IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF ANd Apparatus fOR FELTING HAT BODIES OR OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, EDMUND TWEEDY, of Danbury, Connecticut, United States, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS OF ANd Apparatus fOR FELTING HAT BODIES OR OTHER ARTICLES," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the manufacture of fur-hats, after the fur has been "formed" into proper
shape for felting, and the "body" thus prepared has been shrunk or felted by
gentle pressure and friction, to a degree sufficient to give it proper consistency for
handling in the subsequent stages of manufacture, which process is known as
"hardening," it becomes necessary to "size" or shrink it to the required dimensions,
which shrinkage is merely a further felting operation, finally bringing the hair or
fur, of which the felt is composed to such a state of interlocking contact as to
produce a merchantable felt. The former and usual method of doing this work,
was by wrapping the partially felted bodies in a "sizing-cloth," or apron, and
rolling the same by hand, when saturated with hot water, upon a plank.
Various machines have been devised to facilitate and render less expensive this
operation.
In some of these machines, the roll of bodies with its enwrapping-cloth is rotated
by the operation of rollers, generally two, three or four in number, the said roll of
hat bodies being placed in the chamber formed between the rollers. In other
machines, the rotary movement is given to the roll by the action of a revolving
cylinder or oudless apron, surrounded by a jacket, usually slatted and flexiblo,
between which and the cylinder or apron the roll is carried forward. In other
machines, the roll is subjected to the action of two platens, to one or both of
which, reciprocating motion is given. In still other machines, the roll is placed in
a pocket or loop formed by suspending an endless apron over a drum, which has
imparted to it a rotary or reciprocating motion. In some machines the reciprocating
platen or "jigger" combined with the rolls or an endless apron. Nearly all of
the machines which have been devised for the purpose of sizing hat-bodies belong
to one of the above classes, and with all of them my invention can be advantageously
usod.
The sizing or felting-cloths in which the hat-bodies are wrapped are ordinarily
made of some textile material, such as burlaps or twilled muslin,

page_text: L
Felting machines have also been patented, notably that of William Robert Lake,
for an improvement in the manufacture of felted bat-bodies, the same being a
communication from J. T. Waring, said patent being numbered 1848 and bearing
date the 5th May, 1880, in which working surfaces having a concaved configuration
were used for the purpose of compacting towards the centro, and from each end
the bundle of hat-bodies wrapped in a sizing-cloth, which bundle is usually thicker
in the middle than at the ends, and thus causing all parts of tho roll of bodies to
be more evenly operated upon. This method is defectivo in that a machine
constructed with a cortain configuration of working surfaces cannot be altered
without making new working surfaces, which involves a reconstruction of the
machine itself.
My invention relates to a method of sizing hats, by which hand labor or
machines having a straight transverse configuration of working surfaces may be
used, while at the same time, the hats are always compacted towards the centre
and from each end of the roll to as great or as small an extent as may be desired,
depending upon the configuration of the "filler" used inside of the roll of
hat-bodies.
I use a "filler," which is rolled up with the articles to be felted, and which
filler is so shaped and formed, that when the bundle is subjected to the action of
cylindrical rolls or other equivalent mechanical felting instrumentality the articles
to be felted will be compacted towards the centre of the roll by reason of the fact,
that more space is there left for them than at the ends thereof, and which space is
provided without any peculiar shape of the rollers or working surface of the
machine used.
Thus my invention also relates to a filler adapted to be rolled up within a
bundle of hat-bodies, which may be surrounded by a felting-cloth, and which
filler is so shaped as to leave a greater space for the articles being felted at the
centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, and my invention further consists, in
the combination of such a filler, placed within the hat-bodies and if desired a
felting-cloth when combined with felting-mechanisin, which automatically rotates
and acts upon the bundle, so as to facilitate the felting of the fibres of which the
felt is composed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a felting-machine, showing the three
rolls and a bundle within the space between them which consists of a number of
hat-bodies, a felting-cloth and a filler, which embodies my invention.
Figuro 2 is a longitudinal section on line x, x, of Figure 1 showing one roll in
section, and another viow of the felting-cloth, hat-bodies and filler.
Figure 3 is a side view of a filler made in accordance with my invention and
ready to be placed in a bundle of hat-bodies.
