Improvements in Ironing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Ironing Machines.
WILLIAM MULHOLLAND PORTER of 175 Agnes Street, Belfast, Ireland,
Mechanic 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 :--
These improvements in ironing machines relate to that class of machines in
which a pair of overhanging or projecting rollers form the ironing surface and pad
for the goods to be treated.
These improvements in ironing machines consist of a series of novelties in
construction and arrangement as follows:-
1. Making the ironing roller and its bearings in one continuous tube.
2. Making the journal of the ironing roller next the heated surface of antifriction
rollers.
3. Utilising the space about these antifriction rollers for collecting the air
vitiated by combustion in the roller and discharging it from the machine.
4. Using air under pressure for supplying the gas burner inside the roller and
also for drawing away the vitiated air from the combustion chamber.
5. A simple arrangement of change wheels whereby the relative surface speeds
of pad and ironing roller can be adjusted so as to give different kinds of finish to
the goods operated upon.
6. A novel arrangement for adjusting the vertical position of the bearing for the
driving end of the pad roller.
7. A novel arrangement for raising and lowering the pad roller and for
maintaining it at a fixed distance from the ironing roller when in operation.
The foregoing improvements in ironing machines will be understood from the
following description reference being had to the drawing herewith in which the
same letters and figures of reference always apply to the same or like parts.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of a machine embodying these improvements.
Fig. 2. is a front or end elevation looking at the ironing end of the machine.
Fig. 3. is a back or end elevation looking at the driving end of the machine.
Fig. 4. is a detached view of parts to facilitate explicit description.
1. The ironing roller (a) is made of one continuous tube practically parallel
throughout and is carried in two bearings (61 62) formed in the framing (63) of the
machine the bearing (*) at the driving end having collars (62) on each side to
prevent end wise movement and the bearing (6) next the ironing end is formed
2: of a series of antifriction rollers (c) carried in a box (c¹) forming part of the
framing of the machine.
In the tube (a) forming the ironing roller and within the box (c) are a series of
perforations which permit the vitiated air from combustion to pass out
3: of the tube (a) into the space about the antifriction rollers (c) in the box (c')
whence the noxious vapours are drawn by a tube (d) in which there is fixed an
inverted cone (e) between the upper part of this cone (e) and the tube (d) is an
annular opening opposite the point of the inverted cone (e) is a nozzle at the end
of a tube (f) through which a jet of air is driven thus setting up a current through
the annular space which carries away the noxious vapours so that they do not rise
about the attendant of the machine. The end of the ironing tube (a) next the
attendant being closed all the fumes from gas combustion are conducted by the
tube (d) away from the attendant.

page_text: 4. The gas burner (g) within the ironing roller (a) is also supplied with air under
pressure by preference not less than ten inches of water pressure so that the
combustion of the gas is made as perfect as possible.
5. For the purpose of regulating or adjusting the relative surface speeds of the
ironing roller (a) and the pad roller (h) between which surfaces the goods to be
treated are passed an arrangement of change wheels (i) is introduced. On the
ironing roller (a) is fixed a sprocket wheel (a) driving an endless chain (k) which
gears into and drives a similar procket wheel (1) carried upon a stud (3) fixable
in a slot () in the framing of the machine and concentric with the ironing
roller (a) upon the boss of the sprocket wheel (k) is a changeable wheel (i) which
works into a spur wheel (¹) on the axle of the pad roller (/) so that as this
wheel (1) is changed the relative surface speeds of the rollers (a & h) are altered
to give the various sorts of finish required by the different qualities of goods to be
treated.
6. As it is necessary to maintain the parallelism of the surfaces of the ironing
roller (a) and pad roller (h) the bearing of the pad roller axle (42) at the driving
end is placed outside but as close to the driving wheel (1) as convenient and is
swivelled the trunnions (½³) being carried in jaws (m) which are adjustable
vertically by nuts upon a screwed pillar (m¹). In the framing of the machine (63)
are vertical slots in which are subsidiary bushes on the axle of the pad roller (h)
and these subsidiary bushes keep the pad roller (h) always vertically underneath
the ironing roller.
7. Outside the framing of the machine (6³) and extending within the pad
roller (h) is a bush (n) supported by an upright (n¹) the lower end of which rests
upon an adjustable screw (o) in the end of a weighted lever (o') which lever (o¹)
has for its fulcrum a pin (02) which is guided vertically in slots in the framing and
is supported by links (r) jointed together in the centre by a pin (r) and supported
at the lower end by a pin or pivot (2) in the framing of the machine. The centre
joint () of the links (r) is further connected by an arm (s) to a lever (s) on a
shaft or fulcrum (s2) carried in bearings on the framing of the machine. On this
shaft or fulcrum (s) and attached to it is a hand lever (s) by movement of which
the attendant can bring the links (r) into a straight line vertically and so force
the two fulcra (o² & 2) apart and thus raise the weighted lever (o¹) upright (n')
and the bush (") which supports the pad roller (4) until the latter is in contact
with the ironing roller (a). The weighted lever (o) giving a measureable pressure
and by the links (r) being allowed to pass slightly beyond their centres (o)
being in a right line they lock themselves so that there is no strain on the hand
lever (s) when the pad and ironing rollers (h & a) are in contact.
By moving the hand lever (s) into position indicated in Fig. 4 the fulcrum (2) of
the weighted lever (o) is lowered and the weighted end of the lever (o) rests upon
an adjustable stop (03) so that when the pad roller (h) is out of action there is no
strain on the fulcra of the links (r) from the action of the weight (y).
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 :-
In connection with ironing machines with overhanging rollers the following novel
arrangements or methods separately or in combination
(1.) The making of the heated or ironing roller of one continuous tube practically
parallel throughout.
(2.) The carrying of the heated or ironing roller next the overhanging part by
antifriction rollers arranged as sketched herein.
(3.) The formation of an air chamber about the antifriction rollers to collect the
fumes from the gas burner.
(4.) The use of air under pressure to create a current to draw away the fumes
by directing the current of air through a nozzle against the point of a cone within
a tube.

page_text: (5.) The arrangement described of an endless chain sprocket wheels and
changeable spur wheels to regulate the relative surface speeds of the pad and
ironing rollers.
(6.) The arrangement herein described of swivelled bearing with adjustable
support for pad roller axle.
(7.) The arrangement herein described of weighted lever hand lever locking
links and adjustable support for raising and lowering the pad roller and for
maintaining it at a positive distance from the ironing roller when in operation.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
WILLIAM MULHOLLAND PORTER.