Improvements in Starching Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Starching Machines.
I, ALLEN CONKLING, of 395, 5th Avenue, Chicago, in the County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in starching
machines in which the goods are placed between rollers and the starch squeezed
therefrom. Heretofore this has been done through the medium of a foot treadle,
but it has been found that by this method each article does not get the same
amount of pressure and consequently not the same amount of starch, besides, some
portions of the bosom of a shirt for instance will require more starch than other
portions, resulting in a very unsatisfactory finish as some parts will become soft.
One of the primary objects of this invention is to overcome these objections
which I do by working the rolls automatically whereby the parts may be adjusted
so that each shirt bosom shall have the same amount of pressure and all parts of
the bosom receive the same amount of starch which has been found to be essential
to good results.
Another object of the invention is to prevent the caking or burning of the
starch as well as its clinging to the sides or bottom of the starch receptacle. This
I accomplish by the employment of an agitator in the starch receptacle, and, by
suitable mechanism, actuate this agitator to prevent the starch from becoming
caked or baking on the walls of the receptacle and also insure its being evenly
cooked. This agitator-actuating mechanism acts in conjunction with the devices
which operate the movable squeezing roll, and means are provided for heating the
starch. The rolls between which the goods are passed are preferably of a yielding
nature and have longitudinal creases or ribs which serve effectually in squeezing
the starch from the goods as the latter are passed there between.
The features above outlined constitute the essence of the present invention, but
at the same time I aim at improvements in the details of construction as will appear
as the description proceeds.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and
the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this Specification and in
which:
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my improved starching machine.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a top plan with a portion of one of the squeezing rolls broken away.
Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation of the devices which actuate the movable roll.
Fig. 5 is a detail of the cam and rock-arm for actuating the agitator.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawing by letter, A designates the frame
of the machine of suitable form and a, are its rods for the usual purposes of such
devices. In suitable boxes or bearings on this frame is journalled the horizontal
shaft B provided with the baud-pulleys B' designed to be connected by belt
(not shown) with any suitable source of power whereby the operative parts may
be driven.
On one end of the shaft B is a sprocket wheel B2 around which passes a sprocket
chain C, which also passes over a sprocket wheel C' on a shaft C2 parallel with the

page_text: shaft B and on substantially the same horizontal plane and over a sprocket wheel D
on a shaft D suitably journalled in the frame above the shafts B and C2 as seen best
in Fig. 1. A belt tightener C³ of any suitable form may be employed as shown in
Fig. 1.
E is the box or receptacle within which the starch is to be contained; it is
preferably though not necessarily of copper. The starch may be cooked or
kept warm in any suitable way, as for instance by a steam pipe E' receiving steam
from any suitable source passing into the box near the bottom thereof as shown in
Fig. 3, or as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 there may be a shallow pan E²
which forms in reality a part of the box or vessel and into this pan the steam pipe
may empty as indicated in said Fig. 2.
Suitable means, as a cock or faucet may be provided for drawing off the starch
when necessary, and a similar device e' may be employed for drawing off the water
of condensation from the pan or beneath the bottom proper of the box or receptacle
as seen best in Fig. 1.
F is the relatively fixed roller; it is preferably of rubber or some yielding
material and is also preferably creased or ribbed longitudinally as seen in Figs. 2
and 3 this roll is carried by the shaft D.
G is the co-operating roll; it is preferably similar in all respects to the roll F
and the corrugations are arranged to intermesh more or less loosely as may be
found most expedient, depending in a measure upon the character of the goods
being operated upon. The goods after being dipped in the starch in the box or
vessel, are passed through between these rollers and the starch squeezed therefrom.
The shaft G carrying the roller G is mounted in boxes or bearings g, as shown
more clearly in Fig. 4, which boxes are mounted to slide in the bearings G which
are carried at the upper ends of the rods or arms H, one at each side of the
machine as seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower ends of which are loosely sleeved
upon stub shafts H₁ projecting from the frame as seen best in Fig. 2, and
rigid therewith are the cam-arms I which rest upon the cams J fast on the
shaft C, and arranged beneath the free ends of said cam arms as shown best in
Fig. 4.
The boxes g, are held under spring tension by the springs g', as shown in Figs. 1
and 4 and this tension may be regulated or adjusted by means of the set
screws g². The roller G is held to its work by the springs G attached at
one end to the arms or rods H and at their other end to the frame as shown in
Fig. 1.
On the shaft C2 is an eccentric K which is arranged to work within the fork or
bifurcated end of the arm K', which is fulcrumed at its upper end on a stub shaft k,.
on the frame, a short shaft k' running through this stub shaft as seen in Fig. 2 by
dotted lines and Fig. 3 in full lines and connected with the upper end of a rod or
arm L, the lower end of which is connected with the lateral projection m, extending
from one corner of the agitator M, which is mounted to reciprocate in a plane
substantially parallel with the bottom of the starch receptacle, and in this instance
is shown as in the form of a rectangular gridiron like casting having at each
corner a lug or projection m² arranged to slide in the guides m³ on the bottom of
the box or vessel as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.
The form of agitator is not essential however neither is the manner of mounting
it within the box or vessel.
On the shaft B is a small pinion N which meshes with a small pinion N' on a stub
shaft extending from the frame and this latter pinion meshes with the large pinion O
on the shaft C to give proper direction to the rotation thereof.
With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above set forth, the
operation is as follows:
The starch is placed in the box or receptacle and heated and cooked by the steam
(or it may be in any other convenient way) and the shirts or other articles are
dipped in the starch and then passed through between the rolls F and G which
squeeze the surplus starch therefrom. The cams and eccentric are so timed as to

