US466815A - I ron ing-machine - Google Patents

Description

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED C. XVENDELL, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

IRONlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,815, dated J'anuary 12, 1892.

Application filed March 30, 1891. Seriai No. 386,999. (No modal.)

v fabrics With smoeth-finished surfaces and in a thoroughly-dry condition.

iieretofore machines of this character have generaiiy been constructed with a holio w steam-heated dru m cembined either with ironingrolls acting to confine the fabrics thereon or with an endiess beit partly encircling the drum ferthe same purpose. My invention is directed to the full and c0mpiete utiiizatien et the heating-surtace of the drum and to the delivery et the fabric in a perfectiy-dry condition at a convenient point.

In constructing 1ny machine I combine 'th the heatingdium a series et overiying co-eperating relis, which press the advancing fabric into intimate contact with the drum, and aise an endiess belt, which encircies the drum on the opposite side from the reliers, so that after the fabric is acted u pou by the relis it is carried around the remaining portion of the drum by the boit, being thus subjected during the secondary part et the operation to a further drying action. Inasmuch as the be1t serves to carry the fabrics back to that side of the drum on which they were introduced, and as it is inconvenient to have them delivered into and out et the machine on the same side,I propose to combine With the belt or apron abeve menlioned a second endiess belt or other suitable carrier adapted to return the finished fabrics te the rear side et the machine and there deiiver the1n.

It Wiii be obvious to the skiiied mechanic that the detaiis et my construction are net et the essence of my invention and that they xnaybe modified at Wiii, provided oniy the drum is combined with the relis and the aprens in such manner that they act successiveiy te confine the fabrics upon the drum and carry them completeiy around the same, or neariy se.

In, the accempanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side eievation et my innpreved machine in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section et the same.

Refrring to the drawings, A represents a rigid main frame, which may be ef any appropriate form, and B a horizontal hollowdrum sustained bya central shaft b, mounted in suitabie bearings b on the main franne. The drum is made heilow and with a smooth exterior surface of metai, its shaft-journals being hoiiow in order to admit of steam being introduced into the iuterior te maintain the same in a highlyheated condition.

0 0 are series of horizontal relis ciothed With feit or similar materiai and arranged te bear on the upper surface Of the drum at short distances apart. These relis may be meunted in anysuitabie manner; but I prefer, as shown, to mount their journais 0 in boxes c, arranged te slide in standards c on the main trame, a spring c being, arranged above each box subject to the action of a pressure-screw 0*, in order that the relis may be pressed with more or less force toward the dru m, as circumstances may admit.

D represents an endiess apren of feit, tapes, canvas, or other suitabie materiai covering the lowerhalf of the drum and passingthence areund guide-puiieys d, cl, cZ d and (1 This apron is driven in any suitabie manner at the same or practieaiiy the same speed as the surface of the drum. A simple driving mechanism is that shown in the drawings, in which (l represents a sprocket-wheei on theroiierd, connected by chain d to a driving-piied E reprcsents a basket, table, or other support at the front of the machine, from which the fabrics are delivered between the surface of the drum and the firstroii 0. As thedrum reveives the fabric is carried forward therewith under the successive relis untii it arrives at the rear side et the drum. By this time the fabric, which has been subjected te a high heat and to considerabie pressure and entirely exposed to permit the escape et the Va porized 'moisture, is comparativeiy dry and presents a smeeth surface. In passing the last roll at the rear the fabric continues its downward course and is carried between the apron D and the surface ef the drum under the latter and up to the front of the machine. In this passage under the drum the fabric is rapid escape of the moistnre.

subjected to a further drying influence, so that on delivery at the front it is in a thoroughly-dried condition. The delivery of the fabric over the front end of the apron is insured by the presence of a beveled doffer-bar F, which may, however, be replaced by any suitable device.

