Improvements in Tapes for Laundry Machinery.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tapes for Laundry Machinery.
We, ALLEN CONKLING, of 395 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, County of Cook, State
of Illinois, and THOMAS SHIRES WILES, of 53 Dove Street, Albany, County of
Albany, State of New York, United States of America, Laundrymen, 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 a guiding tape for ironing and other machines in which
goods or material are passed from one to other portions of a machine, the tape
serving the function of preventing the clogging or stoppage of the goods in
transit.
Heretofore, textile or woven tapes have been employed but are objectionable on
account of their liability to stretch whereby they increase the liability of the
stoppage or rumpling of the goods en transit and when a series of such tapes are
employed, as is usual, the tension of each tape is liable by reason of the stretching
to be different from every other tape in the series employed, so that an irregular
indirect and non-uniform feeding of the goods results.
Furthermore, when used in connection with heated devices as in ironing machines
Buch tapes as have been hitherto been employed become deteriorated by the heat
to which they are subjected and are therefore comparatively short lived. The
object of our invention is to overcome these and other well-known objections and to
secure other advantages as hereinafter set forth.
By our invention we discard entirely the use of textile or woven tapes and we
employ bands of metal, of a width approximating that of woven tapes though not
restricted in this regard and of a thickness which shall render the bands sufficiently
flexible to conform to the surfaces with which it is to co-operate in the act of
guiding and feeding the goods.
Any suitable metal may be employed.
In cases where the metallic tape or band is not to be subjected to an exposure to
moisture corrosive metals may be employed, but in such cases any non-corrosive
metal which is not liable to excessive stretching may be used. When our metallic
bands are to be employed in connection with ironing machines we have found 'by
experiments that phosphor-bronze is particularly satisfactory in that it takes on a
clean polished surface which cannot discolor or damage the goods with which it
comes in contact. It also offers the least possible resistance to the passage of
starched goods which are perhaps more liable to adhere to woven tapes than other
goods. Other particulars and advantages of our invention will hereinafter be set
forth and particularly set forth in the claims.
The invention is shown in this instance in connection with an ironing machine,
and so applied, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of referenco marked thereon, form a part of this Specification, and in
which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatio view showing the application of the invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the rod and take-up for the
tapes.
Fig. 3 is a cross section through Fig. 2.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter A designates the periphery
of drum, and B the ironing bars of known construction, such for instance as are

page_text: M. E. Wendell, and dated April 26, 1892. C is a feed table also of known
construction.
Dare the tapes, of which there may be as many as may be required, dependent
upon the character and size of the machine upon which they are used. Each
comprises a metallic band in one or more pieces with one end held to a rod D'
extended parallel with, the axis of the drum and after passing beneath the ironing
bars the other end is passed under the rod E and connected with the 'loop f, of the
spring take-up F which in this instance is shown as consisting of a spring wire bent
at its centre to form the said loop and with coils of any required number, the
ends of the wire being extended substantially parallel with the sides of the loop
and held in the said rod in auy suitable manner. The loop is thrown out in a
different plane from the ends of the wire as shown best in Fig. 3 and the end of
the tape is shown as looped around the cross-bar of the loop.
Any suitable metal may be used for the tape; as herein before stated, where the
tapes are to be employed in connection with machines where they are liable to
exposure to moisture phosphor-bronze has proven by experience to be particularly
satisfactory.
We may however use tapes of other materials even where they are liable to
exposure to moisture.
:
The full lines in Fig. 1 illustrate the position of the parts when the drum. is in
its uppermost position; the dotted lines represent the drum in its depressed
position: The spring take-ups compensate for any inequality of end wise movement
of the tapes and keeps them from buckling.
Other forms of take-up may be employed in connection with a metallic tape, and
a. weight would be considered the equivalent of the spring in this connection.
Other modifications in details 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 our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A,metallic guide.and feed tape for laundry machinery, as set forth.
2. A guide and feed tape of a non-corrosive metal, as set forth.
3. A metallic feed and guide tape combined with a take-up connected therewith,
as set forth.
4. A guide and feed tape for the purpose described formed of phosphor-bronze
as!set forth.
5: The combination with a tape, of a yielding take-up connected therewith,.as
set forth.
6. The combination with a tape, of a yielding take-up having a loop connected
with one end of said tape, as set forth.
7. The combination with a tape, of a rod at right angles to the length thereof,
and beneath which the tape passes, and a yielding take-up mounted on said rod
and connected with the tape, substantially as specified..
Dated this 2nd day of October 1894.
W. F. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.