U.S. patent application number 10/497517 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for rotary ironer for ironing essentially rectangular pieces of cloth.
Invention is credited to Nielsen, Steen.
Application Number | 20050115121 10/497517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8160874 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nielsen, Steen |
June 2, 2005 |
Rotary ironer for ironing essentially rectangular pieces of
cloth
Abstract
The invention relates to a rotary ironer comprising at least one
essentially horizontally located ironing roller having a
circular-cylindrical surface and being rotatably journalled about
an axis of rotation through the centre of the roller, and wherein,
for each ironing roller, there is provided an ironing pan, wherein
the ironing pan is configured from two flexible, essentially
rectangular steel plates that are mutually spaced apart, but being
closely joined along their periphery, whereby they combine to form
a hollow, flexible ironing pan that is able to adapt to the
circular-cylindrical surface of the ironing roller and wherein, on
the ironing pan at one or more positions along the axis of rotation
of the ironing roller, is configured one or more supply pipes,
integrally with the ironing pan, for supplying steam to the cavity
of the ironing pan. The invention is characterised in that the
integral supply pipes at each position on the ironing pan are
configured as separate pipes, there being on the integral supply
pipes at each position configured separate coupling flanges/stubs
for connecting steam supply pipes to the integral supply pipes.
Inventors: |
Nielsen, Steen; (Ronne,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER
LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Family ID: |
8160874 |
Appl. No.: |
10/497517 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 4, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK02/00820 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
38/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 67/08 20130101;
D06F 65/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
038/066 |
International
Class: |
D06F 067/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2001 |
DK |
PA 2001 01795 |
Claims
1. A rotary ironer comprising at least one essentially horizontally
located ironing roller that has a circular-cylindrical surface and
is rotatably journalled about an axis of rotation through the
centre of the roller, and wherein, for each ironing roller, there
is provided an ironing pan having two ends and between these two
ends forming a yoke in the form of a cylinder face that partially
encloses a part of the circumference of the ironing roller
essentially in the full length of the ironing roller, and wherein
the ironing roller and the ironing pan thus form a supply side,
where the piece of cloth will, due to the rotation of the ironing
roller, by means of the ironing roller be pulled into the abutment
area between the ironing roller and the ironing pan, and a
discharge side, opposite the supply side, where the piece of cloth
is yet again pushed out of the ironing roller, and wherein the
ironing pan is configured from two flexible, substantially
rectangular steel plates that are mutually spaced apart, but being
closely joined along their periphery, whereby they combine to form
a hollow, flexible ironing pan that is able to adapt to the
circular-cylindrical surface of the ironing roller and wherein, on
the ironing pan, at one or more positions along the axis of
rotation of the ironing roller, is configured one or more supply
pipes, integrally with the ironing pan, for supplying steam to the
cavity of the ironing pan, characterised in that the integral
supply pipes at each position on the ironing pan are configured as
separate pipes, there being on the integral supply pipes at each
position configured separate coupling flanges/stubs for connecting
steam supply pipes to the integral supply pipes.
2. A rotary ironer according to claim 1, characterised in that
integral steam supply pipes are configured exclusively essentially
centrally on the ironing pan, seen in relation to the axis of
rotation of the ironing roller.
3. A rotary ironer according to claim 1, characterised in that at
least integral steam supply pipes are configured at both ends of
the ironing pan, seen in relation to the axis of rotation of the
ironing roller.
4. A rotary ironer according to claim 3, characterised in that the
coupling flanges/stubs are configured at each end of the ironing
pan.
5. A rotary ironer according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that
the steel plate facing towards the ironing roller during use of the
rotary ironer is made of black steel or ferritic steel.
6. A rotary ironer according to claim 5, characterised in that both
the steel plates that form the ironing pan are made of black steel
or ferritic steel.
7. A rotary ironer according to claim 1, wherein the steel plate
facing towards the ironing roller during use has a material
thickness of between 2 and 6 mm, and in that the steel plate facing
away from the ironing roller during use has a material thickness of
between 0.75 to 2 mm.
8. A rotary ironer according to claim 1, wherein the ironing pan
further comprises one or more discharge pipes for collecting and
discharging condensed steam from the ironing pan interior, said
discharge pipe(s) being configured at the area on the ironing pan
which is located lowermost in the normal in-use position of the
ironing pan.
9. A rotary ironer according to claim 1, wherein the integral
supply pipes are in flow communication with and attached to the
ironing pan at each of the corners of the rectangular steel plates,
whereby steam is supplied to the ironing pan at the uppermost edges
thereof.
10. A rotary ironer according to claim 9, characterised in that, at
least at the one end of the ironing pan, two of the integral supply
pipes extend from the ironing pan and slantingly there below.
