improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Framing, Pressing, Curling, and Setting Hats.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 26th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
RIJ
improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Framing, Pressing,
Curling, and Setting Hats.
I JAMES BEVAN of Denton in the County of Lancaster Hat Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for framing pressing curling and setting hats
my object being mainly to construct a machine or apparatus which shall form and set
both the brim and the crown of a hat at the same operation and thereby to save both
time and labour. My improved apparatus is constructed as follows:-
Upon a suitable frame I mount a fixed press cover, which is made oval in shape and
formed on its under surface (when required) to a curve or arch corresponding with the
form of the brim of the hat to be made.
(To this oval press cover is attached by means of a metal or other ring a water bag
of suitable construction to correspond with the hat dish hereafter described.
I prefer also to form upon or attach to the fixed press cover a block or projection
extending down into the water bag, and it will be seen that by the use of this curved
press and the said block which follow the shape of the brim and the inside of the
crown of the hat much less water will be required to fill the space round the said
brim and in the hat and consequently less power and time will be taken up in the
operation of shaping and pressing the same than is requisite when using the ordinary
circular flat cover.
This fixed press cover is provided with suitable cocks and pipes in connection with
a water supply for applying the hydraulic pressure in the water bag.
Immediately beneath this fixed cover the frame is provided or formed with vertical
slides in which works a sliding frame upon which is mounted a carriage or holder for
the hat dish.
This holder is so constructed as to form a joint with the press cover and (if desired)
to form a heating jacket or space round the crown of the hat dish which is placed in
the same, and fits into two or more key spaces therein.
An oval ring of a shape suited to the brim of the hat is placed or formed upon the
hat dish, and in the case of hard hats with curled brims, this ring should be made in
segments so that it can be removed without injury to the brim when the hat is set.
I prefer to form a slight depression round the edge of the brim on the mould so
that a mark will be made on the hat to serve as a guide for the subsequent paring
of the brim.
I also propose to make the upper part of the dish immediately beneath the ring or

page_text: mould forming the brim of a series of separate and removable rings so that the height
of the crown of the hat may be altered as required, and I also apply to the dish linings
of sheet metal or other suitable material and thus a number of brims can be applied to
the same crown or to different shapes of crown and heights of hat, and several sizes of
hat can be formed in the same dish by using one or more of the linings above named ;
consequently a great variety of results can be obtained from the same machine.
I also propose in some cases to enamel the interior of the hat dish which will impart
a very fine surface or finish to the hat.
Soft or
"semi-stiffened "hats will be formed in these dishes much more quickly
than those made by the ordinary framing process and will be superior thereto, as any
inequality in the felt will be pressed to the inside of the hat and the process of
smoothing and finishing will not be liable to show the "proofing."
The carriage or holder before described in which the hat dish is placed is capable of
sliding horizontally (into or out of position beneath the press cover) upon rails fixed
to or forming part of the above named sliding frame.
The weight of this sliding frame with the carriage or holder and the dish is counter-
balanced by weights chains and pulleys or by springs in order to reduce to a minimum
the labor required for raising the hat into position to be acted upon by the water bag.
The sliding frame is raised by a central vertical rod or pillar provided at its lower
end with a pulloy or wheel resting upon a wedge or inclined block which is pushed
beneath it by the attendant by means of a suitable treadlo motion when the frame is to
be lifted and is withdrawn by lifting the foot from the treadle when the frame is to be
lowered again. There is a flattened or horizontal part at the highest point of the
edge, or block which locks the frame in position during the pressing of the hat.
The treadle motion may be obtained as follows :-
:-
The said wedge or block is attached or fixed to a rod or bar which is actuated by a
treadle mounted on a rocking lever. This lever is provided with a spring to bring it
back to its original position when the treadle is released.
I also fix upon the frame work immediately above the press cover a suitable stove
and "baker "combined or heating apparatus to soften the hat, and I causo the door of
the said stove to open and close automatically by connecting it to the sliding table.
A stove may however be employed of ordinary construction and separate from the
press.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: The carriage or holder having been moved
forwards upon the rails of the sliding frame from beneath the press cover, the hat is,
taken from the stove or heating apparatus and placed in the dish: The carriage or
holder is then returned to its proper position beneath the press cover.
