Improvements in Machinery for Ironing Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Ironing Textile Fabrics.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM AUGUST EDWIN HENRICI, of 762,
Broadway, Chelsea, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States
of America, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 machines particularly adapted for ironing bed and
table linen, or other large articles, and the invention has for its object the improve-
ment of construction of such machines whereby the fabrics after being treated
are delivered with smooth, highly finished surfaces, and thoroughly dry.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ironing machine embodying the invention.
Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation thereof looking to the right, Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the ironing drum, pressure rolls, secondary
heater, and the flexible aprons or carriers for the articles or fabrics to be ironed.
The main frame comprises side frames A of suitable shape and strength to
support the various operating parts of the machine, and provided with bearings A¹
for the horizontal shaft 1 of a large hollow and preferably steam tight drum D
having a smooth or polished metallic periphery, the shaft journals, one or both,
being made hollow for the admission of steam or other heating medium into the
interior of and to maintain the drum highly heated.
This drum is rotated by suitable mechanism, not shown, at the desired rate of
speed, and a series of horizontal rolls R clothed with felt or similar material are
arranged to bear on the upper surface of the drum at short distances apart.
The frame A on its arched portions is provided with slotted standards a sub-
stantially radial to the centre of the drum, to receive sliding boxes a¹ for the roll
journals, springs s being interposed between the tops of the boxes and the lower
ends of the pressure screws s¹, whereby the yielding pressure of the ironing rolls R
upon the drum can be adjusted.
A horizontally disposed endless feed apron or band b, Fig. 1, mounted on
rolls 61, 62, rotated by suitable means, serves to convey the articles to be ironed to
the surface of the drum, and between it and the ironing rolls R, a guide roll R*
serving to guide the articles to the first ironing roll.
An endless apron or carrier C, which may be of felt, tapes or canvas, or other
suitable flexible material, covers the lower half of the drum, and passes thence
around suitable guides, preferably rolls, C1, C2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, appropriately.
mounted to rotate in bearings on the frame, the apron being driven in the direc
tion of the arrow 10, Fig. 3, in suitable manner, as by power applied to the roll C¹,
the apron being driven at practically the surface speed of the drum.

page_text: The articles are fed between the surface of the drum and the guide roll, and by
rotation of the drum they are carried therewith under the successive ironing
rolls R to the rear side of the drum, by which time the fabric has been subjected
to high heat and considerable pressure, and exposed to permit escape of the
vaporized moisture, so that the fabric is dry and presents a smooth surface.
To further dry the fabric it is carried around between the drum and the apron C,
and so much of the apparatus thus described is substantially as shown and
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to W. P. Thompson on
a communication from F. C. Wendell No. 629 dated January 12, 1892.
In that patent, however, a secondary apron carries the fabric to the back of
the machine to be delivered, but in order to polish or finish the side of the fabric
which has not been in contact with the drum, and to completely dry the fabric
before delivery I have provided a secondary heater over the polished metallic
surface of which the fabric is carried after it leaves the drum and before delivery.
Below the drum and apron CI mount a large segmental, hollow metallic box or
heater F, preferably made in sections to facilitate construction, and provided with
openings for the reception of pipes to convey steam or other heating medium to
the heater and maintain the same at a high temperature.
One end of the heater is bent up, as at F1, Figs. 1 and 3, partly around and in
close proximity to a guide roll M, the lower face of the heater being polished.
A second roll M2 is located near the other end of the heater, and a second endless
apron or carrier M is carried around said rolls and over the convex face of the
heater, and from roll M up and against the apron C on the roll C, thence to a
smaller roll m above it, and from the latter roll the apron M returns to the roll M³,
on its way passing over and being guided and held under proper tension by
rolls m¹, m², m³, mt, m5 and me, the aprons C and M having substantially the same
speed of travel.
When the fabric passes from between the drum and apron C it is carried around
the roll C between the aprons C and M and thence between the latter and the
bent up end of the secondary heater at the roll M.
Thence it is carried over the convex surface of the heater F in the direction
of arrow 20, Fig. 3, to and over the roll M2 and upon a delivery table or shelf M³,
Fig. 1, the other part of the apron travelling in the direction of arrow 15, Fig. 3.
