IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IRONING AND FINISHING LINEN AND OTHER FABRIOS
Year: 1868

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IRONING AND FINISHING LINEN AND
OTHER FABRIOS." A communication from abroad by Jules Decoudun,
Engineer, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th May 1868,
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IRONING AND FINISHING LINEN
AND OTHER FABRICS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for smoothing.
or ironing and finishing linen and other fabrics. The apparatus consists
[Price 8d.1

page_text: of a fixed metal plate having a polished heated surface, over this
plate travels an endless web of felt or woollen material so applied
that the fabric when introduced between it and the heated plate will
be drawn along by the felt and so perfectly smoothed.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings. A,
Figure 1, represents the polished heated metallic surface; B, the endless
web of felt carried on rollers C, D. The surface is curved at one
part in order that by adjusting one or both of the rollers C, D, at a
greater distance apart the felt may bear with greater pressure on A
and inversly by placing them closer together. If the fabric or linen
be spread out and introduced while damp at E, as indicated by the
dotted lines, it will adhere to a certain extent to the felt which carries
it along over the heated surface and delivers it at F.
The advantages of this apparatus are that, 1st, it reduces the labor
of the operator as compared with the ordinary modes of ironing, in
which the linen has to be spread on a table, covered with a woollen
material, and the hot iron passed backwards and forwards thereon with
a certain amount of pressure exerted by muscular force; but in the
apparatus of this Invention much less power is required, as it is simply
necessary to produce the travel of the endless web at a slow rate;
2ndly, the operation is effected much more quickly, as instead of
acting on a small portion of the surface only (as with an ordinary
iron), all parts of the fabric are caused to pass over a greatly enlarged
heating surface; 3rdly, the operation is conducted with greater
uniformity although requiring less attention.
In order to iron a large surface such as a muslin curtain, for example,
not only is it necessary in the ordinary process to go over the same
surface a great number of times, but as the iron cools it acts with less
effect, and when bearing with greater pressure at some points than
others the fabric becomes stretched and so puts the curtain out of
shape; but these objections are obviated by the improved process
described in which the heat and pressure are alike uniform.
Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which the introduction of the
fabric between the metal surface and the felt without creasing is fully
insured. It consists of a part G, H, mounted on a centre I and bearing
at J on the felt by the aid of a weight K, which pressure may be
regulated at any time by means of the lever L, for bringing the

page_text: part G, H, up to the felt so as to hold the fabric in position or for
removing the same.
Figure 3 shows the part before described mounted on a suitable
framing; the polished metal plate is placed at the part M ir contact
with the felt and heated on the opposite side by an ordinary stove.
The gripper, Figure 2, for holding the tabric is shown at N, a com-
bination of counterbalance levers ☐ serves to keep this gripper in
contact with the felt, it being thrown out of action by a treadle P.
The bearings Q of the lower roller are made adjustable for the purpose
of regulating the length of the web as before mentioned. The fabrics
to be ironed are placed on the bar R and supplied one by one to the
gripper N, which is provided with a bar S, Figure 3, having inclined
projections and termed the spreadler, its object being to spread out the
fabrics so as to prevent creasing. Motion is imparted to the rollers
carrying the endless web of felt by means of wheel gearing driven by
a crank handle.
Figures 4 and 4 show the smoothing apparatus combined in one with
a glazing cylinder. In this arrangement the smoothing plate T is
heated by a current of steam passing through the same in an indirect
manner so as to obtain as large a heating surface as possible. Roller U
is made of turned cast iron or wood covered with paper, with this
difference, that ordinarily these rollers are formed of rings of paper
superposed and subjected to great pressure, while I simply wind the
paper round the wood or cast-iron roller in the same direction as the
motion, so that it never becomes unwound. X, X', are levers for
regulating the pressure of the rollers. In this case the motion is
imparted to one or both parts of the machine by means of a driving
strap and pullies.
Figures 5 and 5ª show an ironing machine in which the polished
smoothing surface is provided with apertures Y, Y, for heated irons.
The gripper Z is caused to bear on the felt by the aid of a counter-
balance lever 21 while it is removed by a stirrup piece Z2 connected to
said gripper by a cord as seen.
Figures 6 and 7 show modified arrangements of the apparatus, the
first being heated by gas jets and the other by a spirit or other lamp;
draft chimneys are provided in both cases for producing the current of

