Patent GB-947599-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for processing felt caps and the like
IPC: A42C1/08
Filed: 1960-10-20
Abstract: 947,599. Hat finishing machines. G. ROMAGNOLI. Oct. 20, 1960 [Oct. 22, 1959], No. 35919/60. Heading A3V. A machine for finishing felt caps comprises a replaceable rotary tool, a rotatable body shaped to receive a cap, a support for the body, arranged for movement both about a vertical axis and rectilinearly so as to present different parts of the body to the tool a cam plate and tappet-means co-operating therewith for positioning the tool relative to the body and means for automatically moving the working tool closer to the body during successive operations of the machine. As shown, Figs. 1 and 2, a main frame 1 supports a slide 2 carrying a rotatable tool 5 and urged by a weight 3 towards a slide 18 movable in a plane normal to the plane of movement of the slide 2 and supporting a rotatable spindle 24. A contact tappet, indicated generally at 9, carried by the slide 2 cooperates with a cam plate 26 of similar shape in plan to the spindle 24. A reversible motor driven rack 31 is connected through gearing (not shown) to a rotatable shaft 20 carrying a structure 21 which supports the spindle 24 and its motor &c. A wheel 49 on the structure 21 is urged into engagement with an arcuate track 46 on the slide 18. Movement of the slide 18 is limited by abutment of latches 37, 38 against stops 35, 36 on the frame 1. The tappet 9 comprises a slidable member 11, Fig. 11, carrying a head 12 which supports a wheel 13 which engages the edge of the cam plate 26. A stop 11a on the member 11 abuts a member 15, slidable at right angles to the member 11, at one of zones 15<SP>1</SP>, 15a or 15b which represent three different working positions for the tool 5 relative to the spindle 24. In operation, with the spindle and cam plate in the position shown in Fig. 2, a switch (not shown) starts the spindle, tool and rack motors and causes the member 15 to move to the position shown in Fig. 11 i.e. with the tool 5 in its rearmost position. Movement of the rack 31 causes the structure 21 to rotate about the shaft 20, until it engages a stop 41a on a lever 41, Fig. 2, which withdraws the latch 37, Fig. 14. Engagement of a stop 50 with the structure 21 limits movement of the lever 41. During the rotation of the structure 21 the wheel 13 has travelled over the part indicated in thick line in Fig. 14 and the tool over a corresponding part of the cap. The slide 18 is then moved in the direction f 3  until a stop 55 on the slide engages the member 15 moving it into a position in which the stop 11a engages the zone 15a, thus advancing the tool 5. Movement of the rack 31 and thus the slide 18 is reversed, the tool re-passing over the side of the cap, until the latch 38 contacts the stop 36. The rack now causes the structure 21 to rotate until it engages the lever 42 and causes the latch 38 to be withdrawn. During this movement, a spring loaded member 58, Fig. 1, pivotably mounted on the tappet 9 is pushed aside against the action of the spring by a projection 26a on the plate 26, to avoid moving the tool away from the cap in mid-operation. With the release of the latch 38, the slide 18 is free to move in the direction f 6  until the stop 56 contacts the member 15 and moves it until the stop 11a contacts zone 15b. The direction of movement of the rack is reversed the tool re-passing over the side of the cap until the latch 37 engages the stop 35. Further movement of the rack 31 in the direction f 10 , Fig. 19, rotates the structure 21 and returns it to the position shown in Fig. 2. The projection 26a engages the member 58 which moves the wheel 13 away from the cam plate and thus the tool from the cap, allowing the cap to be removed. Means for rotating the head 23 on which the spindle 24 is mounted into a position for placing a cap on the spindle is described.