Figure 4 is a central section thereof.
The rest of the Figures show modifications of my invention, in each one of
which a filler is shown having a different form, but still embodying my invention.
Each modification is represented by two Figures, one, as will be seen, consisting of
a side view, and the other of a vertical section through the centre of the filler and
looking toward one of the ends thereof.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the filler in this case consists
of a piece of material, which may be of wood, rubber or other suitable substance,
and which is so shaped as to be more bulky at the ends a, a, than at the centre b.
Thus when the filler is wrapper in the bundle of hat-bodies as shown most clearly
in Figure 2, there will be more space for the hat-bodies at and about the centre b
of the filler, than there is at or about the ends a, a, thereof. In Figure 2, the
felting-cloth is shown at c, the hat-bodies at d, and the filler at d, the entire
bundle being represented by A.
In Figure 1, B, C, D, are the rollers of a felting-machine; E, the frame thereof,
and A the roll being operated upon. Thus it will be seen that to construct a filler
according to my invention, it is necessary to so proportion it, that it shall occupy

page_text: or take up more space at and about the ends of the bundle than at the centre
thereof. In using this filler, it is necessary simply to roll it up with the bat-bodies
and felting-cloth.
I will now refer to the various modifications of my invention, all of which relate
to differently shaped fillers, but all constructed on one general plan.
Figures 5 and 6 show a ribbed filler, which is constructed as follows:-A
cylinder e is formed and has attached to it, or made as a part of it, ribs, which
starting from the centre of the filler gradually increase as shown, in height, or, if
desired in width, or both, from the centre to the two ends a, a, of the filler. In
this way a filler results, which when wrapped within the bundle of hat-budies,
leaves more space at the centre of the bundle than at the onds thereof.
Figures 7 and 8 show a modification in which the filler is formed as in Figures 3
and 4, with the exception, that the surface is curved in both directions, EO as to
make a gradual increase in the bulk of the article both ways from the centro b to
the ends a, a.
Figures 9 and 10 show a filler like Figures 3 and 4, with the exception that it
is provided with longitudinal ribs.
Figures 11 and 12 show a filler like Figures 3 and 4, with the exception that it
is provided with a spirul rib.
Figures 13 and 14 show a plain cylinder e provided with knobs i, which as they
recede from the centre of the roll are made larger and higher, being so arranged
as to occupy the greatest space and make the filler more bulky at the ends a, a,
than at the centre b. Of course the knobs i could be used in connection with such
a filler as is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figures 15 and 16 show a filler which is made of a piece of rope or the like,
though it is not necessarily flexible, and upon which are strung annular rings,
balls, egg-shaped pieces, polygonal pieces or the like, as shown, which increase in
bulk as they are located further each way from the centre b. and approach the
ends a, a, of the filler. In this way a filler may be made, which is very cheap, and
which will serve the purposes of my invention. The annulur rings or beads, as I
have said, may be of various shapes and may be of wood, rubber, etc., and are best
attached to the rope, though they are not so shown.
Figures 17 and 18 show how a plain cylinder may be cut, so as to embody my
invention, the piece taken out boing more bulky at the centre of the filler, than
at the ends a, a, thus leaving an article, which is more bulky at the ends than at
the centre, and which shows one form of my invention.
Figures 19 and 20 show a filler, the cross-section of which is a square at all
parts, the centre 6 being the smallest part, and the ends a, a, the largest.
Figures 21 and 22 show a filler which is in substance the filler shown in
Figures 3 and 4, cut in half longitudinally, the centre b, being less bulky than the
enda a, a.
Very many other forms can be used, and my invention will be found, so long as
there is more space left by the filler for the goods to be felted at the centre thun at
the ends of the roll, thus compacting the articles being felted toward the centre of
the roll.
Various differences in relative proportion between the ends a, a, and the contre ↳
of the fillers may be used, and this will be governed by the size, weight or
quantity of bat-bodies treated in one roll.
Muking the filler larger in diameter at the ends than it is at the centre, is the
best plan, but ribs can be used upon a plain cylinder, which are arranged to occupy
more space by being broader or being more frequent at the ends of the filler, than
they are at the centre thereof, where the ribs must be narrower or fewer in
number, thus a filler may be formed in either way, which embodies my invention.
