IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Eaton of Stockport in the County of Chester
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Eaton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1883.
JOHN EATON of Stockport in the County of Chester
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS
This invention relates to the construction of apparatus to be employed for the
purpose of stretching the tips and brims of the felt hat bodies in the process of
manufacture.
The apparatus to be employed for stretching the tips of the hat bodies consists
principally of two half-cones with a rounded apex, and two corresponding half-
cups fitting thereon, and firmly pressed inwards by springs so that a felt hat body
being placed over the cone, and the cup being brought down, the tip will be held
between the two, and the two half-cones being caused to recede from each other
(as hereinafter described) the hat tip will be stretched in one direction: the grip
between the half cone and its corresponding half-cup being tightened by the
pressure of the spring as the half-cones open.
The half-cones are carried on standards sliding in horizontal grooves on a
suitable frame, the lower sides of the said standards being provided with toothed
racks actuated by two toothed wheels which are also geared together so as to act
simultaneously.
On the shaft of one of these wheels is also keyed a lever having a curved slot in
which is adjustable a pin or bolt attached to the end of a radius rod, the other
end of which forms a clip for an excentric keyed on the main driving shaft.
It will therefore be evident that as the driving shaft revolves, the excentric will
cause an alternating opening and closing motion to be given to the two half-
cones:
The two half-cups are carried by bars working through horizontal holes in a

page_text: 4
swing frame, and provided with strong india rubber or other springs which have a
constant tendency to force the two half cups towards each other, but they can only
approach each other within a certain distance so that when the half cones are at
their nearest point the tip is released just sufficiently to allow the workman to
turn the body partly round before they expand again.
The pressure of these springs can be regulated by means of adjusting screws to
suit the quality and thickness of the hat body under operation.
The distance to which the half cones recede from each other at each stretch can
also be regulated by altering the position of the pin or stud at the end of the
radius rod in the curved slot so as to lengthen or shorten the stroke of the lever
which actuates the toothed wheels.
The driving pulley runs loose upon the driving shaft 'being connected thereto by
a sliding clutch which is held out of gear by a weighted lever, or a spring, but can
be brought into action when required, and kept in action as long as necessary by
means of a treadle.
For stretching tips only, the diameter at the base of the cones is such that
the body is only stretched at the tip, but for stretching the brims the base of the
cones is much larger so that the lower part of the hat body only is stretched
In place of the half-cups I then employ two or three pairs of half rings
bevilled inside to suit the angle of the cone. In other respects the machine is the
яAme

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Eaton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October
1883.
JOHN EATON of Stockport in the County of Chester "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS
"
This invention relates to the construction of apparatus to be employed for the
purpose of stretching the tips and. brims of the felt hat bodies in the process of
manufacture. The improved apparatus to be employed for stretching the tips
of the hat bodies consists principally of two half cones, with a rounded apex, and
two corresponding half cups fitting thereon, and firmly pressed inwards by springs
or weights so that a felt hat body being placed over the balf cones and the half
cups being brought down, the tip will be held between the two, and the two half
cones being caused to recede from each other (as hereinbefore described) the hat
tip will be stretched in the direction of their movement: the grip between each
half cone and its corresponding tip being tightened by the pressure of the spring
or weight as the half cones open.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood I have
annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked the
same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 on the annexed drawings is a vertical section through one modification of
the improved apparatus the said section being taken longitudinally or parallel
with the axis of the driving shaft. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.
Fig. 3. is a transverse section of a modification of the same. Fig. 4 a front view
(partly in section) and Fig. 5 a plan view of the swing frame. Fig. 6. is a detached
view of a portion of the same hereafter more particularly referred to. a, a are the
half-cones or blocks, and b, b the corresponding half-cups. In Figs 1 and 2 these
half cups are represented as being firmly pressed against the half-cones by means
of springs c, c adjusted by screws d, d-and in Figs 3 4 and 5. they are pressed
inwards by the weighted bell crank levers e, e the half-cones a, a being in both
cases carried upon standards f. f sliding in horizontal grooves g, g in a suitable
frame h, h. In Figs 1. and 2. the lower sides of the standards f, f are provided
with toothed racks i, i actuated by the toothed wheels k, k which are also geared
together so as to act simultaneously. On the shaft 1, 1 of one of these wheels is
also keyed a lever m, m having a curved slot n, n in which is adjustable a pin or
bolt o, o attached to the end of a radius rod p, p the other end of which forms a
clip for an excentric q, q keyed on the main driving shaft r, r. It will therefore
be evident that as the driving shaft r, r revolves, the excentric q q will cause an
alternating opening and closing motion to be given to the two half-cones a, a..
The two half cups b, 6 are carried by bars 8, 8 working through horizontal holes in
a swing frame t,t and provided with strong india rubber or other springs c, c
which have a constant tendency to force the two half-cups b, b towards each other
but they can only approach each other within a certain distance being stopped by
the adjustable collars d', d' at the ends of the bars so that when the balf-cones a, a
are at their nearest point the hat tip is released just sufficiently to allow the
workman to turn the body partly round before they expand again.
The pressure
་

