Improvements in Ironing or Calendaring Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ironing or Calendaring Machines.
We, JAMES HAYES of the Bleaching Works 53 Culmore Road, Peckham in
the County of Surrey, Club-house and Hotel Washing Contractor and EDWARD
ALBERT BARON of the same address Foreman do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The invention which forms the subject of the present application for Letters
Patent, has reference to an improved calendaring or ironing machine especially
designed for use in finishing table linen, sheets and other plain linen or cotton
articles after being washed but also capable of being applied to the finishing of
new goods which require to be ironed or calendared and for other similar purposes
in the textile industries.
The frame of the machine is constructed preferably of cast or wrought iron,
supporting a roller or cylinder covered with felt or the like the spindle or axis of
which revolves in bearings fixed on the frame as in the machines hitherto in use,
and is driven by spur gearing and pulleys or other convenient method.
Around the central roller is arranged a series of hollow concave beds preferably
constructed of cast iron and six or more in number each of which is supported on
trunnions passing through slots in the side frames in such a manner, that the bed
can freely move or oscillate as required and under the influence of the actuating
device hereinafter described.
These beds are heated by steam, gas jets, or other convenient method and they
are so arranged around the central roller that enough space is left between each
for the escape of the steam caused by the ironing process, and a sufficient interval
between the first and last of the series to enable the linen or the like to be
delivered into and out of the apparatus. The control of the movement of these
beds is effected by means of arms or rods each respectively connected at one end
to the trunnion of the bed, and at the other to a crank plate or eccentric on the
boss of the spindle of the central cylinder, and actuated when required by means of
worm gearing.
By causing this crank plate or eccentric to rotate, the hollow concave beds are
pressed upon the central cylinder and moved away from it when required, whilst
free to yield to any unevenness on the central cylinder.
The feeding device for the machine is as follows:
Just below the first concave bed is placed a shaft or spindle carried through
each side frame of the machine.
This shaft is made to turn preferably by spur gearing driven by a tooth wheel
at the side of the central roller, and connected by a crank and lever. The shaft
may also be controlled by hand or foot gearing. Upon the said shaft are a
number of levers each bearing at its free end a small friction roller, which can be
brought into contact with the central cylinder and caused to revolve thereby.
These levers adjust along the shaft by a feather way or slot so that the operator
can set them as required.
By means of this device the materials can be fed into the machine without any
risk of entanglement to the operator.
The work thus passed into the apparatus is held by the small rollers against the
central cylinder and carried by the rotation of the same under the heated concave
beds by means of which it is pressed or ironed,

page_text: When the work has undergone the above operation, it is delivered on to an
automatic carrier consisting preferably of a system of endless bands combined with
lifting rods or levers passing up between the bands and actuated in the required
manner by a shaft revolved by gearing or otherwise driven by the prime mover.
The endless bands or straps are also caused to travel around rollers geared to
correspond in speed with the rotation of the principal cylinder, by means of which
the finished work is automatically received from the machine and transported to
any desired distance therefrom.
Dated this 19th day of March 1895
Improvements in Ironing or Calendaring Machines.
We, JAMES HAYES of the Bleaching Works, 53, Culmore Road, Peckham in
the County of Surrey, Club-house and Hotel Washing Contractor and EDWARD
ALBERT BARON of the same address Foreman, 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 invention which forms the subject of the present application for Letters
Patent, has reference to an improved calendaring or ironing machine especially
designed for use in finishing table linen, sheets and other plain linen or cotton
articles after being washed but also capable of being applied to the finishing of
new goods which require to be ironed or calendared and for other similar purposes
in the textile industries.
The frame of the machine is constructed preferably of cast or wrought iron,
supporting a roller or cylinder covered with felt or the like the spindle or axis of
which revolves in bearings fixed on the frame as in the machines hitherto in use,
and is driven by spur gearing and pulleys or other convenient method.
Around the central roller is arranged a series of hollow concave beds preferably
constructed of cast iron and six or more in number each of which is supported on
trunnions passing through slots in the side frames in such a manner, that the bed
can freely move or oscillate as required and under the influence of the actuating
device hereinafter described.
These beds are heated by steam, gas jets, or other convenient method and they
are so arranged around the central roller that enough space is left between each
for the escape of the steam caused by the ironing process, and a sufficient interval
between the first and last of the series to enable the linen or the like to be
delivered into and out of the apparatus. The control of the movement of these
beds is effected by means of arms or rods each respectively connected at one end
to the trunnion of the bed, and at the other to a crank plate rotating on the boss
of the spindle of the central cylinder, and actuated when required by means of
worm gearing.
By causing this crank plate to rotate, the hollow concave beds are simultaneously
pressed upon the central cylinder or moved away from it, whilst individually free
to yield to any unevenness on the central cylinder.
