Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
I THOMAS BRADFORD of the Crescent Iron Works Salford in the County of Lan-
caster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists in the first place, of a suitable framework in which I fix or
mount (so as to be capable of revolving) a roller of suitable length and diameter to be
actuated by manual or other suitable motive power.
The roller is to be made of wood metal or other suitable material and covered with
flannel ironing blanket, or ironing cloth. Immediately over this roller I fix in the
framework a series of hollow irons, corresponding in the form of their lower side with
the curve of the roller and covering about the upper half of the circumference of
the same.
These hollow irons are placed diagonally to the axis of the roller so that they assume
a spiral form, like the threads of a screw.
They are placed a certain distance apart so that they overlap each other in a spiral
form as before mentioned and thus, although having spaces between them, they operate
upon every part of the roller or of the fabric that is placed upon the roller for the
purpose of being carried between the latter, and the spiral shaped irons about the
same.
I propose to grind, or glaze, or otherwise finish the under surface of these irons
which comes in contact with the fabric, and to round off the side edges of the same
so that they may pass more smoothly over the surface of the fabric.
The hollow spiral shaped irons are to be heated by steam or other suitable means,
steam being preferred.
And in order to give a greater effect to the polishing power of these spirally shaped
heated irons I propose to give a lateral to and fro motion (endwise of the axis) to the
roller before mentioned, as well as a forward or revolving motion.
I propose to give the forward or revolving motion to the roller by spur wheel and
pinion, or by worm and worm wheel (the latter by preference, and the lateral or end-
wise motion thereto by a spur wheel and pinion in combination with an excentric,
cam, or disc, and pinion, but by preference the former.

page_text: I propose to exercise upward pressure upon the feeding roller by a combination of
levers using the roller itself as a counter balance, to assist in withdrawing the roller
by the foot from the surface of the hot irons, either to release the fabric from the
pressure or to remove the same sufficiently to allow of wiping or cleaning the under
surface of the irons, and I employ a strap guide worked by the foot to throw the
roller into and out of action as required without using the hands. I also have movable
trays fitting in grooves in the framework for receiving the fabric and conveying the
same to and from the machine.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4. St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I THOMAS BRADFORD of the Crescent Iron Works Salford in the County of Lan-
caster 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct an improved machine for use in steam
laundries and elsewhere for ironing or calendering table or other linen or fabrics by
steam or other power.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be carried
into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the two sheets of
drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
On Sheet 1 of the drawings, Fig. is a front elevation of an improved ironing
machine constructed according to my invention.
On Sheet 2 of the drawings, Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken through
about the line A, B in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an end view showing the portion of the
gearing which is removed in Fig. 2.
My invention consists in the first place of a suitable framework a, a in which I fix
or mount (so as to be capable of revolving) a roller b, of suitable length and
diameter.
This roller b, b is made of wood, metal, or other suitable material and covered with
flannel, ironing blanket or ironing cloth."
Immediately over this roller b, I fix in the framework a, a a series of curved
hollow irons.c, c corresponding in the form of their lower side with the curve of the
roller b, b and covering about one third of the circumference of the same.
These hollow irons c, c are placed diagonally to the axis of the roller b, b so that
they assume a spiral form like the threads of a screw as shown at Fig. 1. They are
placed a certain distance apart so that they overlap each other in a spiral form (as
before mentioned) and thus although having spaces between them they operate upon
every part of the roller b, bor of the fabric which is placed upon such roller for the
purpose of being carried between the latter and the spiral shaped irons c, c above
named.
I propose to grind, glaze, or otherwise finish the under surface of these irons c, c
which comes in contact with the fabric, and I sometimes round off the side edges of
the same so that they may pass more smoothly over the surface of the fabric.
The irons c, c are attached to a steam box d, d which is supplied with steam from
any convenient source by means of a pipe e, e.
The irons may however be heated in any other suitable manner if preferred.
The roller b, b may be caused to revolve in any suitable manner and in order to give
a greater effect to the polishing power of the spirally shaped heated irons c, c I propose
at the same time to give a lateral to and fro motion (endwise of the axis) to the
roller b, b'as well as a forward or revolving motion.

page_text: In the machine illustrated by the drawings the forward or revolving motion is given
to the said roller as follows: Upon or near one end of the axis of the same is a spur
wheel sliding on a feather or key and gearing into a pinion gg keyed upon a
countershaft h, h upon which is also keyed or fixed a worm wheel i, i in gear with a
worm k, upon the main driving shaft 1, 1.
C
The lateral or endwise motion is given to the roller b, b in the following manner.
Upon a secondary driving shaft m, m is keyed a spur pinion n, n gearing with a spur
wheel o, o fixed upon a shaft p, p upon which is also keyed an excentric q, q. The
rod attached to the clip of this excentric is jointed to a bar r, r the other end of which
carries a slotted arm or box s, a in which a head or disc t, t at the end of the axis of
the roller b, b works.
This arm or box (section of which is shown detached at Fig. 4) is inclined forward
at an angle, for a reason hereinafter explained.
The bearings bx, bx which carry the axle of the roller b, bare mounted upon an
inclined part a*, a* of the framing a, a (see Fig. 2) in such a manner that they can
slide upwards or downwards towards or from the curved irons c, c as required, and I
propose to exercise upward pressure upon the said roller, when in work, by means
of a series of links and levers u, u which connect the same with a treadle v, v extending
from side to side of the machine.
The roller b, b thus acts as a counterbalance weight to withdraw itself from the
surface of the hot irons c, c as soon as the pressure of the operative's foot is withdrawn
from the treadle either to release the fabric from pressure, or to remove the roller
sufficiently to allow of wiping or cleaning the under surface of the irons. The.slotted
arm or box s, s is placed at an inclination corresponding with that of the part a*, a* of
the frame to allow of this movement taking place without withdrawing the head or
disc t, t of the axis of the roller from its connection with the same.
The strap fork, w is connected by the levers and link a, a to a rod or shaft y, y
extending across the machine so that the operative can reach from any part of the
front to throw the, strap off, or if preferred the strap fork may be connected to a
treadle so that the operative can work it by the foot so as to throw the roller into or
out of action without using the hands.
z, z is a movable tray fitting in grooves in the framing for receiving the fabric and.
conveying the same to and from the machine.
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. The novel combination of parts constituting an improved ironing or calendering
machine constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore particularly described
and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
2. In an ironing or calendering machine the combination of a flannel or cloth
covered roller with a series of curved heated irons arranged spirally so as to overlap
each other substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with an ironing or calendering machine composed of a flannel
or cloth covered roller in conjunction with a series of curved spiral heated irons, of
means for, imparting a combined rotary and endwise motion to such roller substantially
.as shown and described.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.