Improvements in Ironing and Polishing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of App ication, 30th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ironing and Polishing Machines.
I, THOMAS WALTER BARBER, Engineer, of 165 Queen Victoria Street,
London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-This invention relates to a machine for the ironing & polishing of fabrics & is
specially adapted for laundering & kindred purposes.
It consists of a polished roller of bronze or other suitable metal, running in
bearings in the main frame of the machine & heated by gas or electricity, in the
usual manner. Below this roller is one of larger diameter also running in the main
frame, in bearings to be afterwards described."
Between these two rollers, a felt band placed horizontally & attached to two
rollers fixed at a proper distance apart in the frame & so arranged that the felt in
travelling back & forth will roll on to the one off the other & cice versa.
The felt band serves as a table, upon which the fabrics are laid, & is driven back
& forth by the large drum underneath it; which drum presses it & the fabrics up
against the polished roller & so obtains the necessary ironing polishing effects.
The polished roller is driven in the same direction as the felt, but at a greater
speed, by suitably proportioned gearing.
The large drum or roller runs in eccentric bearings in the main frame. These
bearings are connected by levers to a spring or springs, so that the pressure of the
drum against the polished roller can be adjusted by the manipulation of the springs.
The spring or springs are arranged to thrust against a lever, which can be thrown
in & out of gear instantaneously, so as to relieve the pressure on the rollers, if
required.
66
Against the polished roller, a small one, fluted along its length & running in
adjustable bearings (which may be made detachable from the main frame) may be
placed. A knife edge" is fixed below, attached to a lever, worked either by hand
or foot, so that in the case of collars or cuffs, by moving the lever the knife will
intercept the articles on the felt & cause them to pass between these two rollers &
so become curled. The fluted roller is driven at a lower speed, relatively, to the
polished one.
The whole gear is driven by suitable belt pulleys & the reversing is obtained
preferably by means of a foot lever connected to the belt fork bar.
Improvements in Ironing and Polishing Machines.
I, THOMAS WALTER BARBER, Engineer, of 165 Queen Victoria Street,
London, E.C. in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to a machine for the ironing & polishing of fabrics & is
specially adapted for laundering & kindred purposes.

page_text: It consists of a polished roller A. (shewn in accompanying drawing) of bronze or
other suitable metal, running in bearings B. in the main frame C. of the machine;
& heated by gas or electricity in the usual manner. Below this roller is one of
larger dianieter D. also running in the main frame, in bearings, to be afterwards
described.
Between these two rollers A. & D. a felt band E. is placed horizontally & attached
to two rollers F. & G. fixed at a proper distance apart in the frame C. & so arranged
that the felt, in travelling back & forth between the rollers, will roll on to the one
off the other & vice versa.
The felt band E. takes the place of the ordinary board & serves as a table upon
which the fabrics to be ironed are laid & is driven back & forth by the large
drum or roller D. underneath it. It may be replaced by the ordinary table or
board, but is superior to it on account of its drying more rapidly, during use. The
drum D. presses the felt & the fabrics on it up against the polished roller A. & so
abtains the desired.ironing & polishing effect.
The polished roller is driven in the same direction as the felt band, but at a
greater speed, by suitably proportioned gearing H.
These
The large drum D. runs in eccentric bearings J. in the main frame.
bearings are connected by levers K. to a spring L. or springs, so that the pressure
of the drum against the polished roller A. can be adjusted by the manipulation of
the spring L.
The spring L. or springs, are arranged to thrust against a lever M., which lever
can be thrown in & out of gear instantaneously, so as to relieve the pressure
between the rollers if required.
Against the roller A. a small one O. fluted along its length & running in
adjustable bearings P. (which may be made detachable from the main frame) may
be placed. A "knife edge " Q. is fixed below, attached to a lever R. worked either
by hand (as shewn) or by foot; so that, in the case of collars & cuffs, by moving
the lever R. the knife will intercept the articles on the felt & cause them to pass
between the two rollers A. & O. & so become curled. The fluted roller is driven at
a lower speed relatively to the polished one.
This portion of the machine may be detached & used separately if desired.
The whole gear is driven by suitable belt pulleys & the reversing is obtained
preferably by means of a foot lever connected with the belt fork bar.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I
claim is:-
1st. The combination of eccentric bearings & levers with the large drum, for the
purpose of giving suitable adjustable pressure to the travelling felt or board,
substantially as shewn.
2nd. The combination of a travelling band with end rollers for taking up the
travel substantially as shewn.
3rd. The combination of a fluted roller & a smooth one to obtain a curling effect
as described.
4th. The adaptation of the fluted roller & knife edge to the main frame of
the machine so as to secure the combination of ironing & curling in one machine as
described & shewn..
5th. The combination of levers with the pressure spring, to obtain instantaneous
release as shewn & described.
6th. The general arrangement of the machine substantially, as shewn &
described.
Dated this 26th day of Jonu 1805
T. W. BARBER.