A New or Improved Apparatus for Polishing the Surface of Starched Linen and other Fabrics.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted. 24th Feb. 1900
A New or Improved Apparatus for Polishing the Surface of Starched
Linen and other Fabrics.
ROBERT WILLIAMSON, Calder Glen Laundry, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, North
Britain, Bleacher and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It relates to a new or improved machine for polishing the surface of starched
linen and other fabrics such as collars cuffs, shirts and like wearing apparel. The
main features of the machine consists in causing to reciprocate by motive power
one or more polishers, the polishers being secured to arms which travel in guides
and ensure their reciprocating in one horizontal and vertical plane. The tables
on which the linen is placed being made to ascend or descend by a lever operated
by the foot of the attendant, the table descending clear of the polishers on the
foot being removed. By means of this machine the labour in moving the polishers
is obviated and the table being regulated by pedal levers the attendant has her
or his hands free to attend to the linen. Said new or improved polishing machine
is preferably made with two sets of polishers one on each side of the driving gear
which is placed in between the two tables. The driving gear consists of a metal
shaft supported on a frame of wood or iron by means of ordinary plumber blocks.
The shaft is provided with fast and loose belt pulleys placed at or near its centre
intermediate to said supporting blocks, a fly wheel likewise being keyed to the
aforesaid shaft at a point adjacent to the driven pulleys. The extremities of the
shafts are provided with discs to which adjustable crank pins are fitted, the discs
overhang the central frame and the pins operate connecting rods. The cross-
head is provided with guide blocks at each end which reciprocate in guides
secured likewise to the central frame, the crosshead is continued beyond said
guides for a foot or thereby and have their extremities provided with polishers,
the adjustable crank pin operating said crosshead with its polishers which are
heated by gas or hot irons. The polishing frames or tables are supported by
rigid and independent frames placed directly under the polishing blocks and upon
a triangular metal frame having its axis supported and pivoted to the extremity
of a pedal lever the fulcrum of said lever being supported by and rotating in a
journal on the fixed frame, the opposite arm of said lever being provided with
the treadle at its extremity and with one end of a coiled metal spring the
opposite end of said spring being secured to the fixed frame the object being to
pull the table clear of the reciprocating polishers on the foot being withdrawn
from the treadle. The modus operandi is essentially as follows. The belt on
being turned on the fixed pulley causes the shaft to rotate and and necessarily
the discs on their extremities likewise rotate thereby giving motion to the con-
necting rods attached to the disc crank pin. the crossheads at the opposite end
of the connecting rod begin to reciprocate in its guides, the travel being regulated
by the distance of the crank. pin from the axis of the shaft. The polishers
forming part of said crosshead reciprocate with the crosshead and the operator by

page_text: means of the treadle controlling the table adjusts the pressure of the table with
its linen against the polishers to produce the necessary gloss or polish.
Dated this Sixth day of March 1899.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Polishing the Surface of Starched
Linen and other Fabrics.
ROBERT WILLIAMSON, Calder Glen Laundry, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, North
Britain, Bleacher and Finisher, 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:
In writing reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon.
My said invention relates to the construction of a new or improved machine or
apparatus having for its object the polishing of the surface of starched linen and
other fabrics such as collars, cuffs, fronts, and like wearing apparel, whereby the
work is made easier more rapidly and better performed than by the methods at
present in practice.
And in order that the nature and mode of performing my said invention or
putting same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended one sheet of drawings on which the same reference letters are used to
indicate like or equivalent parts in both figures.
Fig. 1 front elevation.
Fig. 2 plan.
The main features of the machine consist in causing to reciprocate by motive
power one or more polishers A the polishers being secured to arms B which
travel in guides C and insure their reciprocating in one horizontal and vertical
plane the tables D on which the linen is placed being made to ascend or descend
by lever E opperated by the foot of the attendant, the table descending clear of
the polishers on the foot being removed.
By means of this machine the labour in moving the polishers is obviated and
the table being regulated by pedal levers E the attendant has her or his hands
free to attend to the linen.
Said new or improved polishing machine is preferably made with two set of
polishers A one on each side of the driving gear which is placed in between the
two tables.
The driving gear consists of a metal shaft F supported on a frame ( of wood
or iron by means of ordinary plumber blocks H. The shaft is provided with
fast and loose belt pulleys I placed at or near its centre, intermediate to said
supporting blocks a fly wheel likewise being keyed to the aforesaid shaft at a
point adjacent to the driven pulleys. The extremities of the shaft are provided
with discs K to which adjustable crank pins L are fitted, the discs overhang the
central frame and the pins operate connecting rods M.
The crosshead is provided with guide blocks N at each end which reciprocate in
guides secured likewise to the central frame.
The crosshead P is continued beyond said guides for a foot or thereby and have
their extremities or arms B provided with polishers. The adjustable crank pin
operating said crosshead with its polishers which are heated by gas or hot-iron
irons.

page_text: The polishing frames or tables are supported by rigid and independant
frames Qplaced directly under the polishing blocks and upon a triangular metal
frame R having its axis supported and pivoted to the extremity of a pedal lever E
the fulcrum of said lever $ being supported by and rotating in a journal on the
fixed frame the opposite arm of said lever being provided with the treadle at its
extremity and with one end of a coiled metal spring U the opposite end of said
spring being secured to the fixed frame the object being to pull the table clear
of the reciprocating polishers on the foot being withdrawn from the treadles.
The modus operandi is essentially as follows. The belt on being turned on the
fixed pulley causes the shaft to revolve and necessarily the discs on their extremi-
ties likewise rotate thereby giving motion to the connecting rods attached to the
disc crank pin the crosshead at the opposite end of the connecting rod begins
to reciprocate in its guides the travel being regulated by the distance of the crank
pin from the axis of the shaft. The polishers forming part of said crosshead
reciprocate with the crosshead and the operator by means of the treadle controlling
the table adjust the pressure of the table with its linen against the polishers to
produce the required or necessary gloss or polish.
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:-
The machine or apparatus for polishing, linen, cotton and other fabrics
substantially as hereinbefore in and illustrated by the annexed sheet of drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1899.
ROBERT WILLIAMSON.