US2689420A - Ironing machine - Google Patents

Description

ep 1954 G. VERCAMMEN IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1951 ame/who,

GUSTBYE VERcnnnE Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING MACHINE Gustave Ve'cammen, Gand, Belgium Application November 29, 1951, Serial No. 2 58514 Glaims priority, application Belgium May t), 1951 (CI. es-A) h h It is still another object of the present invntion to reduce the number of attendants required for an operation of the ironing machine.

An ironing machine according to the 'present invention comprises in its broadest -aspects an ironing cylinder, a countermember arranged with respect to the -ironing cylinder so as to define an ironing space between the ironing cylinder and the countermembe, the ironing cylinder and the countermember bein g heated by gas, and means for carrying the material to be ironed through the ironing space between the ironing cy linder and the countermem'ber, the carrying means conveying the material further into a zone in which it can be reached by hand by an operator charged with the collecting of the material after ironing.

The countermember can be designed either as a countercylinder or as a :parthaving a preferably part-cylindrical recess.

A preferred embodiment of the presentinvehtion compr ises in combination an elongated table, a gas-heated part arranged across the table, the gas-heated part havinga .part-cylindrical recess ;arranged at the upper surface theref, a 'gasheated ironing cylin'cler having a length substantialiy corresponding to' the width of 'the table, and being arranged above the .part so as to defin'e with the recess thereof a part-cylindri'cal ironing space, a first roller and a "second 'roller arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends ot the table, an endless band passing oi/er the first roller, the table, through the 'ir'ning space between the ironing Cylindera'n the 'part and 'over the second roller, and means fr 'automatically c'ontrolling the tension of 'the endless band,

tt here'by the material to 'be 'ironed is carried b'y the entlless 'band throughfthe ironin'g space be tween the gas-heated bart 'and the 'gas-heated i`rb`ning cylinder and is 'further conve'yed to 'a zone in which it 'c'an joe :cached 'by hand by an opera- 4 charged With th collecting'o'fthe material after ironing.

Prereraby the ehdless'bah 'has "a 'width b'ein'g i 2 substantially 'qul t' the With 'f the 'table and 'the length of the iroifing 'cyl'indeh h In a preferred embodim'nt of the ,present 'in- 'Vention a hem is arranged 'along the edge 'of the endless band and'a c'ur'vedba'" preferahly consisting of metal is arrange'd with 'respect to bire 'of the rollers so as to sari-c'fund paft the rimtr near one end 'ther'df, 'the bar 'engagng theheiii. of the endless band 's'o as to gide the same.

Preferably an "armem- -groo'v is provided 'near the end of the rour associat'ea With the c'rv bar, the annular 'grove holding the bar fin posi*- tion on the roller. A

In a prererred mbdifneht 'f the present linvention the ironing cyli'r'tler hafs the shap'e of a hollow metal drum *arra g'd horoifthy :and non-rotatabl'y and a ;gas 'pipo having 'a purfity of lateral aperture's 'is a'fi'a'n'getl hofizntall'y in the hollow drum ata. position 'being 'an'gularly displaced by 25 'to 40 with respect to the vertical 4 through the longittdinal aX'is f the di'fn 's'o that the drum is healted `b`y the :gas e's'capifig frorh th' apertures of the pipe 'injp'lace'sspaced ap'art from' the crest of the drum. Prerra y the 'dr m 'h'as 'pbli'shed 'outr surface 'ilevoi *of anycoverin nateria'l. a

The 'noi/el features t'vhitfh are 'Cohid'e'ed '378 characteristic for the ihve tibh 'are 'set forth in particular in the 'appended claim's. ''he inven tion itself, however, `both as to it's Construction and its method OT operation, tb'gethr With adili"- tonal objects and "advantages thereofl'wfll bebest understood from the following description *oi* specific embodiments when 'read in "connection With the accompanying drawings, in which:: H

Fig. 1 is a diranmti 'side l'vatioh 'f 'an ironing machine accr'ding to 'the 'inventiom Fig. 2 is an end elev ati'on n 'an enlarge'd scale of the roller 'at the .front end o f the 'mamane shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a partal side elevation 'on a'n en'largel scale of the roller shown 'in`Fig.'2`; h w

Fig. 4 is an end el evatio'n 'onan eriar gea 'sca'i'e of the roning c'yl'ih'der "shwf in themclfin 'in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is 'a sctional side 'elevatin 'oh eh'- larged scale of Jpart 'of Fi'g. 1.