11. A rotary ironer according to claim 10, characterised in that
the two integral supply pipes at the one end of the ironing pan are
provided with each their coupling stub/flange for releasable
coupling steam supply pipes to the integral supply pipes.
12. A rotary ironer according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in
that, to the integral supply pipes at the one end of the ironing
pan, one or more steam supply pipes is/are releasably coupled that
extend longitudinally to the ironing pan and towards the opposite
end of it.
13. A rotary ironer according to claim 7, wherein the steel plate
facing towards the ironing roller during use has a material
thickness of between 3 and 5 mm, and in that the steel plate facing
away from the ironing roller during use has a material thickness of
between 1 and 1.5 mm.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to rotary ironers for ironing
in particular substantially rectangular pieces of cloth, such as
bed linen and tablecloths, and wherein the rotary ironer comprises
at least one essentially horizontally arranged and rotatably
journalled ironing roller that has two ends, and wherein the
ironing roller is provided with an ironing pan that encloses a part
of the circumference of the ironing roller essentially throughout
the entire length of the ironing roller, and wherein the ironing
roller and the ironing pan thus form a supply side, whereby by
means of the ironing roller the piece of cloth is pulled into the
abutment area between the ironing roller and the ironing pan, and a
discharge side opposite the supply side, wherein the piece of cloth
is yet again pushed out of the ironing roller.
[0002] Conventional rotary ironers of this kind very often comprise
a very rigid and inflexible ironing pan that is configured with
very large material thicknesses. These rotary ironers are most
often heated by means of condensing steam, the ironing pan being
able to easily resist the super-atmospheric pressure of the steam
to be supplied to the ironing pan in order to obtain the desired
ironing temperature.
[0003] It is a problem of these prior art ironing pans that even
very small irregularities in the surface of the ironing pan that
faces towards the ironing roller during use will result in varying
friction, which is undesirable in rotary ironers for the sake of
ensuring as good and reliable ironing of the pieces of cloth as
possible. The prior art inflexible ironing pans therefore involve
quite a lot of machining of the rigid and inflexible ironing pan to
ensure that it matches the ironing roller well. However, it is an
advantage of these rotary ironers that, once the ironing pan as
such is completely machined, it is dimensionally very stable and
thus yields a high degree of freedom for configuring other
component parts in the rotary ironer without thereby entailing
diverse friction conditions.
[0004] Additionally it applies that the rigid pans expand in case
of increasing pressure and temperature, which means that the
contact pressure between roller and pan decreases to each side due
to this expansion. The contact pressure being of considerable
consequence to the drying capacity of the rotary ironer, this means
that--albeit the increasing temperature gradient entails more
thermal energy--the thermal and pressure expansion of the rigid pan
involves a loss of capacity. The same phenomenon occurs when the
felt coating on the rotary ironer is worn, whereby the diameter of
the roller is reduced.
[0005] In order to avoid the drawbacks of the above-mentioned
technique, steam-heated ironing pans have been devised that are
very flexible, thereby enabling them to elastically adapt to the
outer shape of the ironing roller.
[0006] Examples of such ironing pans are taught in eg EP patent No.
573,402, DE patent application No. 19757756 and U.S. Pat. No.
3,118,240, wherein the ironing pans are configured of two flexible,
substantially rectangular steel plates that are spaced apart,
except that they are closely joined along their periphery and in a
number of spot joints within the periphery, whereby they combine to
form a hollow flexible ironing pan, and wherein--on the ironing pan
at each of the ends of the ironing roller--one ore more supply
tubes is/are configured that are integral with the ironing pan for
supplying steam to the cavity of the ironing pan.
[0007] By the latter rotary ironers it is known to supply steam via
a tubular system joined to the ironing pan by welding and extending
longitudinally of the ironing pan and the ironing roller from a
coupling flange/stub at the one end of the ironing roller. In order
to counteract that these tubular systems cause the flexible ironing
pan to be deformed by thermal expansion and contraction of the
tubular members to contract, these tubular systems are provided
with one or more relief areas in the form of bends that increase
the elasticity of the tubular system in that these bends allow the
tubular system to be deformed in principle like a harmonica.
[0008] However, another problem that occurs in case of the latter
flexible ironing pans that are heated by condensing steam is that
the desired temperature on the surface of the ironing pan
presupposes that steam is supplied under a certain pressure. This
means that, in principle, the ironing pan is considered to be a
pressurized container, which means that safety precautions are to
be made during construction of the ironing pan.
[0009] Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a
rotary ironer and an ironing pan, whereby the safety is
increased--other things being equal, while simultaneously the
loads, if any, of the tubular system on the ironing pan are further
reduced.