It will be seen clearly from Fig. 3 that the side of the fabric which has not been
in contact with the drum surface will be brought into contact with the surface of
the auxiliary heater F, to thereby finish and polish or smooth that side of the fabric
also, and the final application of heat also serves to completely dry the fabric
before it is delivered from the machine.
By the machine described I attain a larger output, as the drum can be driven
at higher speed by the use of the auxiliary heater than is possible without it, for
in the latter case the fabrics are not sufficiently dry when delivered if the drum
be driven at very high speed.
I also effect a better finish, inasmuch as both sides of the fabric are subjected
to the smoothing and polishing action of a heated metallic surface.
The travel of the apron M around the roll m acts as a doffer to clear the drum
of a fabric after it emerges from the apron C, and a guard G may be placed over
the delivery roll M2 if necessary or desirable.
The ironing rolls are driven by frictional contact, as in the specification of
patent referred to, for the slower rotation of the rolls retard the advance of the
fabric so that the polishing action of the drum may be exerted on the fabric.
The rolls may also increase successively in diameter, with successive increase of
pressure, so that their action will serve to stretch and keep the fabric under tension.
Any felt or other suitable and customary material may be used for the clothing
of the ironing rolls, the term "felt" being employed herein with such meaning.
Stands A6 support the rolls 61, 62 and m, and stands A7 support the rolls C, M
and m', while at the back of the machine other stands A8, also secured rigidly to
the sides A, have bearings for the rolls C³, 3, M³, m³ and m³, as shown in Fig. 1.
E

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The use in a machine for ironing textile fabrics, of a rotary heated drum
having a metallic surface, a series of ironing rolls yieldingly acting on its upper
surface, an endless travelling apron or carrier surrounding its under surface, an
auxiliary heater, and means to subject the fabric to the action of the heated sur-
face thereof after such fabric has passed from between the drum and apron.
2. The use in a machine for ironing textile fabrics, of a rotating heated metallic
drum, a series of ironing rolls cooperating with a portion of its surface, means to
carry the fabric around in contact with the under surface of the drum, an auxiliary
heater having a convex, metallic surface, and means to subject that side of the
fabric which has not been in contact with the drum to contact with the convex
surface of the auxiliary heater to thus smooth or polish both sides of the fabric.
3. The use in a machine for ironing textile fabrics, of a rotating, steam heated
metallic drum, cooperating and yieldingly mounted felt covered ironing rolls,
an endless, travelling apron or carrier which receives the fabric after it has been
ironed by the rolls and moves it over and in close contact with the under surface
of the drum, a secondary apron or carrier, and an auxiliary heater, the fabric
after leaving the drum and primary apron being conducted by the secondary
apron over the heated metallic surface of the auxilary heater, and finally delivered
in a thoroughly dried and smoothed or polished condition.
4. The use in a machine for ironing textile fabrics, of a rotatable heated metallic
drum, cooperating ironing rolls, a segmental auxiliary heater, and means to con-
vey the fabric from the ironing rolls over the under surface of the drum, and
thence to subject its opposite side to the action of the heated surface of the auxiliary
heater.
5. The use in an ironing machine, of means to partially dry and iron a fabric,
and to smooth or polish one side thereof, and an auxiliary heater having a polished
metallic surface, and means to subject to the action thereof the partially dry
fabric, polished upon one side, to complete the drying of such fabric and at the
same time smooth or polish its other side, whereby the fabric will be delivered from
the machine thoroughly dry and smooth or polished on both of its sides.
6. The use in a machine for ironing textile fabrics, of a rotating, heated metallic
drum, cooperating ironing rolls yieldingly supported around a portion of the
surface of the drum, an endless travelling apron surrounding the under surface
of the drum and to carry the fabric across the same, an auxiliary segmental,
metallic heater, a secondary travelling apron, and means to cause the primary and
secondary aprons to travel in contact one with the other and in unison for a por-
tion of their length, the secondary apron thereafter travelling adjacent the
convex surface of the auxiliary heater, as and for the purpose set forth.
13
วด 1 1
1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.