Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1888.
Complete Left, 7th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY CHARLES CHASLES, of 77, Rue de Montreuil,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Mechanical Engineer.]
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of 23
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of said invention to be as follows :-
Hitherto various machines have been employed for ironing linen and for finishing
fabrics and other materials which generally consist in principle of a hollow trough of
cast iron heated by any suitable means (such as coal, gas, steam superheated or not
or other suitable means) in which rotates a hollow cylinder generally of sheet or cast
iron, capable of being heated in the interior when required and covered with felt or
other fabric appropriate to the nature of the operation.
This cylinder fits the hollow part of the trough or iron under the influence of a
pressure more or less strong and capable of regulating at will.
Further it is known that in the finishing of linen in particular one of the last
operations is the ironing for which it is caused to enter the machine slightly damp.
But the importance has been recognized of introducing linen into the machine as it
leaves the centrifugal or other hydro-extractor without passing through the drier, that
is to say, still damp. Under these conditions the operation is very badly effected with
the machines hitherto employed, for, unless the fabric under treatment be very light
a single passage through the ironing machine is not sufficient to dry it; it is necessary
077

page_text: to pass it two or three times and often this is not sufficient. There is consequently in
this operation a considerable amount of work which renders this process impractical and
troublesome and it is rarely employed.
That which prevents the rapid drying in these machines, is that the steam which is
formed as soon as the damp linen is in contact with the hot iron is imprisoned between
the cylinder and the trough in such manner that there is no surface of evaporation and
that the vapour cannot escape.
The invention for which the present application is made, has for its object to
remedy this inconvenience by applying to the machine already constructed or here-
after to be constructed an apparatus working either by suction or compression, which
has for its object to remove the vapour interposed between the heating surfaco and
the surface heated, before the issue therefrom of the piece of fabric or other article to
be ironed or finished.
I mean by the word vapour the result of the vaporization which is produced during
the operation either proceeding from the liquid or dressing contained by the material to
be finished or from any other cause.
For this purpose I pierce holes of various forms and arrangements in the concave
surface of the trough along its entire length and upon a zone more or less extended
according to circumstances, which may extend over the entire surface or be reduced
to a simple line which in case the orifice were a longitudinal groove, is equivalent to a
break of continuity and separates the trough into two juxta-posed troughs.
In order that the invention may be fully understood, I have represented in the
accompanying drawing, as an example only, a drying and ironing machine constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the entire machine arranged to be heated
by steam.
Figure 2 is a corresponding vertical cross section of the same. Figure 3 is a plan
seen from above of a part of the trough or iron.
Figure 4 represents a modification of the same system heated by gas. Figure 5
represents the invention applied to a hand iron.
I would here remark that the mode of construction represented in the drawings
forms no part of the present invention and that the details of the saine may be
varied as may be desired.
The apertures a of the trough represented at Figure 3 have for their object to place
the enclosed surface in communication with a lower longitudinal chamber b in which I
make a vacuum by any suitable means such as an ejector, fan or other well known
contrivance, 1 thus draw the vapour and I favour evaporation and drying and
consequently I avoid the inconvenience above mentioned.
In case the trough or iron c is heated by steam circulating in chambers das repre-
sented at Figures 1 and 2, I employ, as may be required, the same steam for working
the ejector.
In certain cases in lieu of drawing with a fan or other means, I compress in the
chamber b hot or cold air, dried if required, and I thus also create a current of air
favourable to evaporation. Figure 4 represents a similar arrangement in which the
heating of the iron is effected by gas jets e replacing the steam chambers d of
Figure 2.
The chamber in place of being arranged along the centre as shown, may occupy
any other more favorable position between the entrance and exit of the fabric.
There may be also several chambers distributed over the heating surface according
to the extent of such surface.
In case it is desired to form holes over the entire surface of the trough or iron the
roller alone may he heated,

page_text: Figure 5 shows another example of the same system applied to a hand iron. This
iron is hollow and its working surface is perforated and placed in communication by an
elastic tube with the apparatus for producing the vacuum. This apparatus by means
of an intermediate receiver can supply all the irons of a work room; it is for this
purpose that I apply a cock e for preventing loss when any particular iron is not
working or is withdrawn from the fabric to be ironed.
The same system may be applied with the same advantages in apparatus employed
in dye works and known by the name of steam table.
I have described the invention principally, as having its heating surface formed by
a trough of cast iron polished on its concave surface, but it is evident that it could be
formed by a cylinder or part cylinder, metallic or not, rough or polished, fixed or
moveable; this surface could also be made of any suitable form against which fabrics
or other material could be applied by any appropriate means.
1
100%
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Drying, Ironing, or Finishing
Linen Fabrics and other Materials.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of 23
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Henry Charles
Chasles of 77 Rue de Montreuil, Paris, in the Republic of France Mechanical Engineer,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Hitherto various machines have been employed for ironing linen and for finishing
fabrics and other materials which generally consist in principle of a hollow trough of
cast iron heated by any suitable means (such as coal, gas, stean superheated or not or
other suitable means) in which rotates a hollow cylinder generally of sheet or cast
iron, capable of being heated in the interior when required and covered with felt or
other fabric appropriate to the nature of the operation.
This cylinder fits the hollow part of the trough or iron under the influence of a
pressure more or less strong and capable of regulation at will.
Further it is known, that in the finishing of linen in particular, one of the last
operations is the ironing, for which it is caused to enter the machine slightly damp.
But the importance has been recognized of introducing linen into the machine as it
leaves the centrifugal or other hydro extractor without passing through the drier, that
is to say, still damp. Under these conditions the operation is very badly effected with
the machines hitherto employed, for, unless the fabric under treatment be very light,
a single passage through the ironing machine is not sufficient to dry it; it is necessary
to pass it two or three times and often this is not sufficient. There is consequently in
this operation a considerable amount of work which renders this process impractical
and troublesome and it is rarely employed.
That which prevents the rapid drying in these machines, is that the steam which is
formed as soon as the damp linen is in contact with the hot iron is imprisoned between
the cylinder and the trough in such manner that there is no surface of evaporation and
that the vapour cannot escape.
The invention, for which the present application is made, has for its object to remedy
this inconvenience by applying to the machines already constructed or hereafter to be
constructed an apparatus working either by suction or compression, which has for its
object to remove the vapour interposed between the heating surface and the surface

page_text: moveable; this surface could also be made of any suitable form against which fabrics
or other material could be applied by any appropriate means.
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 I claim is :—
1. An arrangement for removing the vapours given off between the cylinder and
the trough in ironing and finishing machines consisting of a trough provided with
longitudinal chambers d, d and b; this latter chamber being provided on the working
face with apertures a through which the steam or vapours are drawn or through which
compressed air is forced.
2. The improvements substantially as herein shown and described with respect to
Figure 5 and for the purpose stated.