Abstract: A device for feeding, ironing, folding and stacking of linen, having a maximum depth of 2.500 mm, and when viewed in the depth direction thereof, being successively provided with a feeding unit for feeding a piece of linen to be ironed into the device, the feeding unit having detection and measuring means to measure the piece of linen, an ironing unit, having at least one ironing roll and, for each ironing roll, a heated chest for ironing the piece of linen, a folding unit for folding the ironed piece of linen, the folding unit being provided with a longitudinal folding portion located after the ironing mangle for longitudinally folding the ironed piece of linen, and a cross folding portion located below the ironing mangle for cross folding the ironed piece of linen, and a stacking unit located to the right or left of the device for stacking the folded linen.

Abstract: In a method of producing a stretchable sheet using a pair of gear rolls each having a plurality of teeth arranged on a circumference thereof, a raw sheet is drawn by passing the raw sheet through a gap between the pair of gear rolls. The raw sheet contains a plurality of types of fibers, and has a plurality of recessed sections formed by pressing. The recessed sections are formed collinearly at least along the drawing direction at a predetermined formation pitch in the drawing direction. An arrangement pitch of the teeth in the drawing direction is greater than the formation pitch and smaller than twice the formation pitch.

Abstract: An ironing roller includes a first annular chamber in communication with an inlet and an outlet arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis, where the first annular chamber forms a passage through which a heat carrying fluid heated by heating device located inside the ironing roller circulates, a circuit external to the annular chamber being arranged to lead the heat carrying fluid from the outlet to the inlet of the chamber. A second annular chamber adjacent and coaxial to the first annular chamber is provided, the two annular chambers being intercommunicated for the circulation of the heat carrying fluid from one of the annular chambers to the other, and where one of the annular chambers carries out a heat uptake function and the other one carries out a heat transfer function.

Abstract: A device for correcting a deformation inside at least one material web in the machine direction of the at least one material web comprises at least one roller body seated rotatably about an axis of rotation for guiding the at least one material web, and at least one rigid shaft that is arranged in the interior of the roller body. The rigid shaft is divided in the direction of the axis of rotation axis into a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part each having at least one curvature. The first part and the second part are rotatable and/or pivotable independently of one another, so that the roller body can be adjusted between at least a first and a second external shape.

Abstract: A device for feeding, ironing, folding and stacking of linen, having a maximum depth of 2.500 mm, and when viewed in the depth direction thereof, being successively provided with a feeding unit for feeding a piece of linen to be ironed into the device, the feeding unit having detection and measuring means to measure the piece of linen, an ironing unit, having at least one ironing roll and, for each ironing roll, a heated chest for ironing the piece of linen, a folding unit for folding the ironed item of linen, the folding unit being provided with a longitudinal folding portion located after the ironing mangle for longitudinally folding the ironed item of linen, and a cross folding portion located below the ironing mangle for cross folding the ironed piece of linen, and a stacking unit located to the right or left of the device for stacking the folded.

Abstract: Self-steaming benefit compositions for treating fabrics are described. The present invention relates to compositions which are both self-steaming and include one or more benefit agents to provide benefits to fabrics. The present invention also relates to a method for treating fabrics utilizing the self-steaming benefit compositions of the present invention.

Abstract: An ironing roller includes a first annular chamber in communication with an inlet and an outlet arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis, where the first annular chamber forms a passage through which a heat carrying fluid heated by heating device located inside the ironing roller circulates, a circuit external to the annular chamber being arranged to lead the heat carrying fluid from the outlet to the inlet of the chamber. A second annular chamber adjacent and coaxial to the first annular chamber is provided, the two annular chambers being intercommunicated for the circulation of the heat carrying fluid from one of the annular chambers to the other, and where one of the annular chambers carries out a heat uptake function and the other one carries out a heat transfer function.