page_text: air necessary for combustion. The apparatus may also be heated by
hot water or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigus, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IRONING AND FINISHING LINEN AND OTHER
FABRICS," a communication to me from abroad by Jules Decoudun,
Engineer, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-

page_text: tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
three Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for smoothing
or ironing and finishing linen and other fabrics. The apparatus cousists
of a fixed metal plate having a polished heated surface. Ou this plate
moves an endless web of felt or woollen material so applied that the
fabric when introduced between it and the heated plate will be drawn
along by the felt and so perfectly smoothed.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings. A,
Figure 1, represents the polished heated metallic surface; B, the endless
web of felt carried on rollers C, D. The surface B is curved at one
part in order that by adjusting oue or both the rollers C, D, at a
greater distance apart, the felt may bear with greater pressure on A,
and inversely by placing them closer together. If the fabric or linen
be spread out and introduced while damp at E as indicated by the
dotted line it will adhere to a certain extent to the felt which carries
it along over the heated surface and delivers it at F.
The advantages of this apparatus are that 1st, it reduces the labor
of the operator as compared with the ordinary modes of ironing, in
which the linen has to be spread on a table, covered with woollen
material, and the hot iron passed backwards and forwards thereon with
a certain amount of pressure exerted by inuscular force; but in the
apparatus of this Invention much less power is required as it is simply
necessary to produce the travel of the endless web at a slow rate;
2ndly, the operation is effected much more quickly, as instead of acting
on a small portion of the surface only (as with an ordinary iron), all
parts of the fabric are caused to pass over a greatly enlarged heating
surface; 3rdly, the operation is conducted with greater uniformity
although requiring less attention.
In order to iron a large surface such as a muslin curtain, for example,
not only is it necessary in the ordinary process to go over the same
surface a great number of times, but as the iron cools it acts with less
effect, and when bearing with greater pressure at some parts than others
the fabric becomes stretched and so puts the curtain out of shape;
but these objections are obviated by the improved process described
in which the heat and pressure are alike uniform.

page_text: Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which the introduction of the
fabric between the metal surface and the felt without creasing is
fully ensured. It consists of a part G, H, mounted on a centre I
and bearing at J on the felt by the aid of a weight K, which pressure
may be regulated at any time by means of the lever L, for bringing
the part G, H, up to the felt so as to hold the fabric in position or
for removing the same.
Figures 3 and 3* show the parts before described mounted on a suitable
framing; the polished metal plate is placed at the part M in contact
with the felt and heated on the opposite side by an ordinary stove.
The gripper, Figure 2, for holding the fabric is shown at N, a combina-
tion of counterbalance levers o serves to keep this gripper in contact
with the felt, it being thrown ont of action by a treadle P. The
bearings Qof the lower roller are made adjustable for the purpose
of regulating the length of the web as before mentioned. The fabrics
to be ironed are placed on the bar R and supplied one by one to the
gripper N, which is provided with a bar S, Figure 3, having inclined
projections and termed the spreader, its object being to spread out the
fabric so as to prevent creasing. Motion is imparted to the rollers
carrying the endless web of felt by means of wheel gearing driven by
a crank handle.
Figures 4 and 4 show the smoothing apparatus combined in oue
with a glazing cylinder. In this arrangement the smoothing plate T
is heated by a current of steam passing through the same in an indirect
manner so as to obtain as large a heating surface as possible. Roller U
is made of turned cast iron and heated by steam, while roller V is of
cast iron or wood covered with paper, with this difference, that ordinarily
these rollers are formed of rings of paper superposed and subjected
to great pressure. while I simply wind the paper round the wood or
cast-iron roller in the same direction as the motion, so that it never
becomes unwound. X, X', are levers for regulating the pressure
of the rollers. In this case the motion is imparted to one or both
parts of the machine by means of a driving strap and pullies.
Figures 5 and 5* show an ironing machine in which the polished
smoothing surface is provided with apertures Y, Y, for heating irons.
The gripper Z is caused to bear on the felt by the aid of a counter-

