IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING AND FINISHING GARMENTS, OR PARTS OF GARMENTS, ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN OR WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WALTER BEECROFT of Swinegate Leeds in the County of York, Mechanical
Engincer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING AND FINISHING GARMENTS, OR PARTS OF
GARMENTS, ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN OR WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS" to be
as follows:-
My Invention refers to an arrangement of mechanism or apparatus by the use of
which the pressure required for pressing, smoothing and finishing garments or
parts of garments, also for pressing woollen or woven or felted fabrics, may be more
easily adjusted and applied. The operator also is enabled to get clear to his or her
work, and in case of singeing, owing to overheating of rollers, the material may be
instantly withdrawn from contact therewith; apparatus is also provided for
reversing the movement of the pressing roller. By these improvements better
work is produced and economy in time and labour are effected.
On suitable framework I mount a headstock on which in suitable bearings is
hinged a sleeve or socket which forms the bearing for the pressing roller shaft.
Below the roller is provided a sliding table on which is carried a platform which
may be supported on springs or their equivalents so as to give elasticity to the
pressure. On this platform the materials to be pressed or finished are placed.
A rotary motion is imparted to the roller, through suitable gearing simultaneously
with the direct horizontal movement of the table and to this movement the above
mentioned platform passes under the roller carrying with it the material to be
pressed.
In order to impart the required pressure to the roller I apply over the hinged
sleeve or socket a weighted lever, such weights may be carried and adjusted on the
lever itself or the weight may be applied on another lever below the machine and
connected thereto by suitable rod or rods. The pressure may also be imparted by
springs the tension of which can be adjusted. The pressing roller has no outside
bearing but is placed on the end of the shaft, which runs in the hinged socket or
sleeve by this arrangement the operator can stand at the side of the machine
instead of at the end and in consequence is enabled to get quite close to the work.

page_text: The reversing arrangement which I preferably employ consists of two bevel
wheels mounted loosely on the driving shaft, gearing into a bevel wheel on the first
intermediate shaft. Between the two bevel pinions is provided a clutch keyed so
as to be capable of sliding on the driving shaft. The two pinions being in gear
with the wheel at opposite sides of its centre would convey motion to the bevel
wheels from the driving shaft in opposite directions so that by sliding the clutch
box out of gear with a clutch on one bevel pinion and into gear with the corre-
sponding clutch on the other bevel pinion, the direction of the movement of the
bovel wheel is reversed and that of the pressing roller and table simultaneously.
In order to relieve the material suddenly when it is found that the rollers have
become too hot and thereby to prevent singeing, I provide for this purpose an
inclined sliding support between the table and the platform which can be
instantaneously withdrawn by the operator whereby the platform with the
material thereon is lowered away from contact with the roller,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WALTER BEECROFT of Swinegate Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING, AND FINISHING GARMENTS, OR PARTS OF
GARMENTS, ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN OR WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS" and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon:-
My Invention refers to an arrangement of mechanism or apparatus by the use of
which the pressure required for pressing, smoothing, and finishing garments, or
parts of garments, also for pressing woollen or woven or felted fabrics; may be
more casily adjusted and applied. The operator also is enabled to get closer to his
or her work, and in case of singeing, owing to overheating of rollers, the material
may be instantly withdrawn from contact therewith; apparatus is also provided
for reversing the movement of the pressing roller. By these improvements better
work is produced and economy in time and labour are effected.
On suitable framework I mount a headstock, on which in suitable bearings is
hinged a sleeve or socket, which forms the bearing for the pressing roller shaft.
Below the roller is provided a sliding table, on which is carried a platform which
may be supported on springs or their equivalents, so as to give elasticity to the
pressure. On this platform the materials to be pressed or finished are placed.
A rotary motion is imparted to the roller, through suitable gearing simultaneously
with the direct horizontal movement of the table and in this movement the above
mentioned platform passes under the roller carrying with it the material to bo
pressed.
In order to impart the required pressure to the roller I apply over the hinged
sleeve or sockot a weighted lever, such weights may be carried and adjusted on the
lever itself, or the weight may be applied on another lever below the machine and
connected thereto by suitable rod or rods. The pressure may also be imparted by
springs the tension of which can be adjusted. The pressing roller has no outside
bearing but is placed on the end of the shaft which runs in the hinged socket or
sleeve; by this arrangement the operator can stand at the side of the machine
instead of at the end and in consequence is enabled to get quite close to the work.
The reversing arrangement which I preferably employ consists of two bevel wheels
mounted loosely on the driving shaft, gearing into a bevel wheel on the first
intermediate shaft. Between the two bevel pinions is provided a clutch keyed so
as to be capable of sliding on the driving shaft. The two pinions being in gear
with the wheel at opposite sides of its centre would convey notion to the bevel
wheel from the driving shaft in opposite directions so that by sliding the clutch
box out of gear with a clutch on one bevel pinion and into gear with the
corresponding clutch on the other bevel pinion the direction of the movement of
the bevel wheel is reversed and that of the pressing roller and table simultaneously.
In order to relievo the material suddenly when it is found that the rollers have
become too hot and thereby to prevent singeing I provide for this purpose an
incline sliding support between the table and the platform, which can be
instantaneously withdrawn by the operator, whereby the platform with the
material thereon is lowered away from contact with the roller.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference is
given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Ti
next and