The foregoin'g parts constitute a complete and operative machine well adapted to the end in view. In order, however, to return the fabric to the rear and there deliver it, I provide a second endless apron or carrier G, which is passed aronnd the pnlleys d d and (I in contact with the under surface of the main apron D and then extended over the gniding-rolls g, g, 57 9 and 9 As the fabric is delivered at the front from between the drum and the main apron it is directed outward by the doffer and passed between the rolls d and 9 and thence in a downward and rearward direction between the two aprons D and G to the rear side of the machine, where it is automatically delivered on the horizontal portion of the belt G, extending between the rolls g and g.

' VVhile it is preferred to employ-solid belts or aprons, particularly in the case of the main apron D, it is to be understood that a series of narrow belts or tapes or a perforated belt may be employed in order to permit the more The bearings of the various rolls may be constructed and made adjustable in any appropriate manner to maintain the tension et the aprons.

It will be observed that in my machine I utilize the heated surface of nearly the entire circumference of the drum, so that when a drnm of reasonably large size is used the fabrics are quickly and thoroughly roned and dried in passing once through the machine. It will also be observed that the belt covering the under side of the drum prevents the loss of heat which ordinarily oecurs by radiation from uncovered drums.

It will be observed that in my machine the ironing-rolls, instead of being geared to the drum as usnal, are driven by frictional contact with the intervening fabric. This is found'in praetice to be of decided advantage, as the rollers,turning someWhat slower than the drum, act with a frictional eiect to retard the advance of the fabric while it is being snbjected to the polishing action of the drum. I also find it advantageous to make the relis of successively-increasing diameter, preferably by giving the felt covering an increased thickness, and to adjust them so that they bear successivel With increasing pressure on the drum. I find that when thus proportioned and adjusted and when driven from the drum by the frictional effeet of the intervening fabric, instead of being driven by gearing, each roll will turn at slightly higher speed than the one next in advance. The result of this is that the rolls act to draw or stretch out the fabric, keeping the same 11nder tension, so that the drum acts to give them a smoother and better finish than when the rolls are positively driven, as usual.

It is to be distinctly understood that while I prefer to clothe the relis withfelt, as hercinbefore pointed out, they may be clothed With any analogons soft material, and that the word felt is used in the present specification in a generic sense as including ail soft or felt-like material.

IIavingth us described m y invention, whatI claim is 1. In an ironing-machine, the combination of a hollow drum, a series of rolls co-operating with the periphery of the drum on one side, and a traveling apron co-operating with the periphery of the drum on the opposite side and arranged t0 automatically receive the fabricfrom the last roll and return it in contact with the drnm toward the side of the machine at which it entered, 'whereby the fabric is automatically subjected, first, to the action of the successive ironingrolls and thereatter to the heating and drying action of the drum.

2. In an ironing-machine, the combination of the rotary steam-heated metallic drum, the series of felt-covered rolls acting upon its upper surface, the endless apron surrounding its under surface, and means, substantially as described, for driving sa, d apron.

3. In Combination with the steam-heated metallic drum, the sefiies ot overlying rollers covered with felt, the endless apron encircling the lower portion of the drum t0 retnrn the fabrie to the front of the machine, and the second apron or carrier co-operating With the first to return the fabric to anddeliver it to the rear of the machine.

4:. In an ironing-machine, in combination with a rotary steam-heated drum and means, substantially as described, for maintaining the fabrics in contact With thedrum thronghont snbstantially ils entire circumference that they may retnrn to a point near the point of introduction, a secondary carrier to deliver the fabrics after leaving the drum to the rear of the machine.

5. In an ironing-machine, the hollow drum,

in combination With a series of feltcovered frictionally-driven rolls acting successively upon the fabric passing between them and the drum, whereby the fabric is subjected to a stretching action in addition to the,ordinary ironing action.

6. In an ironing-machine,the hollow drum, in combination With the series of felt-covered frictionally-driven relis adjusted to act with successively-increasing pressure toward the drum.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set m y baud, tlns 14th day of March, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

FRED C. VVENDELL Vitnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, P. T. DODGE.

IIO

Images