Improvements in Starching Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov.,
1000
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 6th Oct.,
1900
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 6th Oct.,
1900
Improvements in Starching Machines.
I, WILLIAM HENRY RICKEY. Merchant, of 20, North 21st Street, East Orange,
New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to 'machinery for starching collars cuffs and similar
articles.
The object of my invention is to provide improved means for regulating the
tension and action of the rollers, to furnish an improved roller for such machines
and to make the action of the machine automatic so far as the delivery of the
starched goods is concerned.
The improvements relate particularly to that class of starching machines in
which polygonal rollers are employed, which class may be illustrated by the
machine described in U.S. Patent No. 571,281, granted November 10, 1896, to
Daniel H. Newton.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, and in them,
Fig. 1 is a side, or end view of the machine;
Fig. 2 is a top view, showing the driving mechanism, the apron controlling
device and the automatic delivery.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the starching vat and the machinery con-
tained therein;
Fig. 4 shows the means for regulating the tension of the delivery apron, and
Fig. 5 a view of my improved roller, with one end of the bearing shaft partly
in section.
a a represents the frame of the machine, which may be fixed to the floor;
the body of the starch-tank; c the feed-table; d the delivery table where
the goods are collected after passing through the starch vat; e the driving
pulley, shown as worked by a belt, but which may have a handle attached and
be manually operated; f f the cog wheels by which the driving motion is com-
municated to the apron and rollers; g, g, g, screw bolts for regulating the ten-
sion and pull of the apron; h, is a safety attachment operating through the cog-
wheels f, to start or check the machine; i, the adjustable delivery roller, set
in the frame j, said frame being rotatable on a central bearing k, and control-
m. is
ling the tension of the delivery apron 7;
a perforated frame
set close to the delivery apron, 1, for automatically removing the articles, the per-
forations allowing the superfluous starch to pass downward into the dripping
pan n, attached to the under portion of the delivery table d; o is the steam
pipe for admitting the steam to the starch tank, and p, a steam trap attached
to the side of the machine frame.
The starch-tank b, is preferably made with sloping sides, and has on the
inside at the base sloping projections r, which serve to guide and hold in position
the feet of the frames, which carries the polygonal saturating rollers, t, t, t, t.
supported by and revolving in bearings in the frame s. The top polygonal roller t¹

page_text: is an improvement on existing machines, inasmuch as it stands above the starch
level, and taking the article from the other rollers gives a last pressure and
forces the starch into the article, instead of pressing it out, as in the ordinary
wringing rollers, shown in Newton's patent, herein before referred to. Mounted
also in the frames, are the tightening rollers u¹, u, u, adjustable by means of
the screw bolts g, and the guide roller v. This frame with its apron carrying
rolls is mounted in a slot w, (Fig. 2) in the body of the machine, and is removed
complete from the starch tank by lifting it out of the slot. Operating in
conjunction with the rollers on the frames, are the guide rollers, and the
delivery roll . these latter being supported in bearings on the body of the
machine. Motion is communicated from the main driving shaft to the tighten-
ing and saturating rollers by a sprocket chain, 2, running in the sprocket
wheels, . In order to regulate the tension on this sprocket-chain and to com-
pensate for uneven running of the aprons, I have devised the adjustable dogs 2, 2.
One end of these dogs is attached to the machine frames, the other end being
furnished with a notch engaging with a pin, 3, on the roller frame s. These
dogs are adjustable by means of a screw thread and nut 3, and the two ends of
the dog swing on a pivot, 4, for releasing the tension when it is desired to
lift the roller frame out of the tank. It is necessary, in order
to insure a straight and uniform running of the apron rollers that these rollers
be readily and evenly adjustable, and I have adopted for the delivery roller i,
an arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 4, in which I make the frame carrying
the roller rotatable on its centre, by which, when the apron has a tendency to
run to one side, I am enabled to simultaneously slacken one side of the apron
and tighten the other, by operating the rod 5, attached to one end 6, of the
delivery roller frame j, the other end being longitudinally movable in a slot
which serves as its bearing This central pivot can be displaced backward or
forward by means of the screw-bolt 6.
The aprons are made of stout linen or similar material joined at their ends to
secure a continuous band, and the saturation and delivery rollers operate as in
similar machines. In order to facilitate the working of the guide rolls and
prevent drawing superfluous starch between the guide rollers and the apron,
thereby producing bunching and uneven running of the apron, I have devised
the corrugated roller, shown in Fig. 5, which is mounted on a copper plated steel
shaft, 7. and has for bearings brass ferrules, 8. Aluminium and some of its alloys
being non-corrosive may also be used in those parts of the rollers exposed to
the action of the starch. These rollers and bearings I have found to be entirely
efficacious in preventing the staining and soiling of the starched materials from
the corrosion of the parts of the machine with which they come in contact.
