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Installation Guide and Precautions for Laundry Ironer Padding

The installation of laundry ironing felt / padding (such as for flatwork ironers and chest ironers) must follow a strict process: "Safe removal of the old felt, standardized installation of the new padding, and proper commissioning and heat-setting." Operational safety and equipment protection must be strictly maintained throughout. Below are the detailed installation instructions and precautions:

I. Pre-installation Preparation (Safety & Removal)

•  Power Off and Cool Down: Before removing the old felt, the ironer (chest and roll) must be separated, and the power supply must be turned off. Wait for the machine to cool down completely before starting removal to ensure personnel safety.

•  Remove Old Ironer Padding: Undo the screws securing both ends of the felt, slice open the old felt, and slowly separate it from the roll springs. Inspect the springs for any deformation during removal; correct or replace them if necessary.

•  Cleaning and Rust Removal: After removal, thoroughly clean lint, debris, dirt, and rust from the roll springs and the chest to provide a flat, clean contact surface for the new felt.

II. Installation Steps for New Felt

•  Positioning and Initial Securing: Spread out the new felt and align its leading edge flatly against the original fixing position directly on top of the roll (if misaligned, manually rotate the drive pulley to adjust). Secure the front edge evenly onto the roll using stainless steel wire, and fasten both sides of the felt with screws.

  •  Wrapping the Roll (with Machine Operation): With two people pulling the felt taut, a third person should start the machine at a low speed (e.g., 4 m/min) to rotate the roll forward, allowing the felt to wrap naturally around the springs. Keep the felt taut and flat to avoid wrinkles, and neatly tuck the edges into the felt guards until the roll is fully wrapped.

•  Splicing and Tightening: For stitched felts, leave a gap of about 4 cm at the seam, then use stainless steel wire to continuously tighten and draw the two edges together until they fit snugly. For felts with mechanical fasteners/joints, align the teeth properly, apply adhesive, and press flat with a hand iron.

•  Reassembling Parts: Once the felt is installed, reinstall all removed covers, guide rollers, drive belts, and other accessories, and securely tighten all screws and fasteners.

III. Post-installation Commissioning and Heat-Setting

•  Heat-Setting (Hot Wrapping): Open the steam valve to heat the chest. Use the high temperature to set the felt shape, rotating the roll every half hour to ensure even heat-setting throughout.

  •  Idle Running Test: Run the machine idle for 2–3 hours to check if it operates smoothly without deviating. Ensure the machine runs hot during this idle phase while monitoring the auto-alignment system to guarantee straight tracking.

IV. Critical Precautions

•  Temperature and Timing: It is recommended to replace the new felt while the equipment is heated, as the heat helps the felt conform better to the roll. However, never apply wax to the machine if it has been shut down for less than an hour; this prevents wax from accumulating inside the felt, which blocks airflow, ruins ironing quality, and shortens felt lifespan.

•  Tracking and Tension Control: The felt must be pulled tight during wrapping to prevent wrinkles. Ensure the joints are perfectly aligned to prevent the felt from tracking off-center during operation.

•  Exhaust and Dehumidification: After shutting down the machine and closing the steam valve, the exhaust fan must run for an additional 20 minutes to draw out moisture from the felt. This prevents condensation backflow and extends the lifespan of the felt.

•  Post-Use Trimming: After 2–5 working days of use, trim the overlapping ends of the new felt (keep the overlap within 0–3 cm, with an ideal bevel trim length of 1.5 cm) to ensure a perfectly flat ironing contact surface.