[0010] In accordance with the invention this is obtained by the
integral supply tubes being at each position on the ironing pan
configured as separate tubular members in that, on the integral
supply tubes, at each position there are configured separate
coupling flanges/stubs for coupling of steam supply tubes onto the
integral supply tubes.
[0011] The integral steam supply tubes being at each position
longitudinally of the ironing roller and thus at each position on
the ironing pan separated from each other rather than constituting
a welded supply tube that extends along the entire ironing pan, it
is thus ensured that no power influences are transmitted as a
consequence of thermal expansions and contractions via these tubes
like to the ironing pan. Simultaneously it is obtained that the
overall volume of the tubular system can be reduced considerably,
in particular due to the prior art relief zones welded onto the
ironing pan being redundant, thereby, other things being equal,
providing a higher degree of safety, the safety in connection with
pressurized containers being often calculated as the overall volume
of the container multiplied by the pressure to which the container
is exposed.
[0012] By a preferred embodiment there is exclusively configured
integral steam supply tubes in particular centrally on the ironing
pan seen in relation to the axis of rotation of the ironing
roller.
[0013] By an alternatively preferred embodiment such supply tubes
are configured exclusively at each end of the ironing pan, and in
this context the overall container volume of the ironing pan is
advantageously further reduced by the coupling flanges/stubs being
configured at each their end of the ironing roller and hence the
ironing pan.
[0014] By a further preferred embodiment the steel plate that,
during use of the rotary ironer, faces towards the ironing roller
is configured from black steel or ferritic steel, which, other
things being equal, entails that a lower steam pressure can be
applied than was necessary in the event that stainless steel was
used, as it is known in particular from DE patent application No.
19757756 and EP patent No. 573402; black steel or ferritic steel
usually having a conductivity that is up to four times as high as
stainless steel.
[0015] In this context, both the steel plates that form the ironing
pan are further advantageously constituted of black steel or
ferritic steel, whereby undesired deformations of the ironing pan
due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficient of the
plates are thus avoided.
[0016] By a further preferred embodiment of the invention the steel
plate that faces towards the rotary ironer during use is
constituted of a plate with a material thickness of between 2 and 6
mm. And preferably between 3 and 5 mm. And the steel plate that
faces away from the rotary ironer during use has a material
thickness of between 0.75 and 2 mm, and preferably between 1 and
1.5 mm. Thereby an extremely flexible ironing pan is obtained which
is extremely easy to manufacture by use of conventional welding
process without an ensuing need for considerable further processing
of the surfaces of the rotary ironer to ensure a uniform friction
and a uniform contact pressure between the ironing pan and the
pieces of cloth that are pulled through the rotary ironer by the
abutment of the rotating ironing roller thereon.
[0017] Additionally, the ironing pan may further comprise one or
more discharge pipes for collecting and discharging condensed steam
from the ironing pan interior; by configuring such discharge pipes
at the bottom of the ironing pan in the normal use position thereof
such discharge pipes will be located on a bent and thus relatively
rigid area of the ironing pan, which means that high demands are
not made to reducing the effect by which the discharge pipes
influence the ironing pan.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the integral supply pipes are in
flow communication and attached to the ironing pan at each of the
corners of the rectangular steel plates, whereby steam is supplied
to the rotary ironer at the uppermost edges thereof, and at each of
the ends of the ironing pan seen relative to the normal use
position. This ensures good distribution of heat on the surface of
the ironing pan.
[0019] Furthermore, in this context, two of the integral supply
pipes located at least at the one end of the ironing pan
advantageously extend from the ironing pan and slangtingly there
below, thereby entailing a further reduction of the impact exerted
by the integral supply pipes on the ironing pan.
[0020] A further reduction of the influence of the integral supply
pipes on the ironing pan is furthermore achieved provided the two
integral supply pipes at the one end of the rotary ironer are
provided with each their coupling stub/flange for releasable
coupling of steam supply pipes to the integral supply pipes.
[0021] By a further preferred embodiment of the invention the
integral supply pipes at the one end of the ironing pan are
releasably coupled to one or more steam supply pipes that extend
longitudinally of the ironing pan and towards the opposite end
thereof. Hereby it is achieved that the ironing pan can easily be
coupled to an existing steam supply plant at the one end of the
rotary ironer.
[0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in
detail in the following with reference to the drawing, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a sketch showing a rotary ironer according to the
present invention, seen in a front view;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sketch in the form of a sectional view along the
line A-A shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a sketch showing the ironing pan shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 with supply pipes and discharge pipes welded thereto. The
ironing pan is shown in unfolded state and seen from the
outside.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sketch showing the ironing pan according to FIG.
3, wherein the welding spots are shown.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the ironing pan shown in
FIG. 4.