The operation of the machine will be readily understood. The roller carrying
frame s. is swung in the slot w, out of the tank, starch is put in and brought
to proper consistency and temperature by steam admitted through the pipe o,
and the steam trap p. This latter takes up any water of condensation that may
be in the steam, and being attached directly to each tank always insures the use
of dry steam for the starch. The roller frame 8, 15 then replaced
in the tank, the shape of the bottom r, always insuring a firm
position and brace for the feet of the frames, and the article is
fed onto the feed roller
nearest the table c. This carries
it downward into the starch and into contact with the saturating apron and
round the polygonal rollers t, t, t, t¹, where, held between the two aprons, the
articles are thoroughly permeated with the starch, then coming in contact with
the perforated delivery frame m, they are deposited on the delivery table d.
This delivery frame m, enables me to dispense with one operator, who, in the
operation of existing machines, is required in order to remove the articles from
the delivery apron. Any slackness in the aprons or unevenness in running is
remedied by the adjusting screws g. the dogs 2, the oscillating end roller frame j,
and the guide 5.

page_text: For the aprons a material is used that is impervious to starch. I have found
Turkish towelling to be excellent, the fluffy side holding the starch well.
Dated this 20th day of November 1899.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn. Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Starching Machines.
I, WILLIAM HENRY RICKEY, Merchant, of 20, North 21st Street, East Orange,
New Jersey, United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to machinery for starching collars cuffs and similar
articles.
The obiect of my invention is to provide improved means for regulating the
tension and action of the rollers, to furnish an improved roller for such machines
and to make the action of the machine automatic so far as the delivery of the
starched goods is concerned.
The improvements relate particularly to that class of starching machines in
which polygonal rollers are employed, which class may be illustrated by the
machine described in U.S. Patent No. 571,281, granted November 10, 1896, to
Daniel H. Newton.
xzfi
The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification illustrate the invention,
and in them,
Fig. 1 is a side, or end view of the machine;
Fig. 2 is a top view, showing the driving mechanism, the apron controlling
device and the automatic delivery.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the starching vat and the machinery con-
tained therein;
Fig. 4 shows the means for regulating the tension of the delivery apron, and
Fig. 5 a view of my improved roller, with one end of the bearing shaft partly
in section.
a, a, represents the frame of the machine, which may be fixed to the floor;
b. the body of the starch-tank; c, the feed-table; d, the delivery table where
the goods are collected after passing through the starch vat; e, the driving
pulley, shown as worked by a belt, but which may have a handle attached and
be manually operated; f, f. the cog-wheels by which the driving motion is com-
municated to the apron and rollers: 9, 9, 9, screw bolts for regulating the ten-
sion and pull of the apron; h, is a safety attachment operating through the cog-
wheels f, to start or check the machine; i, the adjustable delivery roller, set
in the frame j, said frame being rotatable on a central bearing k. and control-
ling the tension of the delivery apron 1: m, is a perforated frame
set close to the delivery apron, 7, for automatically removing the articles, the per-
forations allowing the superfluous starch to pass downward into the dripping
pan, n. attached to the under portion of the delivery table, d; o is the steam
nipe for admitting the steam to the starch tank, and p, a steam trap attached
to the side of the machine frame.
The starch-tank ib, is preferably made with sloping sides, and has on the
inside at the base sloping projections r, which serve to guide and hold in position

page_text: Mounted
the feet of the frames, which carries the polygonal saturating rollers, t, t, t, t¹,
supported by and revolving in bearings in the frame s. The top polygonal roller t
is an improvement on existing machines, inasmuch as it stands above the starch
level, and taking the article from the other rollers gives a last pressure and
forces the starch into the article, instead of pressing it out, as in the ordinary
wringing rollers, shown in Newton's patent, herein before referred to.
also in the frames, are the tightening rollers u', u, u, adjustable by means of
the screw bolts g, and the guide roller c. This frame with its apron carrying
rolls is mounted in a slot, we, (Figs. 2) in the body of the machine, and is removed
complete from the starch tank by lifting it out of the slot. Operating in
conjunction with the rollers on the frame s, are the guide rollers, and the
delivery roll i, these latter being supported in bearings on the body of the
machine. Motion is communicated from the main driving shaft to the tighten-
ing and saturating rollers by a sprocket chain, z, running in the sprocket
wheels 7, 7. In order to regulate the tension on this sprocket-chain and to com-
pensate for uneven running of the aprons, I have devised the adjustable dogs, 2, 2.