page_text: balance lever Z', while it is removed by a stirrup piece Z2 connected
to said gripper by a cord as seen.
Figures 6 and 7 show modified arrangements of the apparatus, the
first being beated by gas jets and the other by a spirit or other lamp;
draft chimneys being provided in both case for producing the current
of air necessary for combustion. The apparatus may also be heated
by hot water or otherwise.
Instead of the fixed polished metal surface serving as the ironer
being in the form of a curved plate as described, I may make it of
cylindrical form which in addition to facilitating the construction
permits of a certain amount of pressure and heat being employed when
using a current of steam. A cylindrical formn also gives a large
contact surface without much increase in the dimensions of the appa-
ratus. The felt also in this case is rendered moře durable as it need
not be stretched to such an extent as when applied on a plate of the
form first described.
This improvement is illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 10, of the
Drawings, which show three arrangements of the machine with cylin-
drical iron surfaces.
Figure 8 shows the first arrangement. A, polished metal cylinder
heated internally by means of steam or a small heating stove may be
disposed in its interior. a, steam inlet; b, steam exit. An endless felt
passes partially round the cylinder A and over rollers B, C, D, E. The
fabric to be operated on is introduced at F
and the roller B, and passes off at G, after
fourths of the circumference of cylinder A.
the tension of the telt.
between the treadle gripper
passing round about three-
is the roller for regulating
By means of this arrangement linen may be readily ironed without
damaging either buttons, hooks, or other appurtenances or trimmings,
as the felt will readily give to allow of their passing through the
machine.
•
In the case of operating on smooth surfaces such as in finishing
goods after dyeing, the felt need not possess so much suppleness, and
for this purpose I use the arrangement represented in Figure 9 in
which the felt is placed on a cylinder of wood or cast iron A, turning
in a concave part B of polished metal which serves as the smoothing

page_text: surface. The pressure of the roller on the iron is obtained by a com-
bination of counterbalance levers C, D, acting on the spindle of
roller A. By pressing on treadle E the pressure is removed, and
roller A will be lifted off the heated metal plate B in the direction A¹,
so as to leave a space F between the metal and the roller at which the 5
fabric to be operated on is introduced. The metal plate is heated by
means of a small stove, disposed below, which is a fixture in the appa-
ratus, the roller and felt having rotary motion imparted by the crank
handle G and a pair of toothed wheels. The counterbalance D may
also be made to slide on the lever, and so impart greater or less pressure.
With a maximum degree of pressure the fabric is glazed on the side in
contact with the heated surface, but in order to glaze both sides the
fabric should be passed from one roller to another, turning in contrary
directions.
This arrangement is shown in Figure 10, A, B, are rollers covered
with felt or with paper if it is required to increase the effect; C, D, heated
surfaces; the rollers are driven by gearing at a uniform speed.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as improvements
in apparatus for ironing and finishing linen and other fabrics to be 2
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. Passing the linen or other fabric over a fixed polished metal
plate of curved or cylindrical form and heated either by the aid of irons,
gas, steam, or other agent, the operation being effected by the aid of
an endless web of felt or other suitable material to which motion
imparted in the several ways herein-before described and as represented
in the Drawings.
2ndly. I claim the mechanical arrangements described and illustrated
in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, of the Drawings for facilitating the placing
of the fabric between the metal plate and the felt so as to prevent
creasing.
3rdly. I claim the employment of two plates or cylinders as shown
in Figure 10 for obtaining a maximum pressure of the felt in order
to glaze both sides of the fabric.
4thly. I claim the combination described and represented in Figures 43
and 4 of the ironer and glazing or calendering cylinder in one apparatus.

page_text: I also reserve the right of making any modifications in the apparatus
I may deem desirable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
JAKES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)