Referring now to the 'drawing and "first 'to Fi'g. 1, the 'table 'I of the 'machine jcbnis'ti'g of 'ahi' suitable material is provided `Witha smooth 'sur'- face and is 'arrang'e'd in 'the usra rrarmer onen understructure (not shown). The *table fl *is* provided With 'a countermember .pr rrb'y "a metallic part 2 forin'iig'a partynnanc rcss and being heated by gas as shown ih Fig. `5 in;

which the part 2 is heated by a g as' pipe 20. Above the recess of the part 2 is arranged the ironing cylinder 3 which is equally heated by gas as more fully explained hereinafter. It should be understood however, that the part 2 can be replaced, if desired, by a counter-cylinder heated by gas. The ironing cylinder 3 is supported by bearing blocks 2| (Fig. movable in a groove of the frame 22 so as to allow a displacement along the vertical according to the thickness of the material to be ironed. At the both ends of the table l rollers 4 and 5 having axes, respectively, substantially parallel to the axis of the ironing cylinder 3 and consisting of wood, caoutchouc, metal or plastic material are provided, respectvely, which are supported by bearings (not shown) which allow a free rotation of the rollers. Below the table l stretching rollers 6 and 'l are arranged one of which is driven by a motor (not shown). The axes of the rollers are arranged substantially parallel to the axes of the rollers 4 and 5. An endless band E having a width substantially equal to that of the table l and to the length of the cylinder 3 passes between the cylinder 3 and the part 2 of the table l and around the rollers 4, 5, 6 and so that the upper part of the band 8 is supported above the table by the rollers 4 and 5 between. which the upper part of the band 8 enters the space between the part 2 and cylinder 3. The lower part of the band 8 passes around the stationary rollers 'I and 6 underneath the table. The tension of the endless band 8 can be automatically adjusted, e. g. by automatically adjusting the distance of the rollers 4, 5 or the like.

The endless band 8 consistng of textile material such as cotton, linen, silk, rayon, nylon, or the like, is provided along one or each edge thereof With a hem a few centimeters wide which is: engaged by a metal bar 9 which can be round, half round, or flat and is bent back around one of the rollers 4 or 5, preferably around the roller '4 being arranged at the front end of the table l. In said roller, preferably near each of the eX- tremities thereof, an annular groove ID is provided which serves together with the table I for holding the bar 9 in position (Figs. 2 and 3). The band 8 is in consequence thereof guided by the hem thereof on the bar 9. It should be understood that a similar bar (not shown) is disposed along the other edge of the band 8 so that the latter is perfectly guided and cannot crease or displace itself under the ironing cylinder 3; the width of the band 8 is stabilized and its course is rectilinear.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the ironing cylinder 3 is shaped as a hollow drum consisting of iron or steel and is heated by means of the flames` caused by gas escaping through lateral apertures of a gas tube or pipe ll which is arranged horizonta'lly and in a position being displaced to: the vertical by an angle between 25 and 40 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 in order to improve the combustion of the gas. In fact, in the position of the gas pipe l l shown in the drawings, the flames do not burn near the crest of the cylinder 3 where the air is poor in oxygen and mixed with burnt gases but in immediate proximity of the internal wall of the cylinder`3 at places further down in a pure atmosphere formed by the continually arriving fresh air which passes through the lateral flanges of the cylinder 3, whereas the burnt gases ac- 'cumulate in the upper part of the cylinder 3 before escaping from the same.

i The gas pipe ll can be fed with coal gas,

and not provided with any cover such as those conventionally used in the majority of ironing machines. v

