Improvements in Ironing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 7th day of March 1898.
Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
TABLENDED).
Improvements in Ironing Machines.
A communication by FRED. C. WENDELL, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PINILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 machines for ironing bed and table linen, and has as
its primary object the construction of a simple machine of great capacity adapted
to deliver the fabrics with smooth finished surfaces and in a thoroughly dry
condition.
Heretofore machines of this character have generally been constructed with a
hollow steam heated drum, combined either with ironing rolls acting to confine the.
fabrics thereon, or with an endless belt partly encircling the drum for the same
purpose.
This invention is directed to the full and complete utilisation of the heating
surface of the drum, and to the delivery of the fabric in a perfectly dry condition
at a convenient point.
In constructing the machine, a series of overlying co-operating rolls are combined
with the heating drum, which rolls press the advancing fabric into intimate contact
with the drum, and also an endless belt which encircles the drum on the opposite
side from the rollers, so that, after the fabric is acted upon by the rolls, it is
carried around the remaining portion of the drum by the belt, being thus sub-
jected during the secondary part of the operation to a further drying action.
Inasmuch as the belt serves to carry the fabrics back to that side of the drum on
which they were introduced, and as it is inconvenient to have them delivered into
and out of the machine on the same side, it is proposed to combine, with the
belt or apron above mentioned, a second endless belt or other suitable carrier
adapted to return the finished fabrics to the rear side of the machine and there
deliver them.
It will be obvious to the skilled mechanic that the details of construction are not
of the essence of this invention, and that they may be modified at will provided
only the drum is combined with the rolls and the aprons in such a manner that
they act successively to confine the fabrics upon the drum and carry them
completely around the same or nearly so.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved machine in its preferred
form.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.
Referring to the drawings
A, represents a rigid frame which may be of any appropriate form, and B a
horizontal hollow drum, sustained by a central shaft b, mounted in suitable
bearings on the main frame. The drum is made hollow and with a smooth
exterior surface of metal, its shaft journals being hollow in order to admit of
steam being introduced into the interior to maintain the same in a highly heated
condition. C, C, are a series of horizontal rolls clothed with felt or similar
material and arranged to bear on the upper surface of the drum at short distances
apart. These rolls may be mounted in any suitable manner, but it is preferred as
shown to mount their journals c in boxes c' arranged to slide in standards on the
main frame, a spring being arranged above each box subject to the action of a
pressure screw in order that the rolls may be pressed with more or less force
toward the drum, as circumstances may admit.
Drepresents an endless apron of felt, tapes, canvas, or other suitable material
covering the lower half of the drum, and passing thence around guide
pulleys d d d and d. This apron is driven in any suitable manner at the same
or practically the same speed as the surface of the drum. A simple driving
mechanism is that shown in the drawings in which represents a sprocket wheel
on the roller d connected by chain to a driving pulley d.
E represents a basket, table or other support at the front of the machine from
which the fabrics are delivered between the surfaces of the drum and the first
roll C. As the drum revolves, the fabric is carried forward therewith under the
successive rolls until it arrives at the rear side of the drum. By this time, the
fabric, which has been subjected to a high heat, and to considerable pressure, and
entirely exposed to permit the escape of the vaporised moisture, is comparatively
dry and presents a smooth surface.
In passing the last roll at the rear, the fabric continues its downward course and
is carried between the apron D and the surfaces of the drum under the latter and
up to the front of the machine. In this passage under the drum, the fabric is
subjected to a further drying influence so that on delivery at the front it is in a
thoroughly dried condition. The delivery of the fabric over the front end of the
apron is ensured by the presence of a bevelled doffer bar F, which may, however,
be replaced by any suitable device.
The foregoing parts constitute a complete and operative machine, well adapted
to the end in view. In order, however, to return the fabric to the rear and there
deliver it, a second endless apron or carrier G is provided which is passed around
the pulleys, d and d in contact with the under surface of the main apron D,
and then extended over the guiding rolls g, g³, gª³, g³, g' and go. As the fabric is
delivered at the front from between the drum and the main apron, it is directed
outward by the doffer and passed between the rolls and go, and thence in a
downward and rearward direction between the two aprons D and G to the rear
side of the machine, where it is automatically delivered on the horizontal portion
of the belt G extending between the rolls g and g¹.
While it is preferred to employ solid belts or aprons particularly in the case of
the main apron 1), it is to be understood that a series of narrow belts or tapes, or a
perforated belt, may be employed in order to permit the more rapid escape of the
moisture. The bearings of the various rolls may be constructed and made
adjustable in any appropriate manner to maintain the tension of the aprons.
It will be observed that, in this machine, the heated surface of nearly the entire
circumference of the drum is utilised, so that, when a drum of reasonably large
size is used, the fabrics are quickly and thoroughly ironed and dried in passing
once through the machine.

page_text: It will also be observed that the belt covering the under side of the drum
prevents the loss of heat which ordinarily occurs by radiation from uncovered
drums.
It will be observed that, in this machine, the ironing rolls, instead of being
geared to the drum as usual, are driven by frictional contact with the intervening
fabric. This is found in practice to be of decided advantage, as the rollers, turning
somewhat slower than the drum, act with a frictional effect to retard the advance
of the fabric while it is being subjected to the polishing action of the drum. It
has also been found advantageous to make the rolls of successively increasing
diameter, preferably by giving the felt covering an increased thickness, and to
adjust them so that they bear successively with increasing pressure on the drum,
and also that, when thus proportioned and adjusted, and when driven from the
drum by the frictional effect of the intervening fabric instead of being driven by
gearing, each roll will turn at slightly higher speed than the one next in advance.
The result of this is that the rolls act to draw or stretch out the fabric, keeping
the same under tension, so that the drum acts to give them a smoother and better
finish than when the rolls are positively driven as usual.
It is to be distinctly understood that, while it is preferred to clothe the rolls
with felt, as herein before pointed out, they may be clothed with any analogous.
soft material, and that the word 'felt' is used in the present Specification in a
generic sense as including all soft or felt like material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. In an ironing machine, the combination of a hollow drum, a series of rolls
co-operating with the periphery of the drum on one side, and a travelling apron
co-operating with the periphery of the drum on the opposite side. and arranged to
automatically receive the fabric from the last roll and return it in contact with the
drum toward the side of the machine at which it entered; whereby the fabric is
automatically subjected, first, to the action of the successive ironing rolls, and
thereafter, to the heating and drying action of the drum.
2. In an ironing machine, the combination of the rotary steam-heated metallic
drum, the series of felt covered rolls acting upon its upper surface, the endless
apron surrounding its under surface, and means substantially as described for
driving said apron.
3. In combination with the steam heated metallic drum, the series of overlying
rollers covered with felt, the endless apron encircling the lower portion of the
drum to return the fabric to the front of the machine, and the second apron or
carrier co-operating with the first to return the fabric to and deliver it to the rear
of the machine.
4. In an ironing machine, in combination with a rotary steam heated drum,
and means substantially as described for maintaining the fabric in contact with
the drum throughout substantially its entire circumference that they may return
to a point near the point of introduction, a secondary carrier to deliver the fabric,
after leaving the drum, to the rear of the machine.
Dotad this 11th dow of Tonuary 1809
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.