page_text: actuate the movable roll and the agitator at proper intervals, the rolls remaining
in operative relation for a sufficient length of time to permit of the passage of the
shirt between them and then they are separated. The movement of the agitator is
back and forth, caused by the rocking or swinging of the arm K₁ first to one side
and then to the other by the eccentric as will be understood from Fig. 5.
It will be observed that the operation or movements of the agitator and movable
roll is automatic and that the amount of pressure on each shirt must be the same
and each shirt bosom will receive a like amount of starch throughout.
Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.
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 :-
1. In a starching machine, a device for creating uniform pressure on the material
being operated upon, substantially as specified.
2. In a starching machine, the combination with the rolls, one fixed and the
other movable, of means for automatically actuating the movable roll, as set
forth.
3. In a starching machine, the combination with the rolls, one fixed and the
other movable, of means for automatically actuating the movable roll to create
an uniform pressure upon the material passing between the rolls, as set forth.
4. In a starching machine, a movable starch-extracting roll and an agitator
operatively arranged for the conjoint action described.
5. In a starching machine, a movable roll, agitator and means for the automatic
operation thereof, as set forth.
6. In a starching machine, the combination with the starch-applying device, of
means for automatically controlling the operation of said device, as set forth.
7. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of means for
automatically actuating the same to cause an uniform pressure upon the material
being operated upon, substantially as specified.
8. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of movable boxes.
in which the shaft thereof is supported and meaus for automatically moving said
boxes and the roll, as set forth.
9. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of movable boxes
in which the shaft thereof is supported, movable arms carrying said boxes, and a cam
mechanism, for actuating said arms as set forth.
10. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of bearings in.
which the shaft thereof is movably mounted, arms carrying said bearings, and cams.
acting upon portions extending from said arms, as set forth.
11. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of movable
bearings in which the shaft thereof is mounted to move, arms carrying said bearings
and provided with lateral portions, cams acting upon the underside of said portions,
and means for actuating the cams, substantially as specified.
12. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of an elongated
bearing for the shaft thereof with a yielding seat, arms carrying said bearings, and
means for oscillating the arms, as set forth.
13. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of bearings for
the shaft thereof, oscillating arms carrying said bearings, cams for actuating said
and means for actuating the cams, as set forth.
arms,
14. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, of oscillating.
arms carrying supports for the shaft of said roll, cams for actuating the arms and
means for the automatic actuation of said cams, substantially as specified.
15. In a starching machine, the combination with the starch box, of a reciprocatory
agitator therein operating as set forth.
16. In a starching machine, the combination with the starch box, of an agitator-
therein and means for the automatic actuation of said agitator, as set forth.

page_text: 17. The combination with a starch box of an agitator therein an oscillating
arm connected therewith and an eccentric for operating said arm, as set forth.
18. The combination with the starch box and an agitator therein, of an oscillating
arm connected with the agitator and having its lower end bifurcated, and an eccentric
mounted to work between the arms of the bifurcation, as set forth.
19. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll and au
agitator, of automatic co-operating devices for actuating said roll and agitator, as
set forth.
20. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll and a
reciprocatory agitator, of an oscillatory arm connected with the agitator, oscil-
lating arms supporting the shaft of the roll and automatic mechanism for actuating
said arms, substantially as specified.
Dated this Oth dow of Mor 1804
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.