Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Felt Hats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1996
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Felt Hats.
We, ROBERT STALKER, of Grafton Street, Heaton Norris, in the County of
Lancaster, Hatter, GEORGE BATY, of St. Peter's Gate, Stockport, in the County
of Chester, Hatter, and JAMES JOULES, of Windsor Street, Ileaviley, Stockport,
aforesaid, Hatter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention is designed to provide apparatus for "planking" and "stumping"
or " pinning" hat bodies in which these operations will be carried on or performed
as well and efficiently by machine as by hand.
Hitherto in the machines constructed for planking hat bodies it has been
customary to work such machines continuously in one direction with the result
that the roll of bodies was gradually tightened or compressed whilst such remained
in the machine which prevented the fur freely felting together and prevented it
being maintained sufficiently moist or wet to allow the operation of felting to be
carried on under the most favourable conditions.
The invention in the first place consists essentially in giving a reciprocating
motion to an apron or cloth or similar device placed in a vertical or approximately
upright position carried by two reciprocating planks or frames or by rollers or
other means whereby the hat bodies are moved backwards and forwards and rolled
and unrolled during the operation of felting and in the second place of one or
more horizontal rollers or cylinders rotating half-submerged in a trough or vessel
of boiling water with a number of circumferential openings into which the hat
bodies are placed so that they are immersed in boiling water during the greater
part of this operation in which the felting is completed.
In carrying out the invention the apron cloth or the like may be supported in
various ways but in each case the mechanism is so constructed and arranged as to
have a reciprocating movement the two surfaces between which the roll of hat
bodies is placed moving to and fro in opposite directions to rotate the bodies
first in one direction and then in the reverse direction thus obtaining as
nearly as possible the same movement and the same elastic pressure as in hand
planking.
We at present prefer to construct the apparatus with a long plank or slab of
suitable material suspended horizontally with the sides vertical or at any angle to
the horizontal that will leave it approximately upright. This plank is supported
in slots or grooves in a suitable framing and is capable of being moved up and
down any required distance.
At one or both sides (preferably at both sides) of this plank is placed a second
plank or frame of approximately the length of a roll of hat bodies also capable of
being moved up and down parallel to the first plank. The distance between the
two planks is adjustable so that a roll of hat bodies of any thickness may be
placed between them. The two planks may be held together by springs or other
elastic pressure.
Attached to the top edge of the planks and hanging loosely in a loop in the
space between them is placed a cloth or apron or the like forming a rest into which
the roll of hat bodies is placed.
The two planks are caused to move up and down by means of an eccentric crank
or similar device attached to a beam or shaft above them the movement being such

page_text: that one is ascending whilst the other is descending. The main plank may have
a movement of from 6 to 12 inches whilst the second plank moves from 3 to
6 inches.
The main plank may be of any desired length and the secondary plank the
length of a roll of hat bodies if the main plank is made long enough two or more
of such secondary planks may be placed end to end so that two or more rolls of
hat bodies may be under operation at the same time on both sides of the main
plank.
Instead of the apron or cloth being in the form of a loop the two planks may
be so formed and placed at their bottom edges to form a rest for the roll and the
apron or cloth may then be attached to both edges of or carried round their
respective planks.
The smaller planks are hinged or so arranged at the bottom that they can be
opened from the top to allow of the rolls of hats being placed in position and
removed.
Above the planks is placed a perforated pipe or other appliance whereby a
constant supply of water or liquor can be applied to the hat bodies while under
operation to maintain the desired degree of moisture.
The machine is preferably constructed with duplicate sets of planks worked
from a central beam or lever thus providing for balancing the weight and work
at the two ends of the lever. The lever is actuated by suitable cranks eccentrics
or the like.
In another modification the cloth or apron or a number of girths or the like are
carried over rollers so as to present two adjacent vertical surfaces between which
the roll of hat bodies are placed. Each pair of rollers are connected to a crank
lever or eccentric whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted and the adjacent
surfaces between which the roll is placed are moved up and down in reverse
directions during the operation of felting.
Other arrangements of rollers and planks may be adopted or combinations of
these may be arranged to give similar movements and results.
It will be seen that if the hat bodies are rolled up loose before putting them
into the machine they will be loose when they are taken out again the same also
where thin felt is required and they are rolled up tight they will be tight when
they are withdrawn.
A kettle or trough of water or liquor is fixed under the planks or rollers to
receive or collect the water as it drains from the rolls of hat bodies and the hot
water may be conveyed to the bodies and poured over thera by suitable pipes
being forced to the required altitui by steam jet or in any other suitable way.
This trough may be extended to any length or a separate trough may be
employed attached to the machine or placed in any suitable position. In this
trough are placed one or more horizontal rollers or cylinders mounted to rotate in
suitable bearings. The position of the roller or rollers is such that it is about half
submerged in the water. Around the roller is a loose jacket say about three
inches from its surface having one or more openings. The jacket is divided
radially into sections or compartments preferably four each having a door which
can be opened. The hats are "stumped" in these compartments one or more
being rolled on a "pin" and placed therein. The hats are placed between the
roller and the jacket and the roller is caused to rotate backwards and forwards and
the jacket may revolve or not around the roller as may be required. A lever is
also attached so that the roller and jacket can be rotated one quarter of a revolu
tion thus bringing the next compartment to the surface. When the hat is placed
in the compartment between the roller and jacket the apparatus is turned a quarter
revolution turning the bat into the water in the trough at the same time advancing
the other compartments and bringing one up out of the water and another to the
position to he opened thus the hat is pinned first under the water in the interval
between two movements of the apparatus and then pinned dry. The hat or hats