[0028] Thus, FIG. 1 is a sketch showing an ironing pan seen in a
front view, wherein the ironing pan comprises frame parts 1,
wherein is configured an ironing roller 2 that can be caused by a
not shown motor, by means of the gear 18, to rotate about the axles
4. Underneath the ironing roller an ironing pan 5 is provided in a
conventional manner, on which supply pipes 6 are mounted at each
end of the ironing pan 5. In accordance with the invention, it will
appear that the two shown supply pipes 6 are not connected to each
other; rather they are separate and each provided with each their
mounting flange 8 for mounting of further steam supply pipes 7,
only a few of which are shown.
[0029] Due to this above-mentioned separation of the shown supply
pipes 6 in the two opposed ends of the ironing pan 5 it is thus
achieved that impacts, if any, that were previously used for
supplying steam to the prior art rotary ironers are reduced to a
minimum with ensuing reduction of the risk of the elastic ironing
pan being undesirably deformed.
[0030] Now FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the ironing roller 2
shown in FIG. 1 with ironing pan 5, seen along the line A-A
according to FIG. 1.
[0031] It will thus appear that the ironing roller 2 has a
direction of revolution as illustrated by the arrow C around the
centre D formed by the axles 4 shown in FIG. 1, whereby the ironing
roller 2 and the ironing pan 5 form a feed slot 9 for the
introduction of pieces of cloth between the ironing roller 2 and
the ironing pan 5, following which the piece of cloth is
transported between the ironing roller 2 and the ironing pan
towards the outlet opening 10.
[0032] Now FIG. 2 shows that the supply pipes 6 shown in FIG. 1 are
provided both at the inlet 9 and the outlet 10, such that
pressurized steam is supplied to the ironing pan 5 via these supply
pipes 6 that are yet again, via the shown coupling flanges 8 or
stubs, coupled to not shown steam supply pipes.
[0033] As will appear from FIG. 2, the ironing pan 5 forms a yoke
in which the ironing roller 2 can rest, and in a commonly known
manner the ironing pan is suspended between the inlet 9 and the
outlet 10 that thus forms the upper areas of the ironing pan in the
normal use position thereof. Moreover FIG. 2 shows that in the
ironing pan 5 a discharge pipe 11 is configured, as is shown in
detail in FIG. 3. This discharge pipe 11 is, as shown, provided
with a separate coupling flange or stub 12.
[0034] Thus, FIG. 3 shows the ironing pan 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
in unfolded and plane state for the sake of overview. Thus the
ironing pan 5 is, as will appear, constituted of two essentially
rectangular plates, joined by welding, as will appear in further
detail from FIG. 4, but wherein the plate has an inlet edge 9a and
an outlet edge 10a and an edge 14 at each end of the ironing pan
plate 5. Furthermore, from FIG. 3 it will appear more clearly that
the discharge pipe 11 is configured in a common conventional manner
with pipe bends 13 that are configured with a view to reducing the
forces by which the discharge pipe 11 influences the ironing pan 5
and that may occur in case of diverse expansions and contractions
due to the heat expansion coefficients of the materials.
[0035] According to the invention the discharge pipe can be
configured as two separate pipes with separate coupling flanges or
stubs, as is provided in accordance with the invention in
connection with the supply pipes 6. By the shown preferred
embodiment, however, this alternative is not put to use due to the
ironing pan being, in the area where the discharge pipe 11 is
provided, configured to be relatively rigid due to the shape of the
ironing pan.
[0036] Now, FIG. 4 shows the ironing pan 5 shown in FIG. 3 in the
same unfolded state, but without the supply pipes 6 and discharge
pipes 11 shown in FIG. 3. In turn, it is shown herein that the two
plates are joined to each other by welding face to face in all the
shown singular points 15 and at the periphery of the plates, which
is constituted by the two end edges 14 and the inlet edge 9a and
the outlet edge 10a in combination.
[0037] Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the supply apertures 16 that form
the passage for steam from the supply pipes 6 to the interior of
the ironing pan 5 and the corresponding discharge apertures 17 that
form passage from the interior of the ironing pan 5 to the
discharge pipes 11.
[0038] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a detail of the ironing pan 5 shown in
FIG. 4, shown in a sectional view. From here it will thus appear
that the two plates, joined by welding, have mutual contact merely
via the two above-mentioned welded areas and, between these, they
are configured such that they create a flow path that allows steam
to pass across the entire surface of the ironing pan from the
supply openings 16 to the discharge openings 17. This configuration
can be performed as a pre-shaping of the one of the plates, but is
preferably performed by providing a powerful hydraulic
super-atmospheric pressure between the plates after they have been
joined by welding.
* * * * *