Improvements in Ironing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: · Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ironing Machines.
We, THOMAS SHIRES WILES of 53 Dove Street, Albany, New York, United
States of America, Gentleman and MENZO EDGAR WENDELL of 648 Fulton
Street, Troy, New York, United States of America, Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of our 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 has relation to mangles, and among the objects and advantages
secured thereby, in ironing or finishing bed and table linen, towels and articles of
apparel, are to cause the product of the machine to possess, in a high degree, the
desirable qualities of the best hand work, in that the fabrics are not hardened and
compressed, the seams and hems are not cut nor strained in the slightest degree, the
figures in damask textures stand out brilliantly, the finish is almost identical on
both sides of the fabric and is necessarily more uniform than could possibly be
produced by hand.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following
description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a central vertical, longitudinal section of a mangle embodying our
improvements,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on an enlarged scale of portions of the
machines, and,
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an end and a side elevation of the machine.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
A represents the framework of the machine which may be of any suitable form
and material. B represents the drum consisting in this instance of staves B',
mounted on a series of spiders B2, which are fixed to a shaft B³. If desired the
periphery of the drum may be of metal and either formed integrally with or separate
from the spiders. The drum is provided with an elastic covering B', with a
surface B, of muslin or other textile fabric which will absorb and discharge water.
In fact the clothing of the drum may be such as is described in U.S. Patents
Nos. 177,908 and 384,487.
C, C, represents a series of hollow bars which are arranged at intervals around a
portion of the periphery of the drum B, in contact with the muslin or cloth covering
and parallel with the axis. These bars are adapted to be internally heated and
their surfaces at or immediately adjacent to their lines of tangency with the
periphery of the drum are polished and to increase their areas of contact with the
periphery of the drum are somewhat flattened or conformed thereto. Referring to
Fig. 3, other different conformations of the flattened surfaces are shown. The bar
at the left has a beveled entrance C', and a flat or plane working face or surface C³,
while the working face or surface C, of the central bar is concave, with the curvature
approximating the curvature of the periphery of the drum except at its beveled
entrance C¹, while at the right of said Figure 3, the bar C, is convex on its working
surface. The preferred form is that shown at the central bar as it affords a large
area of contact of the bar with the clothed periphery of the drum thereby increasing
the heating efficiency of the bars and distributing the pressure more equally.
The unemployed surfaces of these bars C, are, as far as practicable, covered with
asbestos, felt or other non-conducting material C, which is retained in place by
ackets C, of sheet metal secured by screws C, or in any other desired manner.
Each of the bars C, is mounted in position in such manner that they remain

page_text: stationary while the drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows and each
bar is adapted to be heated by any means that would serve to heat an ironing of
calendering roller; for example by gas according to Specification of U.S. Patent
165,775, or by electricity by transmitting a current of suitable tension and quantity
through resistances contained in the cavities of the bars suitably arranged and
insulated in accordance with the well known principles of electrical heating devices
and with the skill of persons conversant in applying the same to various mechanisms.
Steam may advantageously employed as the heating agent in which case each of
the bars is provided with an inlet pipe C, and an outlet pipe C, which is so
arranged as to receive and convey from the bar the water of condensation. The
inlet pipe C, is preferably extended for some distance within the bars so as to insure
a more even circulation and distribution of the steam and the heat derived there-
from. Any suitable arrangement of steam connections may be employed between
the various bars. If desired, flexible hose may be employed to conduct the steam
thereto.
In this instance the bars are sustained in operative relation to the drum, by being
mounted upon arms D, formed on or secured to the frame of the machine and
projecting radially at or near each end of the drum. These arms pass through
apertures C7, in the bar C, and coiled spring C8, is interposed between the bars and
the nuts D', which are screwthreaded on the arms D. In this manner the bars are
prevented from moving circumferentially but are permitted to have a slight move-
ment radially away from and toward the surface of the drum for the purpose
of adjusting the pressure of the bars upon the goods during the process of ironing
It is apparent that the bars may be supported operatively by other
details than the arms D, and while such details are the preferred form, our invention
is to be understood as in no sense being limited to said details.
the same.