Abstract: A roller ironing machine for articles of clothing includes a heated ironing roller supported, guided and rotated in a frame, a floating pressure roller parallel to and in contact with the ironing roller and endless belts mounted to satellite rollers to cover part of the ironing roller. Additionally, axial journals belonging to the floating pressure roller rest against inclined planes which are fixed to the frame such as to form an angle in relation to a plane that is tangent to the ironing roller and the floating pressure roller on the line of mutual contact. The journals rest against the planes with a force that includes a normal component derived from the weight of the roller, thereby producing a greater ironing force than the weight of the roller owing to the wedge effect provided by the opposing directions of rotation of the ironing roller and the floating pressure roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tuning a feedforward compensation parameter in a motion control system is provided. According to one such embodiment, the method includes the acts of determining an initial value of a feedforward compensation parameter and commanding an initial movement of an actuator according to a test motion routine (wherein the initial value of the parameter is used in the control of the actuator). Error associated with the initial movement is determined. A potential value of the feedforward compensation parameter is determined. A movement of the actuator is commanded according to the test motion routine (wherein the potential value of the parameter is used in the control of the actuator) and error associated with the movement is determined. The errors associated with the movements are compared and, based on the act of comparing the errors, one of the values is selected as a current best value. In a further embodiment, such acts are repeated until the current best value is an optimum value.

Abstract: To control the moisture content of linen leaving a drying ironer, this content is measured by means of a sensor (18). The measurement signal is then transmitted to a variable gain amplifier (30). A circuit (32) automatically adjusts this gain so that the signal leaving the amplifier (30) is non-saturated. This gives instant control of linen moisture content irrespective of the moisture content of the items of linen entering the machine.

Abstract: A device for ironing laundry, which device consists of a heated, semi-cylindrical bed and a roller arranged rotatably therein, the outer periphery of which lies some distance from the bed wall, wherein the roller periphery directed toward the bed is covered with a resiliently yielding layer of textile, wherein between the roller wall and the layer of textile are arranged resilient elements which are each formed by an elongate carrier with a number of parallel strip-like resilient members directed transversely thereof and held by the carrier at an angle relative to the roller wall, which carriers are held fixedly in axial direction on the roller wall, thereby ensuring a better resilience and a better attachment of the covering to the roller.

Abstract: In a dryer-ironer, the cylinder (10) of which is heated from inside, the cylinder is built so as to define between two concentric walls (18, 22), a closed annular chamber (26) containing a heat carrying fluid. The fluid is set into motion through a stirring system integrated into the cylinder, so that establishment of a uniform temperature may be provided along its entire length. The stirring system may be passive (blades) or active (pump).

Abstract: In a dryer-ironer, the cylinder (10) of which is heated from inside, the cylinder is built so as to define between two concentric walls (18, 22), a closed annular chamber (26) containing a heat carrying fluid. The fluid is set into motion through a stirring system integrated into the cylinder, so that establishment of a uniform temperature may be provided along its entire length. The stirring system may be passive (blades) or active (pump).

Abstract: A heating drum for ironing machines includes a metallic hollow cylindrical body having two enlarged ends to form two water reservoirs and two coaxial tubular necks at the two enlarged ends, the metallic hollow cylindrical body having a plurality of inverted V-shaped grooves each having two ends communicating with the water reservoirs an a tip pointing to a direction along which the metallic hollow cylindrical body rotates.

Abstract: In an ironing machine with a rotary ironing cylinder (14) comprising heating means (42) housed in an intermediary space (40) between the cylinder (14) and a fixed internal tube (34), air circulation is ensured inside the cylinder. Two ventilators (62, 68) take the air from regions at the ends of the space (40) via aspiration apertures (46, 48) and deliver it to a central area of the space via expressing apertures (50, 52).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method controls a heating device in a laundry ironer. The apparatus includes a frame and an ironer cylinder. The ironer cylinder rotatably connects to the frame and has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior and exterior surfaces extend substantially from a first end to a second end of the ironer cylinder. A line of sight temperature sensor connects to the frame near the first end wherein a line of sight of the sensor is directed at a portion of the interior surface of the cylinder. As the ironer cylinder rotates and is heated by a heating element, the temperature of a portion of the interior surface is sensed. Based on the temperature and a threshold, the state of the heating element is changed.

Abstract: An improved roll cover for use on a flat work ironer is provided, having an improved resin coating. The roll cover is a sheet of thermally resistant fabric which is coated or impregnated with a mixture of an acrylic resin and a stiffening agent. The improved roll cover can be dyed to a particular desired color and will retain its color over extended use.