page_text: "
of these springs c, c'can be regulated by means of the adjusting screws d, d to suit
the quality and thickness of the hat body under operation. The distance to which
the half cones a a recede from each other at each stretch can also be regulated by
altering the position of the pin or stud o o at the end of the radius rod p, p in the
curved slot n, n, so as to lengthen or shorten the stroke of the lever m, m which
actuates the toothed wheels k, k.
The driving pulley u, u runs loose upon the driving shaft r, r being connected
thereto by a sliding clutch v, v which is held out of gear by a weight or spring,
but can be brought into action when required, and kept in action as long as
necessary by means of the treadle w, w.
: In the modification shown at Figs 3. 4. and 5 the driving shaft and all toothed
gearing are dispensed with, the action of the machine dépending entirely upon the
hand and foot of the operative. In this modification of the invention the form of
the half blocks a, a is slightly altered, the sides being vertical instead of conical;
the half cups b, b which are carried by the swing frame t, t are pressed inwards
by the weighted levers e, e instead of springs and the swing frame t, t is held in
its working position by means of a catch w, w (see also detached view Fig 6).
The standards ff carry the half blocks a, a their lower ends being provided with
rollers i, i running in diagonal slots k, k formed in a plunger 1, 2 actuated by the
treadle m, m.
As the treadle is pressed down by the foot of the workman the plunger 7, 1 is
raised and the two half blocks a, a are thrust asunder so as to stretch the tip of
the hat body raising the weighted levers e, e and as the pressure of the foot is
removed from the treadle m, m the action of the said weighted levers e, e will
draw the half-blocks a a together again. As the half blocks approach one another
the weighted levers e, e coming into contact with the set screws ex, ex (Fig. 3) will
relieve the pressure of the half cups b, 6 and the attendant can then turn the hat
body partially round on the half blocks a, a before pressing down the treadle m, m
again so as to stretch the tip in a fresh direction at each tread. The downward
action of the treadle m, m and consequently the amount of stretch given to the tip
may be limited by placing the pin n (see Fig 4) in one of the holes of the
curved bracket o, o seen in Fig. 3. The small handle p, p (see Figs 5 and 6) is for
the purpose of raising the half cups b, b into the position shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 3. so as to afford facility for removing and replacing the hat bodies.
Near to this handle is a small stud q, q and by grasping this at the same time,
the operative releases the catch w, w so as to allow of the swing frame which
carries the half cups b, b being raised up. A similar arrangement may be applied
to the first described modification, R R is a name plate for exhibiting the name
and address of the inventor or patentee and the maker of the machine.
For stretching the brims of hat bodies I employ conical half blocks of somewhat
similar form but larger at the base in proportion so that the body is only stretched
at the brim and not at the tip. In place of half cups I then employ two or three
pairs of half ringa bevilled inside to suit the angle of the cone; and in some cases
I prefer to divide the blocks or cones and the cups or rings into a larger number
of sections than two, and when six or more sections are used I give the stretching
motion to each alternate section only, the intermediate sections being fixed and
serving to hold the body whilst the others stretch it. In other respects the
machine is the same as that for stretching the tips.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention in the construction
of apparatus employed for stretching the tips and brims of felt hat bodies, the use
or employment of two half-blocks or half cones in combination with two half cups
or two or more pairs of half rings, the half cups or half rings being so arranged
with weights or springs as to grip or press the hat body firmly onto the half blocks
or half cones; whilst the half blocks or half cones are so arranged that they can be

page_text: caused to recede from each other so as to stretch the hat body whilst being so
gripped.
Secondly I claim the general construction and arrangement of apparatus for
this purpose substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the annexed
drawing, or any mere modification or imitation thereof constructed and operating
in substantially the same manner.
I also wish it to be understood that I claim the right to divide the blocks or
cones and the cups or rings into three or more sections provided that they are
mounted and caused to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the half blocks, half cups, and half rings.
In witness whereof 'I the said John Eaton have hereunto set my hand and seal
this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
JOHN EATON (L.S.)