The drum B, is supported in open boxes E, (Fig. 2) fitted to the shaft B³, and to
slide between jaws A, formed by slotting the frame of the machine, the boxes being
supported on the upper ends of screws F, there being one at each side of the
machine, which screws engage with gear nuts F', adapted to mesh with the
worms Fs, mounted on a transverse shaft F³, extending across the machine. The
geared nuts F, rest in sockets or steps F1, bolted to the frame, which steps are
apertured for the passage of the screw F, therethrough. The upper ends of the
screws F, are connected with the boxes E, in such manner that said screws cannot
rotate, by being fluted or squared and fitted in corresponding sockets in the boxing
or in any other manner known to skilled mechanics. The shaft F³, carries a
sprocket wheel F. A hand wheel Fe, mounted on a stud F7, and operatively
connected with a companion sprocket F, is located at the end A2, of the machine.
A sprocket chain F, connects the sprockets F and F, with each other, so that an
operator by turning the hand wheel F, may rotate the shaft F, and the worms
thereon, whereby the nuts F', are turned so as to elevate or depress the screws F,
and thus raise or lower the drum B, and regulate the pressure thereof against the
hollow heated bars. By lowering the screws sufficiently the drum may be com-
pletely removed from the machine for any desired purpose.
A represents a trough or box in which goods may be laid preparatory to feeding
them to the mangle. This box or tray is suspended from the ends of the frame by
hooks A, so that it may be easily removed. The frame may be notched at the
points of bearing of the hooks thereon to prevent accidental displacement of the
tray. A is the feed table of the machine one end of which bears slightly upon
the clothing of the drum and acts to guide the goods between the drum and the
first heated bar of the series. Any other form of heating appliance may be used.
As thus far described it will be seen that the drum B, constitutes an immense
ironing table when compared with any clothed surface yet employed in machines
for this use and capable of absorbing a large amount of moisture without approaching
saturation. There is also a more than ordinary opportunity for the escape of
moisture from the clothing of the drum by evaporation after the clothing passes the
last heated bar of the series and before it comes again under the first bar of the

page_text: The
series. Furthermore the impairment of the elasticity or resiliency of the clothing
of the drum and its general deterioration will be inversely as its extent.
heated bars are like so many heated flat irons in their action on the goods under
treatment and especially so when the preferred form of ironing surface, shown on
the central bar of Fig. 3 is employed. The pressure is distributed over a larger
area in consequence of which the finish imparted to the goods is soft, the fibres are
not compressed, the hems and seams are not crushed and cut and damask designs
are brought out brilliantly.
It is desirous that the advantages arising from a diffusion of pressure, extend, not
only to the goods under treatment but in equal degree to the clothing of the drum ;
tending to its conservation.
In that class of mangles in which is employed a heated chamber conforming to
and embracing nearly one half of a clothed roller, the heated concave surface of
the chamber being continuous, there is no way of escape from the vapor formed
from the moisture in the goods, except into and through the clothing of the roller
until the goods issue from the machine; consequently they issue nearly as damp as
when they enter it and are only partially dried by the residual heat. This not only
makes necessary a preliminary drying, but inhibits an initial dampness sufficient to
the production of a fine finish and obviously when the degree of dampness has to be
so nicely adjusted, it is very difficult to secure a uniform product. With our
present improvement, goods taken from the hydro-extractor and fed directly into
the heating bars of our machine on the periphery of the large drum, receive, in the
machine six successive heats with intervals for evaporation and issue under the first
heated bar nearly dried. In fact, if the heat and speed of rotation of the drum are
suitably adjusted there will remain in the goods just enough dampness for the
ironing of the reverse side of the clothing which is performed by the mechanism
hereinafter described. For finishing the goods upon one side only the machine
thus far described is complete; suitable gearing of any kind and constructed in
accordance with a mechanic's skill in the art being provided for rotating the drum.
The machine subjects the goods, while upon an extended ironing surface, to the
successive action of heated bars and provides between the bars for the escape of
generated vapor from the surface of the goods, and between the last and first bars
of the series, for evaporation from the clothing of the drum. These advantages
do not exist in machines employing endless aprons for conducting the goods around
and retaining them upon the drum as said apron acts to confine the vapor.
When it is desired to iron the goods upon both sides we employ a steam chest G,
which extends from side to side of the machine and is provided with an asbestos
protective jacket G', and metallic covering G, similar to those employed on the
bars C, while its working face is concave adapting it to fit the periphery of the
clothed roll H. As the steam chest is permanently mounted in the framework,
the boxes H', of the clothed roll H, are mounted to slide in jaws A', A', of the
frame A, and beneath the boxes extend levers H2, pivoted at H³, to the frame at
each side of the machine. The opposite end of each of the levers H³, is connected
by a link I, to a link I', which encircles the shaft B³, of the drum.