Abstract: Pressurized air is received from a supply source through a timed air valve and is conducted by fixedly mounted copper tubing to locations adjacent flatwork ironer temperature sensors. The tubing directs the intermittent timed bursts of air onto the interfaces between the sensors and rotating heated cylinders to remove lint buildups. A manual override switch is wired in parallel with the timer to allow additional bursts of air at operator discretion.

Abstract: A battery separator fabric comprising a nonwoven fibrous web of thermoplastic fibers having top and bottom surface fibers and inner fibers. The surfaces of the top and bottom surface fibers of the fibrous web are seared and fused together to form film-like surfaces having pores, while the surface fibers and inner fibers of the web remain substantially unaffected. Searing and fusing of the surface fibers are accomplished by simultaneously applying heat to the top and bottom surfaces of the fibrous web so as to sear the surfaces of the thermoplastic fibers, and pressure to ensure that the seared fibers make contact with each other to secure themselves together. As the seared fibers make contact with each other, film-like surfaces are formed with pores being created in the surfaces. The pores are created because a majority of spaces remain between the surface fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for ironing laundry comprising at least one semi-circular open dished bed (1), provided with a double wall with feed (5) and outlet (6) opening for passage of a heating medium, such as steam, and a roll (2) rotatably driven in each dished bed (1), wherein the outlet opening (6) of a dished bed (1) is placed in direct connection to the feed opening (5) of the following dished bed (1). The apparatus requires a high flowspeed of heating medium thereby preventing eventual condensation of the heat medium in the flow ducts in the dished bed wall, and also preventing an uneven temperature distribution in the inner wall of the dished bed.

Abstract: A strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability comprising an uncoated woven cloth characterized by a permeability of not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth. The cloth is calendered on both sides to reduce its permeability.

Abstract: A flatwork ironer for the ironing of sheets, including a housing, having a series of troughs, and a roll associated with each, spray device in proximity with each roll, for the timed spraying of lubricating wax thereon, the spray includes a spray conduit, for conveyance of wax under pressure from a reservoir for dispensing through spray nozzles onto each roll for the time needed, and then providing a return line for draining any excess wax back to the reservoir; the controls for automatic spraying of lubricating wax onto the roll(s) includes a pump, a motor, a computer program including a timer, various solenoids, cams, for furnishing the controlled de-energization of the flatwork feed table and vacuum motors, and the initiation of a lubricating cycle, to achieve its functioning, with a reinitiation of the ironer mechanisms for further operation, with the automatic resetting through circuitry of the timer in preparation for the next lubricating cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided wherein a cavity defined by a rotating hollow member, such as a draw roll in a fiber processing system, is supplied with a hot fluid so as to heat the exterior surface of the hollow member. The fluid is withdrawn from the cavity and passed through a rotating syphon conduit which is fixedly connected to the hollow member. The temperature of fluid flowing within the syphon conduit is detected by a suitable temperature detector positioned within the syphon conduit so as to indicate a drop in fluid temperature when normal fluid flow to the hollow member cavity is interrupted.

Abstract: A dryer for paper and similar fibrous web materials including a dryer roll having an outer cylindrically-shaped wall, a radiant heat source within the dryer roll adapted to heat the wall substantially uniformly about the entire periphery thereof, and nip-forming means forming a pressure nip with the dryer roll.

Abstract: A rotary cylindrical drum used in a commercial laundry flatwork finisher, having a jacket type construction so as to provide an annular fluid cavity for uniformly heating the exposed surface of the drum. The flatwork finisher includes fluid circulating system providing a temperature sensing probe exteriorly of the drum for measuring and regulating the temperature of the circulated fuel by controlling the operation of a heating element associated therewith.

Abstract: The invention concerns variable contour rollers for use in calendering or pressing devices, printing presses and like applications. The rollers include an external element of cylindrical form, for example of cast iron, and in their interior a number of transverse elements which can be made to expand radially by heating. More or less substantial radial expansion provokes directly or indirectly a change in the profile of the exterior generally cylindrical working surface. The interior of the roller may be a shaft carrying heating elements and which is fixed or rotates with the external working surface.

Abstract: A commercial laundry flatwork finisher in the form of a rotatable hollow cylinder providing a circumferentially extending fuel cavity and a stationary self-contained interior heat source for heating the fluid in the cavity which in turn will uniformly heat the exposed cylindrical surface of the rotatable cylinder.