One end of these dogs is attached to the machine frames the other end being
furnished with a notch engaging with a pin, 3, on the roller frame, s. These
dogs are adjustable by means of a screw thread and nut, 31, and the two ends of
the dog swing on a pivot, 4, for releasing the tension when it is desired to
lift the roller frame out of the tank. It is necessary, in order
to insure a straight and uniform running of the apron rollers that these rollers
be readily and evenly adjustable, and I have adopted for the delivery roller i,
an arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 4, in which I make the frame carrying
the roller rotatable on its centre, by which, when the apron has a tendency to
run to one side, I am enabled to simultaneously slacken one side of the apron
and tighten the other, by operating the rod 5. attached to one end 6, of the
delivery roller frame j, the other end being longitudinally movable in a slot
which serves as its bearing This central pivot can be displaced backward or
forward by means of the screw-bolt 6.
The aprons are made of stout linen or similar material joined at their ends to
secure a continuous band, and the saturation and delivery rollers operate as in
similar machines. In order to facilitate the working of the guide rolls and
prevent drawing superfluous starch between the guide rollers and the apron,
thereby producing bunching and uneven running of the apron, I have devised
the corrugated roller, shown in Fig. 5, which is mounted on a copper plated steel
shaft, 7, and has for bearings brass ferrules 8. Aluminium and some of its alloys
being non-corrosive may also be used in those parts of the rollers exposed to
the action of the starch. These rollers and bearings I have found to be entirely
efficacious in preventing the staining and soiling of the starched materials from
the corrosion of the parts of the machine with which they come in contact.
The operation of the machine will be readily understood. The roller carrying
frames, is swung in the slot w, out of the tank, starch is put in and brought
to proper consistency and temperature by steam admitted through the pipe v,
and the steam trap p. This latter takes up any water of condensation that may
be in the steam, and being attached directly to each tank always insures the use
of dry steam for the starch. The roller frame s, is then replaced
in the tank, the shape of the bottom r, always insuring a firm
position and brace for the feet of the frames," and the article is
fed onto the feed roller 11¹ nearest the table C. This carries
it downward into the starch and into contact with the saturating apron and
round the polygonal rollers t, t. t, t¹, where, held between the two aprons, the
articles are thoroughly permeated with the starch, then coming in contact with
the perforated delivery frame m, they are deposited on the delivery table .
This delivery frame m, enables me to dispense with one operator, who, in the
operation of existing machines, is required in order to remove the article from
the delivery apron. Any slackness in the aprons or unevenness in running is

page_text: remedied by the adjusting screws g, the dogs 2, the oscillating end roller frame j,
and the guide 5.
1
For the aprons a material is used that is impervious to starch. I have found
Turkish towelling to be excellent, the Huffy side holding the starch well.
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. In a starching machine, the combination with a starch tank, a feed roller,
guide rollers, saturating rollers and a delivery roller, of endless bands or aprons
passing over sand rollers and composed of a feeding apron, a saturating apron and
a delivery apron, arranged as set forth and a starch grating and delivery frame
located adjacent to the delivery apron; whereby articles are automatically
removed from the delivery apron and the superfluous starch caused to be dis-
charged into a vat, as set forth.
2. In a starching machine, the combination with a starch tank, guide roller,
polygonal saturating rollers and a delivery roller, of endless bands or aprons
passing over said roilers and composed of a feeding apron, a saturating apron
arranged to be in contact for a portion of its length with the feeding apron, a
drip pan and a starch grating and delivery frame adjacent to the delivery apron
and serving to automatically remove the starched articles from the delivery
apron and provided with apertures whereby the superfluous starch is caused to
fall into the drip pan, as set forth.
3. In a starching machine, the combination with a starch tank, of a frame
removably located therein, endless bands composed of aprons mounted on said
frame, and adjustable braces having bearings on the tank and frame and adapted
to control the tension of the apron, substantially as set forth.
4. In a starching machine, à centrally pivoted frame adapted to be tilted, an
end roller for the endless band mounted in said frame, means at the central
pivotal portion of the frame for adjusting it in a longitudinal plane and means
for tilting and controlling its position, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a starching machine a roller having a copper coated steel shaft and brass
journals, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a starching machine, the combination with a starch tank, of a steam trap
connected directly to said tank and a steam supply pipe connected with said
trap, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of September 1900.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.