Now it will be noted that the connections just described extending from the
clothed roll H, to a shaft B³, of the drum B, and the further connecting devices
connecting from said shaft to the hand wheel F, the separation of the drum B,
from the bars C, caused by the lowering of the screws F, by means of the hand
wheel F, and sprocket chain F, acts through the links I, I', and levers H', to
elevate the clothed roll H, away from the steam chest G, thus separating the heated
ironing devices from the clothed devices of the machine.
In practice when the clothed roller H, is of metal, its weight affords sufficient
pressure for the work to be done by it. Pressure may be increased, if desired, by
any of the well known devices. When the specific actuating mechanism hereinafter
described is employed that end of the roller H, to which the gear K', is secured is
depressed by the action of the gear F, and the pressure of that end increased.
This inequality may be corrected by the duplication of gearing as hereinafter set

page_text: forth or by means of a complementary weight, spring or other pressure device
applied to the bearing at the opposite end of the roller H.
Jis a doffer supported at each end by screws or bolts J', to the frame of the
machine and extending from side to side thereof transversely and from the
surface of the drum to the entrance between the steam chest G, and clothed roll H,
for the purpose of transferring the goods from the drum to the steam chest and
roll whereby they are ironed or finished upon the side opposite that acted upon by
the heated bars.
This doffer may be variously constructed and mounted in the machine. In this
instance it consists of a piece of polished steel plate similar to that used for making
saws and is of suitable dimensions and has its receiving edge properly beveled to
conform somewhat to the curvature of the drum and is secured to a bearing J',
which extends from one end to the other of the plate. The bar is pierced by two
screw-threaded holes into which the screws J³, are seated and held in any desired
position by jam nuts J. The heads of the screws rest on lugs or projections formed
on the steam chest G, and permit of a desired careful adjust:nent of the bearings of
the receiving edge of the doffer along its whole length on the clothed periphery of
the drum B. Ordinarily the gravitative action of the doffer along its edge bears
sufficiently hard against the drum B, while the adjusting screws serve to prevent
any undue pressure of the doffer on the drum as well as to properly and accurately
determine the relative position of the receiving edge of the doffer as regards the
surface of the drum.
As before indicated any suitable system of gearing may be employed to give
motion to the moving parts of the machine, but we have shown herein one form which
answers all the necessary requirements of the machine.
K represents a stud or shaft supported in suitable bearings and prevented from
rotation by means of set screws K*. If desired the shaft K, may extend completely
across the machine, and be rotatable, if for example, it is desired to rotate the
roll H, at both ends. On the stud or shaft K, there are rotatably mounted, first
and next to the frame the simple intermediate gear K', second the compound of the
pinion K², and the driving pulley K; third and last the loose pulley K, all being
retained in position by the collar K. The pinion K2 meshes with the larger
member K, of the compound K, and K, the smaller member K', of which meshes
with the gear K, made fast to the journal of the clothed roller H. The compound
gear K, K³, is mounted on a stud projecting from the frame of the machine as
clearly shown. The smaller member K, of the compound K, K', also meshes
with the intermediate gear K', which in turn engages with the master gear K',
which is made fast upon the shaft B³, of the drum B.
These gears are so proportioned that the surface speeds of the drum B, and the
clothed roller H. are the same. If it is desired that the surface of the roller should
have a slightly greator speed than that of the drum, it may be accomplished by
somewhat increasing the thickness of the clothing of the former. If it is desired to
drive the roller H, at both ends, to avoid increase of pressure by the action of the
gearing at one end, the shaft should be extended to the other side of the machine,
should be free to rotate, the gear K', should be made fast to the shaft K, and the
gears K', K, K, with a stud to carry K', should be duplicated at the other side of
the machine.
Although we have herein shown and described stationary ironing bars in
combination with the drum for operation on one side of the goods and for
providing evaporation between the action of each successive bar, it is apparent
that in machines designed to operate upon both sides of the fabric rotary ironing
rolls may be substituted for the bars so as to give opportunity for the evaporation
of the vapor formed and to present the fabric to the final ironing mechanism of
the machine in proper condition as to dampness. We therefore consider the said
rolls as the equivalents of the stationary bars when applied to the drum and
operated in connection with the final ironing mechanisms herein shown.
