin or
pivotal connection of the arms S S¹ to permit a yielding connection of the several
arms. Said arms R R' are pivoted by ears s to the sides of the frame. represent
loose hinged connections of the arms R R with the journal-boxes Q Q. The arm T
is supported upon a sliding support U. V represents a screw-thread shaft journaled
in bracket V and screwed into threads in the sliding support U. W represents a
beveled pinion on the end of each shaft V. The pinions W are driven by the beveled
pinions W, to which motion is imparted by means of the hand-wheel X on shaft X',
to which said beveled pinions Ware keyed. When said shaft X' is revolved the
pinions W drive the pinions W and move the sliding supports U out or in, as the
case may be, which transmits motion through the arms S R R to the journal-
boxes QQ and simultaneously adjusts said mangle-rolls to or from their respective
concave beds. In order that the tension of each spring T¹ may be regulated we
provide an adjustable seat Y operated by a nut on the screw Y', by means of which
the tension is increased or decreased as desired.
At the upper front portion of the machine, adjacent to the concave bed. 11, is a
basket Z to receive the garments, and steps Z' may be provided to give access to the
.. basket.
The garments are fed forward from the basket Z between the concave bed n and the
roll N, from which they are delivered to the roll M and passed between it and the
concave bed m, from whence they are delivered to the cylinder or drum B, being fed
forward on the drum by roll 4. This roll is driven from the roll M by means of the
chain belts 5, one at each side of the machine, the roll 4 being connected to the shaft
of the roll M by sleeves 67 and connecting-rods 8, the roll resting by its own weight
on the face of the drum B. 9 represents an arm pivoted to the hinged arm S¹ at each
side of the machine, which lift roll 4 from the face of the drum at the same time that
the mangle-rolls M N are shifted away from the concave beds. As the garments pass
from roll 4 they are caught by the apron and carried around the drum B upon which
they are pressed and dried and delivered onto the table 10.
It will be understood that the devices for adjusting the mangle-rolls and for driving
and tightening the endless apron and for moving it to and from the stationary drying-
drum, or steam cylinder and the devices for operating the roll 4, are duplicated on
opposite sides of the machine.
When the machine is not in operation the mangle-rolls are moved out of contact
with the heated parts and the endless apron is slackened as described.
In order to strain the apron we provide the following devices: The table 10 is made
extensible. 11 represents legs supported on castors. The top of the table travels on
ways formed on rails 12. 13 represents rack-bars secured to the table, and roller 1 is
journaled thereon. 14 represents a shaft journaled on the pillow-blocks 15 attached
to the rails 12. 16 represents a pinion engaging with a rack 13, a pinion and rack
being located at each side of the machine. 17 represents a hand-wheel on shaft 14.
The hand-wheel is turned to run the pinions 16, moving the rack-bars to move the
table out or in. The roller 1 noves with the table and controls the strain of the
apron.
In order to cause the apron to travel in a true path on the face of the drum we
provide the following devices to regulate the lateral strain of said apron Roll 3 is

page_text: journaled at one end on a swivelling journal-box. 18, and the journal upon the opposite.
end is supported upon crank-arm 19. 20 represents a crank connecting-rod. hinged
at one end to the crank-arın 19 and at the other end to setting-lever 21. 22 represents,
a toothed segment; 23, a lock-lever pivoted to the setting-lever and its lower end
engaging with the teeth of the segment. When said setting-lever is moved out or in
it rocks the crank-arm 19, and the roll 3 is moved to a greater or less angle to the
axis of the drum B, thereby guiding the apron across the face of the drum and
making it travel around the drum in the desired lateral plane. In order to regulate.
the pressure of each of the rolls M N, we provide a turnbuckle 24 connecting the
levers R R', so that the sliding boxes Q Q¹ may be moved to and from each other,.
thereby giving a greater or less pressure to either of said rolls against its respective
concave bed, as required, the pressure of said rolls to the concave beds being made by
the hand-wheels X through the arms T S S¹ and their connections.
By making the drum stationary and employing an apron which is drawn around it
by suitable driving-rolls, the apron and drum perform the function of ironing or
smoothing the goods as well as drying them, so that the use of the preliminary
mangle is not at all times necessary.
Various modifications may be made and any suitable materials used.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [.
claim is :-
1. In ironing machines the combination of a mangle-roll, the barrel of which is.
composed of a wooden rim and split metallic facing secured thereto at one end, the
free end being confined by a metallic bridge-piece, whereby the facing is allowed to
contract or expand, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the mangle-rolls and their sliding journal-boxes, of the
levers S S¹, a longitudinally-inovable arm T to which said levers are hinged, the
crank-arms R R' attached to the arm S' and pivotally connected with the said journal-
boxes, and means for moving the arm T longitudinally to adjust the journal-boxes of
the rolls simultaneously, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the mangle-rolls and their sliding journal-boxes, of the
longitudinally-movable arm T, the levers S R R₁ and the coil-spring T forming a
yielding seat for the hinged connection of the arms S S' and connected journal-boxes,.
substantially as described.
4. In an ironing machine or mangle, the combination of the concave beds, the
mangle-rolls mounted in movable journal-boxes, yieldingly-supported crank-lever
mechanism for adjusting said boxes, the stationary cylindrical drying-drum located
beneath said rolls, the endless apron stretched around the sides and lower part of the
drum, and means for adjusting said apron to and from the drum, substantially as
described.
5. In an ironing machine or mangle, the combination of the stationary cylindrical
drying-drum, the endless apron stretched around the sides and lower part of said
drum, the rolls for driving said apron, mechanism for simultaneously adjusting said
driving-rolls of the apron to and from the drum, and the concave beds and adjustably-.
mounted mangle-rolls, substantially as described.
6. In an ironing machine or mangle, the combination with the stationary drying-
drum and its endless apron, of the concave beds m n, the mangle-rolls M, N, provided
with sliding journal-boxes Q Q₁ the crank-levers R R₁ pivoted to said boxes, the
arms S S', a hinged connection for said arms, a yielding seat for said hinged
connection and means for moving said arms to adjust the journal-boxes of the rolls.
simultaneously, substantially as described.
7. In an ironing machine or mangle, the combination with the stationary cylindrical
drying-drum and its endless apron, of the adjustable driving-rolls c c' the idler-
rolls 1, 2, 3, an extension-table upon which one of the idler-rolls is mounted, a
swivelling journal-box and a swinging crank-arm in which the ends of another

page_text: idler-roll are journaled, and lever connections for actuating said crank-arm to adjust
said last-named roll to an angle with the axis of the drying-drum, substantially as
described.
1
1000
H. T. TALLACK,
10, Great Turnstile, Holborn, London, W.C.