The feeding device for the machine is as follows:-
Just below the first coucave bed is placed a shaft or spindle carried through
each side frame of the machine, and bearing the mechanism hereinafter described,
and controlled preferably by a foot gearing.
By means of this device the materials can be fed into the machine without any
risk of entanglement to the operator,

page_text: The work thus passed into the apparatus is held against the central cylinder and
carried by the rotation of the same under the heated concave beds by means of
which it is pressed or ironed.
Referring to the drawings filed with the present Specification
Fig. 1 is an end view of the machine inside the frame.
Fig. 2 is the end elevation outside the frame.
:-
A A represents the frame, B the felt coated cylinder C C the concave ironing
beds, D the crank plate, E the worm actuating the same, F the reversing lever,
G the feed lever, H H shooting boards for delivery of the finished goods, K a spur
wheel and La gear wheel on a shaft driven by a steam engine or other prime
motor. The cylinder B is caused to rotate on its axis B¹ by spur gearing or other
convenient mechanism driven from the prime mover (not shewn in the drawing).
The concave hollow beds C. C. C. are preferably constructed as shewn with a
spring adjustment c¹ controlled by a screw c³ and supported on trunnions c³
supported in slots on the outer frame (Fig. 2) so that the beds can be freely raised
or lowered by the levers d' attached to crank plate D. These beds are preferably
varied in shape as shewn in Fig. 1 the lower ones being arranged to overlap as to
prevent the dry goods from dropping off the cylinder.
This crank plate D turns loosely on the boss A2 of the frame A projecting
around the bearing of the spindle B of the roller B but is not otherwise connected
with it. Its periphery bears a given number of pins de forming bearings for the
levers d which raise and depress the concave beds in response to the movement of
the crank plate D. This movement is effected by means of the worm E gearing in
the teeth d³ of D and rotating on the shaft e which is driven by the worm wheel e³
working in a covered bearing a¹ gearing with a worm e³ on the shaft k.
The shaft e also revolves a pinion M driving the large wheel M' which bears a
pin or catch m. The controlling lever F is shewn in Fig. 2 in its intermediate
position resting in the middle slot of the rack O. This lever forms part of a frame
and wheel guard f which carries the bearings of the wheels Kn and n', close to
which are placed wheel L driven from the main shaft and reversing wheel / in gear
therewith.
When the lever E is moved into the lower slot of O, the frame is tilted forward
and the wheel n engages with the wheel I and causes the wheel K to rotate; the
motion thus imparted to the shaft e draws down the plate D and raises the concave
beds C. The rotation of e also revolves M and M¹ causing the pin m to come in
contact with the catch p on the shaft P causing it to make a half turn and by
means of the stud p¹ to push the lever F out of the lower slot of O, whereupon the
wheel pushes it back and causes it to fall into the middle slot and thereby to lock
the plate D and the concave beds in their position, until the attendant releases F
from the middle slot of O and places it in the upper slot. Hereupon the action is
reversed, the wheel n¹ gears into the wheel the wheel K is revolved and the
crank plate D is turned until the pin p of the shaft P is again struck by the pin m
and the lever F is pushed out by the projection p², and into the middle position
thus locking the concave beds in the opposite position.
The feed mechanism is controlled by the lever G shewn in the drawing as
actuated by the upright rod g and pedal 9', but which may be obviously be actuated
by hand or otherwise if required; this lever G is firmly fixed on a shaft or bar R
revolving in bearings in the frame at each end, and extending the whole length of
the cylinder B.
A suitable number of levers S are also attached to R, having slots u in which
engage pins t fixed to a triangular concave piece V hinged at to the first
bed C.
When the pedal g₁ is depressed, the mechanism lifts up the piece V and enables
the materials to be ironed to be readily passed under the same without danger of
entanglement.
The finished goods are delivered from under the last concave bed on to the
sloping boards H H and if needful from thence on to a band or carrier.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In machines for ironing or calendaring linen and other fabrics the improved
concave heated beds mounted on trunnions in frames, with spring and screw
adjustment and means for raising and depressing the same on the revolving cylinder
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
2. In machines for ironing or calendaring linen and other fabrics the arrange-
ment of concave heated beds around the greater part of the revolving cylinder so
as to secure the greatest possible area of heated surface whilst admitting the
escape of steam between the first beds and preventing the dried goods from
falling off the cylinder substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
3. In machines for ironing or calendaring linen and other fabrics the improved
adjustable mechanism for guiding and passing fabrics of various thickness beneath
the concave heated beds substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
4. In machines for ironing or calendaring linen and other fabrics the mechanism
for controlling the motion of the crank plate D consisting essentially of the hand
lever F with its frame the wheels K n' n thereon, held in place by the slotted
piece and automatically controlled by the motion of the worm shaft e through
the spur wheels M and M' pin m projection p shaft P and studs p' and p².
5. The combination of parts forming the improved ironing and calendaring
machines substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 11th dox of December 1895