Textiles: ironing or smoothing – Smoothing machines – Roller presser
Patent
1998-02-27
1999-08-10
Izaguirre, Ismael
Textiles: ironing or smoothing
Smoothing machines
Roller presser
38 8, 38 66, 100 92, 492 12, 492 46, D06F 6702, F28F 502
Patent
active
059339888
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ironing machine comprising a rotating ironing cylinder, a coaxially-fastened tube inside the cylinder, heating means disposed between the cylinder and the tube, and means for ensuring circulation of air in a closed circuit inside the cylinder.
The ironing machine of the invention may be used in all situations where relatively large quantities of flat laundry such as sheets, table cloths, towels, etc. need to be ironed frequently. The principal types of establishment for which the invention is designed include hospitals, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, etc.
2. Background Art
In ironing machines using a rotary, heating cylinder the laundry to be ironed is introduced between the cylinder and endless belts applied to the cylinder over most of its circumference. The endless belts are driven forward, causing the ironing cylinder to rotate. The ironing operation is ensured by compressing the laundry between the cylinder and the endless belts and by heating the cylinder.
In this type of machine the maximum width of the laundry that can be ironed is limited by the length of the cylinder. In practice, the widest items to be ironed are always narrower than this maximum width. This means that for a given item of laundry, only part of the cylinder is in contact with the item as it is ironed. Given that the entire length of the ironing cylinder is normally heated uniformly, the temperature of the area of the cylinder that is unused during ironing tends to rise above that of the area used for ironing.
In order to limit the consequences of this effect, makers of this type of ironing machine recommend that users insert items of laundry from each side of the cylinder alternately. However, it is virtually impossible to ensure that this recommendation is followed. Moreover, even when it is strictly followed it cannot totally prevent the creation of overheated areas on the cylinder. Once the machine has been used for a certain time this may even cause burning of ironed laundry.
To overcome this drawback, FR-A-2 652 832 discloses an invention whereby the ironing cylinder is heated internally using heating means such as reduced-length electrical resistors disposed over the entire length of the cylinder. Said heating means are controlled so that the temperature remains more or less uniform over the entire length of the cylinder during ironing.
This type of design satisfactorily solves the problem of localized overheating of the ironing cylinder. However, it has the drawback of being relatively complex and costly, which limits its use to top-of-the-range machines.
FR-A-2 698 388 discloses an invention whereby the problem of localized overheating of the ironing cylinder is solved by circulating air inside the cylinder. More precisely, a radial turbine is fitted to one end of a fixed tube disposed inside the cylinder and openings are formed in the other end of said tube. Air is thus caused to circulate axially in one direction inside the fixed tube and in the opposite direction in the intervening space between the cylinder and the tube.
This type of machine is less costly than that disclosed in FR-A-2 652 832. However, the principle of circulating air to ensure a uniform temperature over the entire length of the cylinder proves inefficient in practice. This inefficiency is particularly due to the fact that the air inside the cylinder is circulated from one end to the other, whereas the highest heat consumption is usually located in the central section of the cylinder irrespective of how the laundry is inserted into the machine. Also, the use of a radial turbine to move the air creates a relatively weak air flow that is insufficient to ensure effective transfer of heat inside the cylinder.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates precisely to an ironing machine in which the interior of the ironing cylinder is fitted with means for circulating air at a cost comparable with the air circulating means equipping the machine disclosed in FR-A-2 698 38
REFERENCES:
patent: 1819534 (1931-08-01), Akerlow
patent: 1950669 (1934-03-01), Gleason
patent: 1992368 (1935-02-01), Geldhof
patent: 2950540 (1960-08-01), Fleissner
patent: 4361967 (1982-12-01), Bahnsen et al.
patent: 4781795 (1988-11-01), Miller
patent: 5551175 (1996-09-01), Neyman
Electrolux Systems De Blanchisserie
Izaguirre Ismael
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