Automatic ironing machine

An ironing machine comprising a storage zone adapted to hold articles to be ironed, an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed, a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at said ironing zone, said heat applying means being movable relative to the ironing zone for traversing the ironing zone, said heat applying means including two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of said ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at said ironing zone, transfer means for sequentially moving articles from said storage zone into said ironing zone and back to said storage zone, a first means for identifying the type of article at said ironing zone and generating a first signal representative thereof, a second means for detecting the type of the fabric from which the article is made and generating a second signal representative thereof, and a control means arranged to receive the first and second signals and being operable to control one or more variables of the ironing process according to the type of article and the fabric type.

An ironing machine comprising an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed, a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at the ironing zone, said heat applying means being supported for movement relative to said ironing zone for traversing said ironing zone, the heat applying means including two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of said ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at the ironing zone and a spreading means for spreading an article at said ironing zone for the purpose of removing unwanted folds prior to the ironing operation, said spreading means being disposed ahead of said heat applying means and supported for movement with said heat applying means to traverse said ironing zone with the said heat applying means.

An ironing machine comprising an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed, a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at the ironing zone, the heat applying means being movable relative to the ironing zone for traversing the ironing zone, the heat applying means including two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of the ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at the ironing zone, steam applying means for applying steam to the article in conjunction with the application of heat to the article by the heat applying means, pressing means for pressing an article at the ironing zone, said pressing means being disposed rearwardly of the heat applying means, said steam applying means and said pressing means being movable with said heat applying means.

An ironing machine comprising an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed, a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at the ironing zone, the heat applying means being movable relative to the ironing zone for traversing the ironing zone, the heat applying means including two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of the ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at the ironing zone, first means for identifying the type of article at said ironing zone and generating a first signal representative thereof, a second means for detecting the type of the fabric from which the article is made and generating a second signal representative thereof, and a control means arranged to receive the first and second signals and being operable to control one or more variables of the ironing process according to the type of article and the fabric type.