We deem it proper to state that in the combination of the different ironing

page_text: devices employed in this machine as a whole as advantageously, co-operative action,
in that the evaporation of moisture from the goods between the successive heated
bars or rolls gives that preliminary drying of the goods in such a degree as to
present them to the final ironing devices, comprising a continuous heated surface, so
that the inherent fault of such ironing devices is not objectionable by reason of said
preliminary drying in part, and the presentation of the goods to such final
mechanism with the required amount of dampness thereinto to insure satisfactory
results. In other words, the fault of the final form of ironing mechanism is
eliminated and satisfactory results produced with it, by reason of the prior
operation on the goods of the separated heated ironing bars or rolls of that portion
of the machine which first operates upon the goods. Therefore by combining in
one machine ironing mechanism of the characters specified, an efficient satisfactory
machine for finishing both sides of fabric in a satisfactory manner is secured.
We do not wish to be understood as limiting our invention to the exact details
of construction herein shown or described nor to the exact relative arrangement of
the parts nor to the particular framework herein shown and described either in
design or specific construction as these matters may be changed in any regard and
to any extent within the expected skill of the mechanic conversant in the art of
constructing machinery of this character.
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. The combination with a clothed drum, of a series of separate, stationary
ironing bars, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a clothed drum, of a series of separate, ironing bars
capable of slight radial movement, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with a clothed drum, of a series of hollow stationary bars
adapted to be heated and means for separating the drum from the bars, substantially
as specified.
4. The combination with a clothed drum adapted to be rotated, of a series of
separated, hollow ironing bars over a portion only of the drum, whereby goods
carried by the drum and between it and the bars are uniformly and successively
pressed and freed from the vapor produced, substantially as specified.
5. An ironing bar having a working surface or face adapted to be heated and
provided with a covering of a non-conductor of heat extending substantially over
all except the working face of the bar, substantially as specified.
6. An ironing bar having a hollow body adapted to be heated and a working
face, a covering of non-conductor of heat and a metal casing enveloping the bar
and its covering, substantially as specified.
7. An ironing device provided with a covering of non-conducting material and
with a casing arranged over said material, substantially as specified.
8. The combination with a clothed drum, of a series of stationary separated bars
adapted to be heated and mounted to yieldingly bear upon the periphery of the
drum, substantially as specified.
9. The combination with a clothed drum and co-operating separated ironing
devices, of a steam chest and a superimposed clothed roller, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
10. The combination of a clothed drum, a series of separated stationary ironing
bars arranged about a portion of the periphery of said drum and a steam chest and
coacting clothed roller arranged and operating to finish the opposite side to that
acted upon by the drum and ironing devices, substantially as specified.
11. The combination of a rotative clothed drum, a series of heated ironing
devices, a rotative clothed roller, a stationary steam chest, means for elevating and
depressing the drum and connecting devices for elevating and depressing the roller,
substantially as specified.
12. The combination with an arched series of stationary separated ironing bars,

page_text: a clothed drum mounted in reciprocative bearings and means for elevating and
depressing said bearings. substantially as specified.
13. The combination with a series of stationary ironing bars, a clothed drum
mounted in reciprocative boxes, screwthreaded standards for the boxes, rotative
nuts mounted on the screws, and gearing for rotating the nuts for the purpose of
elevating and depressing the drum, substantially as specified.
14. The combination with a drum and a series of ironing bars, of mechanism for
raising and lowering the drum and of a hand-wheel and connecting-devices
extending to the drum and raising and lowering mechanism, substantially as
specified.
15. The combination with a drum mounted in sliding boxes, of screwthreaded
standards, non-rotatably connected with the boxes, steps perforated for the passage
of the standards and adapted to receive worm-geared nuts fitted to the threads of
the standards, a worm meshing with the nuts and sprocket and chain connections
between the gear, and a hand wheel arranged in convenient access to an operator,
substantially as specified.
16. The combination with a drum and its shaft, and drum-elevating and
depressing devices, comprising screwthreaded standards, of shaft embracing links
and levers of a clothed roll mounted for reciprocation by the levers, substantially
as specified.
17. The combination with a rotative drum, of a series of hollow stationary
ironing bars each having a face conforming more or less to the periphery of the
drum and having a receiving bevel, substantially as specified.
18. The combination with a rotative drum, of a series of bars, each provided
with a beveled receiving edge on its working face and each having said working
face more or less conforming to the periphery of the drum and each having its
remaining portions protected by a non-conductive covering, substantially as
specified.
19. A hollow bar having a working face, a protective covering, a casing for the
same and steam inlet and outlet pipes, the latter arranged to drain the interior of
the bar, substantially as specified.
20. An ironing bar having an inlet and an outlet pipe, the latter arranged to
drain its interior, substantially as specified.
21. An ironing bar having an inlet pipe extended within the bar and an outlet
pipe arranged to drain the interior, substantially as specified.
Dated this 18th day of September 1891.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.