Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Starching Shirts or other Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Starching Shirts or other
Articles.
We THOMAS BOLTON GIFFEN and JOHN BISSETT of the Firm of Giffen and
Bissett Laundry-men Cathkin Laundry Cathcart Road Rutherglen in the County
of Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for washing or starching shirts or other
articles, and it has for its object to provide apparatus which when the articles are
being washed or starched, will not subject them to friction thereby lengthening
the life of such articles.
To that end we enter through suitable stuffing boxes in the sides of a water
tight box, three or more vertical, diagonal, or horizontal rods, having plungers,
or pistons on their inner ends. The box being partially filled with soapy lye,
when the articles are to be cleansed, or with starchy fluid when these are to be
starched.
The outer ends of these plungers rods, have connecting rods jointed to them,
the other ends of the rods being connected to the crank pins, of a corresponding
number of crank shafts, carried in bearings parallel, or otherwise to the sides of
the box, the shafts being geared with each other, by means of bevel wheels, or
other gearing. One of the shafts having on it fast and loose pulleys, by which
it is driven from the engine or other source of power. The action of the apparatus
is as follows; When the articles to be cleansed or starched, have been intro-
duced into the interior of the box through an opening in the upper, or other side,
of the box, the plungers are set in motion, the cranks on the shafts being so
arranged that two oblong plungers will advance at the same time, in the direction
of each other, the articles being between them, the plunger or plungers at right
angles to these being then at their furthest point of retraction. The latter
latter plunger or plungers then advance on the retraction of the former, to again
recede on the advance of the first mentioned plungers, the articles being thereby
subjected to a cleansing or starching operation without friction upon them.
Dated 7th day of December 1896.
THOMAS B. GIFFEN.
JOHN BISSETT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Starching Shirts or other
Articles.
We THOMAS BOLTON GIFFEN and JOHN BISSETT of Cathkin Laundry Cathcart
Road Rutherglen in the County of Lanark Laundrymen do hereby declare the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: nature of this invertion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in alid by the following statement:---
This invention relates to apparatus more particularly for starching the fronts
and cuffs of shirts and similar articles; also collars, cuffs and shirt fronts, though
it may be applied to washing or other purposes for which it may be found
applicable. It is designed to provide apparatus which will act upon the articles
without subjecting them to a rubbing action or friction, and thus avoid wear
and lengthen the life of such articles.
It consists, of apparatus comprising a vessel or container to hold starch (or
soapy lye for washing) and to receive the articles, constructed with one, two or
more preferably three-paddles or plungers which are moved to and fro and
act alternately or successively upon the clothes, one set working at right angles
to the other; to cause then to absorb the starcli or other liquid:
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line - Fig. 3.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation on line y-y, Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. Plan with cover removed.
Fig. 4. Plan of cover and lid.
A watertight box or receptacle A is constructed of cast iron or other suitable
material with an opening in the front side to receive such parts of the articles
as are to be treated. The opening a is closed by a sliding panel B which closes
down upon the articles which project therethrough and prevents the escape of
liquor during the operation. Or instead of the sliding panel the opening a may
be closed by two lids or doors pivoted on a horizontal stud which approacli each
other to close the aperture and hold the articles, and are held together by the
aperture inside the handle of the lid K.
Inside the watertight box A we fit several preferably three-paddles or
plunges C, D which receive a reciprocating or oscillating movement from any
suitable source of motion. The paddles or plungers when in operation approach
to and recede froni one another alternately compressing or squeezing the clothes
between them and then releasing them, thus causing them to rapidly absorb or
become impregnated with the starch or other liquor.
The plunger or paddle C reciprocates to and fro, and its shank or outer end c
passes through a trunk or a stuffing box E, and is connected by the connecting
rod jointed to it by the pin f to the crack pini g on the rotating disc G by
which the desired movement is imparted.
The plungers or paddles 1) are affixed to the rods or arms. d which are pivoted
on pins screwed into the top and bottom of the box A upon which they can
oscillate to and fro. The rods d are connected to the reciprocating shank c of
the plunger C by connecting rods E¹ pivoted at one end to the shank c and at
the other end to the rods d, whereby the reciprocating movement of the plunger
or paddle C causes an oscillating movement of the plungers or paddles D, the
paddles D approaching as the paddle C recedes.
The watertight box A is enclosed with a cover H held down by screws pivoted
on the stud and passing over or between the lugs h¹.
The cover is provided with a lid K hinged on a rod or spindle and also with
a small annular lid L which can be opened readily for the insertion of small
articles, as collars and cuffs in sets which are held in position by a circle of wire
at their neck of a size corresponding with the round hole. When such small
articles are being done the front opening a is entirely closed by a slide B.
It is also provided with a steam chamber M to maintain the starch or other
liquor at the desired temperature.
The crank disc G is provided with a clutch box N by which it can be thrown
into and out of gear as may be required to start or stop the machine. The lower
part of the clutch is carried by a sleeve n loose upon the shaft n which is rotated
by the skew gear O. It is raised into gear by the foot lever P operating through

page_text: the forked lever 2, when the foot lever P is released it falls out of gear by its
own weight.
When the apparatus is in operation the box A is filled nearly up to the bottom
of the opening a with the starch or other liquor, the parts of the articles to be
treated are introduced through the opening a and the sliding panel B is closed
down upon them.
By depressing the foot lever P the clutch is thrown into gear and the plunger
or paddle C is set in motion and alternately compresses the articles against the
front side of the box and releases them. The connection between the plunger or
paddle C and the oscillating paddles D) is such that the forward movement of C
causes them to recede and the backward movement of C causes them to approach
so that the paddles D compress or squeeze the articles alternately with the plunger
or paddle and in a direction at right angles thereto, and at the same time
without applying any friction to them.
It is to be understood that each paddle or plunger may be operated independently
by means of a crank or its equivalent placed outside the box A rotated by bevel
gear or otherwise, and so arranged that one set advance as the others recede.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. Apparatus for starching or washing shirts or other articles constructed with
two or more sets of paddles or plungers working at right angles to each other
which alternately compress the articles between them substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for starching or washing shirts or other articles constructed with
a watertight box to receive the starch or other liquid provided with an opening
at one side through which the articles project, a reciprocating sliding plunger or
paddle which operates upon the clothes in one direction, and one or two oscil-
lating paddles or plungers connected thereto which alternately operate upon the
clothes in a direction inclined at right angles thereto substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus for starching or washing shirts or other articles
having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination substantially as
described and shown.
י
13-
1
to 1907
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & London, Patent Agents.