page_text: The
The framework of the machine is shewn at a on it is mounted and secured a
headstock b. On such headstock b in suitable bearings c is hinged or carried a
sleeve d or socket, which forms a bearing for the pressing roller shaft e.
pressing roller fis keyed or otherwise fastened on the end of such shaft e, and
is made hollow as shown at g for the purpose of receiving the projecting
perforated tubes h through which the gas and air pass and when ignited impart
the required heat to the roller f. The perforated tubes h are attached to a hollow
box i to which the inflammable mixture of air and gas is conveyed through a
tube from some convenient source.
Below the roller is provided a sliding table l. On this is carried the platform
or sleeve board m, which inay be supported on springs to give clasticity to the
pressure. On this platform or sleeve board me the material to be pressed or finished
is placed.
A rotary motion is imparted to the roller f through suitable gearing n
simultaneously with a direct horizontal movement of the table l, which is actuated
through spur wheel n, pinion o, shaft p pinion g and rack r, and in this movement
the platform passes under the roller carrying with it the material to be pressed or
finished.
In order to impart the required pressure to the roller I apply over the hinged
sleeve or socket & a weighted lever 8 hinged or supported on the headstock b. The
weights required may be carried or adjusted on the lever itself, or may be applied
on another levert carried on the framework under the machine, and connected to
the lever by suitable rod or rods u. The pressure may also be imparted by
springs, the tension of which is capable of adjustment. The pressing roller f
having no outside bearing but being placed on the end of the shaft c allows the
operator to stand at the side of the machine instead of at the end only, as is usual,
and in consequence is enabled to get quite close to the work.
The reversing arrangement which I preferably employ consists of two bevil
wheels and w mounted loose on the driving shaft x, gearing into a bevil wheel 1
on the stud y.
Between the two bevil wheels is provided a clutch keyed so as to be capable of
sliding on the driving shaft c. The two bevil pinions being in gear with the bevil
wheel 1 at opposite sides of its centre, will convey motion thereto from the driving
shaft in opposite directions, so that by sliding the clutch box out of gear with the
clutch on one bevil pinion, and into gear with the clutch on the other bevil pinion,
the direction of the movement of the bevil wheel 1 is reversed, and that of the
pressing roller and table simultaneously. The operation of throwing the clutch in
or out of gear with the bevil pinions is effected through lever 2 and fork 3 by the
attendant, or this may be done automatically by means of adjustable catches and
swing lever 4.
In order to relieve the material suddenly when it is found that the roller has
become too hot (and thereby prevent singeing) I provide inclined sliding supports 5
and 6, which on being withdrawn, the platform m with the material thereon is
lowered away from contact with the roller f. This movement is effected by the
attendant, through handle 7, bell crank lever 8, and connecting rod 9. The
operation effects the withdrawal of both inclined supports 5 and 6 simultaneously,
such supports being connected together by the rod 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is :-
1° The arrangement and application of overhung pressing roller fin combination
with the horizontal sliding table and platform m substantially as herein
setforth.
2º The arrangement and application of weighted lever s, and hinged sleeve d
in combination with the pressing roller f substantially as and for purposes
herein setforth

page_text: °
The application of sliding clutch and bevil wheels v, w, and 1 for reversing
the motion of the pressing roller f and of the horizontal sliding table
substantially as herein setforth.
The arrangement and application of the sliding inclined supports 5 and 6
and means for operating the same substantially as aud for purpose herein
setforth.
The general arrangement and combination of the various parts forming my
improved machine for pressing smoothing and finishing garments or parts
of garments also for pressing woollen or woven or felted fabrics substantially
as herein setforth and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
1
3004