Improvements relating to Ironing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Ironing Machines.
I, EDWARD WILLIAMSON, of 133 High Holborn, London, W.C., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to improvements in what are known as ironing machines
such as are used, and well known in laundries, and also by shirt and collar dressers
and the like, for the purpose of ironing and glazing collars, cuffs, shirts and other
articles of linen wearing apparel. The two essential elements in connection with
said well known type or class of machines comprise first, a metal (usually polished
steel) rotatable hollow roller or cylinder, internally heated; and, secondly, the
bed or table for the reception of the articles to be operated upon, and which bed
or table is caused to travel in a horizontal direction underneath the cylinder
aforesaid, the whole being contained within a suitable framing, and worked by
either hand or steam power.
Now my invention consists essentially and primarily, in the improved means
which I employ for giving to the horizontal travelling table aforesaid a certain
amount of resiliency in a vertical plain, whereas hitherto said travelling bed or
table has had no such resiliency, (with the result that the articles under treatment
have been liable to injury) but has merely had imparted to it from underneath,
usually by a drum or cylinder in suitable connections, the necessary amount of
slight travel vertically to ensure the requisite pressure between the ironing cylinder
aforesaid, and the articles being operated upon.
In carrying out my invention 1 adapt to the framing of the ironing machine,
carriages or brackets provided at the outer ends of each with a receptacle for a
spring preferably spiral, the upper ends of which springs, being adapted to the
underside of the horizontal travelling bed or table aforesaid, the number of said
springs being determined according to the size of machine and intended
requirements.
Under the second head of my invention instead of the means hitherto employed
for causing the requisite amount of upward travel to the bed; I accomplish this by
means of an arrangement of worms and worm wheels with vertical spindles the
upper ends of which latter take into suitable recesses formed underneath the under
carriage of the horizontally travelling bed for reception of same.
Dated this 18th day of January 1893.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Ironing Machines.
I, EDWARD WILLIAMSON of 133 High Holborn, London, W.C., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in what are known as ironing machines
such as are used and well known in laundries, and also by shirt and collar dressers
and the like, for the purpose of ironing and glazing collars, cuffs, shirts, and other
articles of linen wearing apparel. The two essential elements in connection with
Baid well-known type or class of machines comprise first, a metal rotatable hollow

page_text: roller or cylinder, internally heated; and, secondly, the bed or table for the
reception of the articles to be operated upon, and which bed or table is caused to
travel in a horizontal direction, underneath the cylinder aforesaid, the whole being
coutained within a suitable framing, and worked by either hand or steam power.
Now, my invention consists essentially and primarily in the improved means
which I employ for giving to the horizontal travelling table aforesaid a certain
amount of resiliency in a vertical plane, whereas hitherto said travelling bed or
table has had no such resiliency (with the result that the articles under treatment
have been liable to injury) but has merely had imparted to it from underneath,
usually by a drum or cylinder and suitable connections, the necessary amount of
slight travel vertically to ensure the requisite pressure between the ironing cylinder
aforesaid and the articles being operated upon. And, again, in accordance with
this invention, I adopt novel means, as will hereinafter be explained, for causing
or imparting a requisite amount of vertical travel to the bed or table.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect will proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying two
sheets of drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, that
is to say :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2, an end elevation of so much, and such
parts, of an ironing machine, as will serve to illustrate this invention.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the carriage upon which the table travels in
horizontal plane,
.
Figs. 4 & 5 are respectively cross sections through lines A B and C D..
Fig. 3:
Fig. 6. is an inverted plan of the ironing bed or table;
Fig. 7. an end elevation of the same, mounted upon the travelling rails or
guides and
Fig. 8. shews particularly the worm and toothed rack arrangement preferred to
be made use of for communicating the requisite amount of travel to the table
or bed.
Figs. 9 and 10. are respectively views in sectional elevation, and plan wherein
are shewn the novel means, I employ, as aforesaid, for imparting a certain amount
of vertical travel to the bed or table.
Now, in accordance with this invention, I, in the first place, adapt.to each side
frame a of the machine, and affix thereto the angle strips b, at stated intervals upon
which have formed boxes or hollow drums b. Corresponding with these hollow
drums or cylindrical boxes 6', I have other drums or boxes c', formed upon the
rail or guide c, placed over the angle supports of the framing of the machine. In
each of these hollow drums or cylindrical boxes, I place and fix a spring, such for
instance as shewn marked d. As will readily be seen, upon pressure or weight
being applied to the rail c, the springs d will be compressed, and as the weight or
pressure is relieved, so will the springs d expand to their normal extent thus
effecting the resiliency required. The upper sides or edges of the rails or guides c,
are formed with the tongues which fit into corresponding grooves e', upon the
underside of the ironing table or bed e. This latter travels backwards and forwards
upon the rails as required. The motion conveniently being obtained by means of
the worm f, carried upon the revolving shaft g, taking into the teeth of the rack h
cast upon, or otherwise affixed to the underside of the table e. i is the ironing
cylinder or roller carried in the bearings k upon the side frames a of the
machine.
To effect the necessary amount of vertical travel of the ironing bed or table, I'
employ the means more particularly illustrated in Figs. 9 & 10. of the accompanying
drawings. In accordance with this arrangement I. pass a stud / upwardly through
the box and screwed into the box c'. Mounted upon the lower end of the stud 1,
which at that part of its length is screw threaded, I have the toothed wheel m.
The interior of the boss of which is correspondingly screw threaded. Upon the
shaft n, supported by the side frames a of the machine, I have the worm o. Upon

page_text: actuating the shaft n by means of a hand wheel or otherwise, the worm o, engaging
in the teeth of the wheel m will cause it to revolve on the screwed end of the stud 7.
The wheel m having its bearing against the angle strips b will when revolving upon
the screwed end of the stud 1, cause the springs to become suppressed or expanded
respectively according to the direction in which the wheel m is rotated, thus raising
or lowering the strip c and the table e and thereby imparting the hereinbefore
referred to vertical travel of the ironing table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In ironing machines the construction, arrangement, and combination, of
parts substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn for the purposes of securing
a certain amount of resiliency to the ironing table and of imparting a required
vertical travel to the same.
Second. In ironing machines the under carriages and rails c in connection by
means of the springs d constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and shewn.
Third. In ironing machines the combination with the angle strips b, rail c, and
spring d, of the mechanism particularly illustrated in Figs. 9 & 10. of the accom-
panying drawings, consisting essentially of the-stud 1, screwed or otherwise secured
to the rail c, and carrying upon its lower and screwed end the toothed wheel m,
actuated by worm o, all constructed, arranged, and operating, for the purpose of
imparting a vertical travel to the. ironing table substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 19th day of October 1893.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.