Of course the least relative difference between the bulk of my filler at the ends
and at the centre would be such a difference as would adapt my filler for use with
the smallest article which commercially is felted, but in such an event, the benefit
of my invention would not be so great as when bulkier articles are bandled.

page_text: My invention contemplates more than a purely nominal difference between the
ends and the centre of the filler, in fact such a difference as would be found to be
practically efficient, and as constituting an advantage as between my filler and a
plain cylindrical roll. Of course my filler may be used with machines having rolls
such as ure used by William Robert Lake, in his patent previously referred to, but
this is a useless expenso, for the compacting toward tho centre then might as well
be done entirely by the felting machine proper. My invention is of most value
when used in connection with machines having plain cylindrical rolls or flat
working surfaces.
My filler can be used with any known form of felting-cloth, if any cloth is used
at all, for in some stages of felting the cloth is at times dispensed with.
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
1 claim is :-
First. A filler, for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, the
configuration of which is such as to leave a greater space for the goods being felted
at the centre of the filler than at the ends thereof, substantially as described.
Second. A fillor for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, having
longitudinal ribs, which filler has such a configuration as to leave a greater space
for the goods being felted at the centre of the filler than at the ends thereof,
substantially as described.
Third. A filler for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted having
circumferential ribs, which filler has such a configuration as to leave a greater space
for the goods being felted at the centre of the filler than at the ends thereof,
substantially as described.
Fourth. A filler for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, having knobs
or projections, which filler has such a configuration as to leave a greater space for
the goods being felted at the centre of the filler than at the ends thereof,
substantially as described.
Fifth. A filler for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, tho
configuration of which is such as to leave i greater space at the centre of the filler
than at the ends thereof, wheu constructed with flat exterior faces substantially as
described.
Sixth. A filler for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, the
configuration of which is such as to leave a greater space at the centre of the filler
thun at the ends thereof, when constructed with a flat exterior face or fuces,
combined with a curved exterior face or fuces, substantially as described.
Seventh. A filler for a roll of hat-bodies or other articles to be felted, the
configuration of which is such as to leave a greater space at the centre of the filler
than at the ends thereof, when constructed with a central core, upon which beads,
balle, discs, etc., are strung, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with a felting-machine of a roll consisting of the
articles to be felted and a filler within the roll, the configuration of which is such
as to leave a greater space for the articles being felted at the centre of the roll
than at the ends thereof, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with a felting-machine of a roll consisting of the articles
to be felted, and a filler within the roll, the configuration of which is such as to
leave a greater space for the articles being felted at the centre of the roll than at
the ends thereof, and a felting-cloth surrounding the roll of articles to be felted and
the enclosed filler, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of a felting-machine having flat or cylindrical working
surfaces, and a roll consisting of the articles to be felted, and a filler within the
roll, the configuration of which is such as to leave a greater space for the articles
being felted at the centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. The combination of a felting-machine having flat or cylindrical
working surfaces, and a roll surrounded by a felting cloth, which roll consists of

page_text: the articles to be felted, and a filler within the roll, the configuration of which is
such as to leave a greater space for the articles being felted at the centre of the roll
than at the ends thereof, substantially as described.
Twelfth. The process of felting articles which consists in first wrapping them
around or about a filler, the configuration of which is such as to leave a greater
space at the centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, and, second, subjecting this
roll so formed to manipulation, to felt the articles within the roll, substantially as
described.
Thirteenth. The process of felting articles, which consists in first wrapping them
in a felting-cloth and around or about a filler, the configuration of which is such as
to leave a greater space at the centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, and,
second, subjecting this roll so formed to manipulation to felt the articles within the
roll, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The process of felting articles which consists in wrapping them
around or about a filler, the configuration of which is such as to leave a greater
space at the centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, and, second, subjecting the
roll thus formed to the action of mechanical felting instrumentalities, substantially
as described.
Fifteenth. The process of felting articles, which consists in first wrapping them
in a felting.cloth and around or about a filler, the configuration of which is such as
to leave a greater space at the centre of the roll than at the ends thereof, and
second, subjecting the roll thus formed to the action of mechanical felting
instrumentalities, substantially as described.