A New or Improved Construction of Ironing Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1900-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1900
A New or Improved Construction of Ironing Machine.
I, JOHN STIRLING YULE, of 93, Finsbury Pavement, London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the expeditious and effective ironing of print
dresses or skirts and the like, and consists of a new construction of machine
comprising an ironing board or table of, by preference, tapered formation; a set
of supports by which the ironing table is sustained in a horizontal position;
means, such as a foot-lever or treadle, for raising and lowering the said
supports; a machine frame or like structure for guiding and holding the sup-
ports as they are moved up or down; a set of slides or slide bars; a lever or
carrier arm mounted on the said slides or slide bars; a rock lever for giving a
sliding to-and-fro movement to the carrier arm, with, or without, means for
varying its movement, and operated by crank or eccentric from a driving shaft
and driving pulley; and a gas heated iron adjustably and detachably attached
to the carrier arm immediately above the ironing table.
The skirt or other object to be ironed is placed upon the ironing table which
in its normal position lies a few inches below the iron, and supports, by prefer-
ence, the whole length of the skirt. The iron being set in motion the table is
then raised into contact with the iron, and according to the pressure the skirt
is effectually ironed, the iron making a, by preference, long stroke, and operat-
ing, by preference, upon the full length of the skirt. The iron is also, by prefer-
ence, adapted to swivel, and is of the flat formation, but it may be of roller
formation.
As an alternative construction the board may travel and the iron be stationary.
A New or Improved Construction of Ironing Machine.
I, JOHN STIRLING YULE, of 93, Finsbury Pavement, London, Engineer, 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 has for its object the expeditious and effective ironing of print
dresses or skirts and the like, and consists of the new construction of machine
hereinafter described and shewn on the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. I'
is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan.

page_text: (A) is an ironing board, by preference, of tapered formation and covered in
the usual way for ironing purposes with blanket material. Such board is
mounted upon pillar or rod-like supports (B), (C), capable of sliding up and
down in fixed guides (D) (D). in the machine frame (E), and of holding the
table (A) in a horizontal position (F) is a weighted foot-lever fulcrumed at (G)
to the machine frame, and by link (H) (shewn dotted) connected to a lever (I),
by which the table is caused to rise or fall. (J) is a set of slides, and (K) a
slide bar joining such slides, which are mounted upon rods (L), fixed in bosses (M)
at the ends of the machine frame. (N) is a rock-lever, mounted upon an axis (0),
at its upper end forked and embracing the cross bar (K), and by a connecting
link (P) coupled eccentrically to a set of discs (Q) on the driving shaft (R).
Upon this shaft is also fast and loose pulleys (S), which when set in motion
impart a to-and-fro motion through link (1) to the rock-lever (N), and a like
movement to the slides (J).
(T) is a gas-heated iron, pivotally and adjustably supported above the board (A)
by an arm (K) extending from the slides (J). With the lever (N) and slides (J)
in motion the iron slides to-and-fro above the board (A).
In using the machine the skirt to be ironed is placed over and around the
board (A), the space beneath the board allowing room for those parts which
cannot lie on the table, and the table being provided if desired with a wire
like clamp to hold the loose portions of the skirt or permit of their being tucked
in below the table. The iron, if not previously set in motion, is then started.
The operator then depresses the foot-treadle (F) and thereby raises the skirt into
contact with the iron which working to-and-fro in long strokes effectually irons
that portion of the skirt under treatment. Other portions of the skirt are then
brought under the iron, and in a very short time the whole skirt is effectually
ironed.
To get into the recesses, etc., of the skirt and to operate upon as much of the
skirt as possible the iron is adapted to swivel horizontally on stud (U) and to
allow the operator to guide it to its work it is fitted with a handle (V). For
adjusting the iron to its proper height or angle I provide a hand wheel (W) and
lock nut (X).
In lieu of a flat iron I may employ a cylindrical iron and in lieu of the iron
travelling it may be stationary and the board travel but I prefer the iron to
travel. The iron is supplied with gas through nozzle (V) from a flexible tube.
To vary the stroke of the iron I provide the rock lever with a series of holes (N)
and according to the stroke required alter the connection of the link. The
position of the table relatively to the iron may also be variable. The guide
rod (D) may be dispensed with, and the rod (D) alone be used, and may be
nearer to the centre of the board.
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:-
1: In a skirt or like ironing machine, the general construction, arrange-
ment and combination of parts, substantially as herein described and illus-
trated on the accompanying drawing.
2: In a skirt or like ironing machine, a rising and falling ironing table, and
a travelling iron (or vice-versa) and means for regulating the height and stroke
of the iron, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated on the accompany-
ing drawing.
Dated this 18th day of October 1900
JOHN STIRLING YULE.
By John G. Wilson & Co., F.I.P.A.;
Manchester.