The attendant then by means of the treadle lever and wedge or block above named
raises the sliding frame and thus brings the hat in the dish up to the water bag in
which position it is locked by the horizontal portion of the wedge or block coming
beneath the pulley or wheel upon which the rod or pillar carrying the sliding
frame is mounted.
The water is then admitted to the water bag and the hat is thus pressed curled and set.
It will be evident that this press can also be used for framing or for any one of
the above named operations singly if required.
I would also remark in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the exact means
described for raising and lowering the sliding frame hat dish and hat as any competent
mechanic could devise other equivalent means; for instance the wedge or block might
be attached to a bell crank lover instead of a lever and connecting rod or a cam or
cams on a rocking shaft might be substituted for the wedge or block itself; but I
prefer the above described arrangement.
ดย
CHARLES DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Framing, Pressing,
Curling, and Setting Hats.
I JAMES BEVAN of Denton in the County of Lancaster, Hat Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to apparatus for framing pressing curling and setting hats, my
object being mainly to construct a machine or apparatus which shall form and set both
the brim and the crown of the hat at the same operation and thereby to save both time
and labor.
My improved apparatus will be readily understood from the following description
and upon reference to the annexed drawings of which Fig. 1. is a transverse vertical
section and Fig. 2. a longitudinal section of my said apparatus. Fig. 3. is a plan and
clovation of the ring *hereafter referred to.
Upon a suitable frame a, a I mount a fixed press cover b, b which is made oval in
shape and formed on its under surface (when required) to a curve or arch corresponding
with the form of the brim of the hat to be made.
To this oval press cover is attached by means of a metal or other ring c, c a water
bag d, d of suitable shape to correspond with the hat dish hereafter described. I
prefer also to form upon or attach to the fixed press cover a block or projection e, e
extending down into the water bag and it will be seen that by the use of this curved
press cover and the said block which follow the shape of the brim and the inside of
the crown of the hat much less water will be required to fill the space round the said
brim and in the hat and consequently less power and time will be taken up in the
operation of shaping and pressing the same than is requisite when using the ordinary
circular flat cover.
The water pipe passes through this block e, e which is made with grooves on its
surface to allow the water to flow immediately to all parts of the water bag d, d and
thus to avoid the liability to burst the latter. The pipe fin this fixed press cover b, bis
provided with suitable cocks and pipes in connection with a water supply for applying
the hydraulic pressure in the water-bag.
Immediately beneath this fixed cover b, 6 the frame a, a is provided or formed with
vertical slides a*, a* in which works a sliding frame g, g, upon which is mounted a
carriage or holder h, h for the hat dish i, i.
This holder h, h is so constructed as to form a joint with the ring c c of the press
cover and (if desired) to form a heating jacket or space round the crown of the hat
dishi which is placed in the same, and its into two or more key spaces, or is provided
with pegs fitting in holes therein.
An oval ring of a shape suited to the brim of the hat is placed upon the hat dish as
shown at ** and in the case of hard hats with curled brims, this ring should be made
in segments so that it can be removed without injury to the brim when the hat is set,
as shown at Fig. 3.

page_text: I may in some cases form a slight depression round the edge of the brim on the
mould so that a mark will be made on the hat to serve as a guide for the subsequent
paring of the brim.
I also propose in some cases to make the upper part of the dish immediately beneath
the ring or mould forming the brim of a series of separate and removable rings so that
the height of the crown of the hat may be altered as required and if using dishes for
pressing only I also apply thereto linings of sheet metal or other suitable material
and thus a number of brims can be applied to the same crown or to different shapes of
crown and heights of hat, and several sizes of hat can be formed in the same dish by
using one or more of the linings above named; consequently a great variety of results
can be obtained from the same machine.
Soft or te semi-stiffened" hats will bo formed in these dishes much more quickly than
those made by the ordinary framing process and will be superior thereto as any
inequality in the felt will bo pressed to the inside of the hat and the process of
smoothing and finishing will not be liable to show the "proofing."