Abstract: A heated trough mangle comprises a frame, at least one mangle unit situated inside the frame and including a mangle cylinder with a perforated mangle surface and at least one heated mangle trough partially surrounding the mangle cylinder, an exhaust device with an exhaust air channel to withdraw exhaust air from inside the mangle cylinder to outside through the exhaust air channel, an air supply device to supply fresh air and having an air providing device, and an apparatus to transfer heat from one air stream to another air stream. The improvement comprises a heat exchanger with first and second flow chambers situated in each mangle unit, the first flow chamber of the heat exchanger being connected at one end to the mangle cylinder and connected at the other end to the exhaust device through the exhaust air channel, the second flow chamber being connected to the air supply device and forming a continuous fresh air supply channel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, by which the entire ironing surface of a commercial laundry flatwork finisher is uniformly heated, includes a chest ironing surface backed by a fluid cavity that is in turn externally heated by a gas burner. A temperature control element is immersed in the heat transfer fluid and reduces temperature differential across the entire ironing surface allowing the machine to be operated continuously and more efficiently.

Abstract: A rotatable cylinder is provided having an interior cylindrical passageway defined in part by the inner surface of the outer periphery of such rotatable cylinder and the outer surface of an inner, centrally positioned cylinder. Headers having liquid passageways therethrough and applied in a liquid-tight manner to the opposed cylinder ends complete a liquid-tight chamber with the cylindrical passageway through which heated liquid may circulate from one cylinder end to the other. A helical blade disposed in the cylindrical liquid passageway comprises an impeller which assists passage of the liquid through the passageway. The blade also assures desired heat transfer from the circulating liquid to the rotatable cylinder inner surface from which the heat is conducted to the cylinder outer surface whereat the heat is utilized.

Abstract: Straps or belt loop strips are formed with the apparatus and method of the present invention by folding a strip of fabric about a strip of fusible material, threading the folded, combined strip back and forth between two side-by-side, counter-rotating cylinders so that, in the preferred embodiment, the strip forms a plurality of figure eight patterns over and between the two cylinders, and heating the cylinders to a temperature which is above the melting point of the fusible strip but below the scorching point of the material. The speed at which the cylinders are counter-rotated with respect to each other is chosen, in conjunction with the number of loops of the combined strip over the cylinders, to place the combined strip in contact with the heated surface for a length of time sufficient to accomplish complete fusing.

Abstract: An ironing mangle for pressing fabric includes a heating member or shoe which transfers heat to a fabric conveyed thereover. The heating member includes a concave surface which forms a substantially semi-cylindrical cut-out section over which the fabric is conveyed and at least one other surface over which the fabric is also conveyed for maximizing the heat transfer from the heating member to the fabric. The concave surface preferably includes two end edges which are arranged so that the angle between the plane connecting the end edges and a vertical plane passing through either of the end edges is in the range of 0.degree. to 30.degree.. The ironing mangle further includes a cylindrical pressing roller for applying pressure to the concave surface, in which the roller is adapted to rotate about its central axis in order to convey the fabric over the concave surface when applying pressure thereagainst.

Abstract: The roller comprises a core and a shell secured to said core. The shell is made up of two coaxial pipes, i.e. an inner pipe secured to the core in the middle and an outer pipe fastened to the inner pipe in the middle and at the ends. This allows the shell to be made of small-diameter thin-walled pipes thus reducing the roller deflection and decreasing considerably the weight both of the roller proper and of the equipment utilizing said roller.

Abstract: Webs of paper, textile, synthetic material, metal or the like are subjected to a continuous treatment through the application of pressure produced by magnetic forces exerted via pressure bodies perpendicularly to the web. The web is guided over a straight or arcuate supporting surface and the pressure bodies extend over the width of the web. The pressure bodies are constituted by a plurality of freely movable balls, rings, rollers or pins having less diameter, or length, respectively, than the width of the band and are held adjacent one another essentially in the transverse direction of the band. The plurality of balls, rings, rollers or pins are held in a stacked offset relationship transversely and/or in the direction of web travel in such a manner that the web is subjected to pressure by the pressure bodies over its entire width. The pressure bodies may be held in position by means of cages, strips, struts, rods or the like, or may be positioned and maintained by the magnetic field.