The operation of this machine is as follows: The material to be ironed is placed on the band 8 so that it occupies the total width of the part of the upper portion of the band 8 supported by the table l and Situated before the ironing cylinder 3. The width of the band 8 and consequently of' the table l are Conveniently chosen and may have any suitable value. The material is con- Veyed by the band 8 to the cylinder 3 and guided underneath the latter so that it is ironed in the ironing space between the cylinder 3 and the recessed part 2 which are both heated by gas. After passing underneath the cylinder' 3 the ironed material which is still carried by the band 8 is conveyed to a Zone in which the material can be reached by the hands of the operator charged With collecting the material after ironing. The machine thus allows a "continuous" ironing over the whole length of the cylinder 3 and requires a Very reduced attendance by personnel. Actually only two persons are required for Operating the machine, one for putting the material to be ironed on the band 8 before it passes the cylinder 3 and the other for lifting the ironed material from the band 8 after passing the cylinder 3.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of ironing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has illustrated and described as embodied in a machine for ironing a material, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications. and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the followitng claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: v

1. A machine for ironing a material, comprising in combination, an elongated table; a heated part arranged across said table, said heated part having a part-cylindrical recess arranged at the upper surface thereof; a heated ironing cylinder having a length substantially corresponding to the width of said table, and being arranged above said part so as to dene with said reoess thereof a part-cylindrical ironing space; a first roller and a sceond roller arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said table; an endless band passing over said first roller, said table, through said ironing space between said ironing cylinder and said part and over said second roller; a hem arranged along the edge of said endless band; and a curved bar arranged with respect to one of said rollers so as to surround part of the perimeter thereof near one end thereof, said bar engaging said hem of -said endless band so as to guide the same, whereby the material to be ironed is carried by said endless band through said ironing space between said heated part and said heated the width of said table, and being arranged above' said part so as to denne with said recess thereof a part-cylindrical ironing space; a first roller and a second roller arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said table; an endless band passing over said first roller, said table, through said ironing space between said ironing cylinder and said part and over said second roller; a hem arranged along the edge of said endless band; a curved bar arranged with respect to one of said rollers so as to surround part of the perimeter thereof near one end thereof, said bar engaging said hem of said endless band so as to guide the same; and an annular groove provided near the end of said roller associated with said curved bar, said annular groove holding said bar in position on said roller, whereby the material to be ironed is` carried by said endless band through said ironing space between said heated part and said heated ironing cylinder and is further conveyed to a zone in which it can be reached by hand by an operator charged `with the collecting of the materlal after ironing.

3. A machine for ironing a material, comprising in combination, an elongated table; a heated part arranged across said table, said heated part having a part-cylindrical recess arranged at the upper surface thereof; a heated ironing cylinder having a length substantially corresponding to the width of said table, and being arranged above said part so as to define with said recess thereof a part-cylindrical ironing space; a first roller and a second roller arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said table; an endless band passing over said first roller, said table, through said ironing space between said ironing cylinder and said part and over said second roller; a hem arranged along the edge of said endless band; and

a curved bar consisting of metal and being arranged with respect to one of said rollers so as to surround part of the perimeter thereof near one end thereof, said bar engaging said hem of said endless band so as to guide the same whereby the material to be ironed is carried by said endless band through said ironing space between said heated part and said heated ironing cylinder and is further conveyed to a zone in which it can be reached by hand by an operator charged with the collecting of the material after ironing.

4. A machine for ironing a material, comprising in combination, an elongated table; a heated part arranged across said table, said heated part having a part-cylindrical recess arranged at the upper surface thereof; a heated ironing cylinder having a length substantially corresponding to the width of said table, and being arranged above said part so as to define with said recess thereof a part-cylindrical ironing space; a first roller and a second roller arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends of said table; an endless band passing over said first roller, said table, through said ironing space between said ironing cylinder and said part and over said second roller; a hem arranged along the edge of said endless band; a curved bar consisting of metal and 'being arranged with respect to one of said rollers so as to surround part of the perimeter thereof near one end thereof, said bar engaging said hem of said endless band so as to guide the same; and an annular groove provided near the end of said roller associated with said curved bar, said annular groove holding said bar in position on said roller, whereby the material to be ironed is carried by said endless band through said ironing space between said heated part and said heated ironing cylinder and is further conveyed to a zone in which it can be reached by hand by an operator charged with the collecting of the material after ironing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 188,686 Smith Mar. 20, 1877 361,773 Miller Apr. 26, 1887 535,133 Gustafson Mar. 15, 1895 l,628,436 Segrin et al May 10, 1927 1,994,360 Hurxthal Mar. 12, 1935 2,436,530 Sando Feb. 24, 1948

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