The carriage or holder h, h before described in which the hat dish is placed is
capable of sliding horizontally (into or out of position beneath the press cover) upon
rails a', a fixed to or forming part of the frame a, a.
The weight of this sliding frame g, g with the carriage or holder h, h and the
dishi, i is counterbalanced by a spring or springs k, k or by weights and chains in order
to reduce to a minimum the labor required for raising the hat into position to be
acted upon by the water bag d, d.
I also fix upon the frame work immediately above the press cover bb a suitable
stove and baker combined or heating apparatus s, s to soften the hat, and 1
may cause
the door of the said stove to open and close automatically by connecting it to the
sliding table.
A stove may however be employed of ordinary construction and separate from the
press.
The sliding frame g, g is raised by a central vertical rod or pillar 1, I provided at its
lower ond with a pulley or wheel m resting (when partly raised by the handle n, n)
upon a wedge or inclined block o, o (see dotted lines Fig. 2) which is pushed or pulled
beneath it by the attendant by means of a suitable treadlo motion when the frame h, h
is to be lifted and is withdrawn by lifting the foot from the treadle when the frame
is to be lowered again. There is a flattened or horizontal part at the highest point of the
wedge or block o, o which locks the frame in position during the pressing of the hat;
the treadle motion may be obtained as follows:
The said wedge or block o, o is attached or fixed to a rod or bar p, p which is
actuated by a treadle pl mounted on a rocking lever p². This lever lever is
provided with a spring p³ to bring it back to its original position when the treadle is
released.
I prefer to raise the sliding frame g, g for the greater part of its "lift" by a
fame n, n mounted on a sliding centre at n' and jointed to each side of the said
frame 9, 9:.
This is lifted by a handle n, n jointed thereto in such a manner that when the
frame m³, n¹ is in its lowest position it can be locked thereby moving the said
handle n, n beneath one of the rails a' on the side frame a a.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The carriage or holder having been
moved forwards upon the rails a¹, a¹ of the frame a, a from beneath the press cover b, b
the hat is taken from the stove or heating apparatus s, s and placed in the dish i, i.
The carriage or holder h, h is then returned to its proper position beneath the
press cover b, b.
The attendant then by means of the handle n, n raises the sliding carriage partly so
that the pulley or wheel m, m is level with the wedge or block o, o above named and
then by means of the treadle p³ lever p³, and link raise the sliding frame g, g and
thus brings the hat in the dish i, i up to the water bag d, d in which position it is
locked by the horizontal portion of the wedge or block o, o coming beneath the

page_text: pulley or wheel m, m upon which the rod or pillar 1, 1 carrying the sliding frame is
mounted.
The water is then admitted to the water bag d, d and the hat is thus pressed
curled and set.
It will be evident that this press can also be used for framing or for any one of the
above named operations singly if required.
I would also remark in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the exact means
described for raising and lowering the sliding fraine, hat dish, and hat, as any com-
petent mechanic could devise other equivalent means; for instance the wedge or block
might be attached to a bell crank lever instead of a lever and connecting rod or a cam
or cams on a rocking shaft might be substituted for the wedge or block itself, but I
prefer the above described arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
First. A machine constructed substantially as herein before described and illustrated
which can be used to form and set both the brim and the crown at one operation.
Secondly. A fixed oval press covor shaped to suit the brim of a hat and provided
with a block to partly fill the crown and a suitably shaped "water-bag."
Thirdly. Awater-bag" so shaped with a crown as to follow approximately the
contour of the hat.
Fourthly. A holder or frame forming a joint with the press cover so that different
styles of hat dish may be used.
Fifthly. The wedge o, o and its accessories for raising the sliding frame holder and
hat dish substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
Sixthly. The combination with the wedge o, o and its accessories of a lifting
frame n, and handle n, n substantially as hereinhefore described and illustrated by
the drawings annexed.
Seventhly. A hat dish provided with a removable mould for the brim so as to form
and set the crown and the brim at one operation.
Eighthly. Providing dishes for pressing hats with one or more linings of metal or
other suitable material so that more than one size of hat can be pressed therein.
Darth dow of M. 1987
CHARLES DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.