page_text: will thus have been pinned during two thirds of the operation in hot water and
the remainder of the time dry thus giving a close and even felted surface over the
whole hat.
The doors of the loose jacket are adjustable so that a greater or less distance
may be left between the roller and the jacket as may be required.
Dated this 90th dow of Anvil 1905
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Mauchester, Patent Agents.
We, ROBERT STALKER of Grafton Street, Heaton Norris, in the County of
Lancaster, Hatter, GEORGE BATY, of St. Peter's Gate, Stockport, in the County
of Chester, Hatter, and JAMES JOULES, of Windsor Street, Heaviley, Stockport,
aforesaid, Hatter, 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 is designed to provide apparatus for "planking" hat bodies in
which the operation will be carried on or performed as well and efficiently by
machine as by hand.
Hitherto in the machines constructed for planking hat bodies it has been
generally customary to work such machines continuously in one direction with
the result that the roll of bodies was gradually tightened or compressed whilst
such remained in the machine which prevented the fur freely felting together and
prevented it being maintained sufficiently moist or wet to allow the operation of
felting to be carried on under the most favourable conditions.
The invention consists essentially of an apron or cloth or similar device
suspended in the form of a loop, in a vertical or approximately upright position
affixed to reciprocating planks or frames or carried by rollers or other means
which give to it a reciprocating movement whereby the hat bodies are moved
backwards and forwards and rolled and unrolled during the operation of
felting.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 front elevation.
Fig. 2 transverse sectional elevation.
Fig. 3 section of modified construction of machine.
Between upright end frames A a main or central reciprocating plank B is
mounted to move up and down on slides. At one or both, preferably at both
sides of the reciprocating plank B is placed a second reciprocating plank C which
moves simultaneously with the plank B but in the reverse direction.
Between the reciprocating plank B and each of the reciprocating planks C
I place an apron or cloth D or a number of strips of rubber or other material in
the form of a depending loop capable of holding suspended in the loop between
the planks a roll of hat bodies. Each of these aprons D is attached by one edge
to the side of the plank B and by the other edge to the side of one of the
planks C.
The central plank B extends the whole width of the machine and slides up and
down any required distance between slides a in the frame A it is operated by
cranks E on the crank shaft F being connected thereto by the connecting rods e
and brackets affixed to the ends of the plank.
The side planks C are made of approximately the length of a roll of hats one
two or more preferably two as illustrated extending across the machine. Each of

page_text: these side planks C is made with an outer frame c to which is hinged a door or
flap capable of opening outwards and to the upper edge of such door c¹ is
attached the edge of the looped apron D so that when the door is opened or drawn
forward access can be had to the interior of the looped apron for the purpose of
inserting or withdrawing the roll of hat bodies.
The side planks C are mounted in pairs one at either side of the central plank B
and are moved up and down parallel thereto by the eccentrics G to which they
are connected by the connecting rods g and links g. On the end of each connecting
rod is a cross head G¹ to which the links are pivoted.
The planks C slide up and down in adju-table slides H which are moved to and
from the central plank B by the pivoted bell crank lever K the weighted
lever Land connecting rod e so that. the distance between the planks is
adjustable to receive a roll of hat bodies of any desired thickness and to
impart any desired pressure thereto. The weight lever L also serves as a foot
lever or pedal whereby the operator can add additional pressure and withdraw the
pressure by lowering it or raising it by the foot.
The central plank or the side planks which are preferably made of wood may
be made hollow of copper or other metal with a chamber to hold steam water or
other liquor which can be forced through perforations in the sides onto the hat
bodies under operation.
Instead of giving a vertical reciprocating movement to the side planks C they
may be made stationary and the reciprocating movement only imparted to the
central plank B.
It is also to be understood that although we prefer to construct the machine
with two side planks and a central plank with an apron suspended at each side, it
may be constructed with only two planks between which the looped apron is
suspended.
The looped apron D may be made of a sheet of cloth rubber or other fabric or
flexible material or may be made of a number of strips of such material placed
side by side.
Below the reciprocating planks B and C and looped apron D is placed a trough
or kettle M to contain boiling water or other liquor into which the hat bodies may
from time to time be dipped and above the planks are placed perforated pipes N
whereby a supply of water or other liquor can be applied to the roll of hat bodies
while under operation to maintain the desired degree of moisture. The water or
liquor is supplied to the perforated pipes N from the troughs or kettle M being
raised by a small pump injector or other appliance.
In a modification such as shown in Fig. 3 the looped apron D is attached to two
reciprocating rollers () with the loop of the apron preferably depending below
them. In this case the loop of the apron hangs loosely between the rollers and is
of such a length as to hold the roll of hat lies against the peripheries of the
roller. The roller are rotated for a revolution or part of a revolution first in one
direction and then in the reverse direction the apron being first rolle I un to one
and off the other and then rolled up on to the other aul off the first one so that
reciprocating motion is imparted to the apron and the adjacent surfaces are moved
up and down in rever-e directions during the operation of felting. The rollers are
ectuated by a crank or other device attached to the en 1 of their spilles and one
roller is capable of being moved to and from the other by a lover or pedal to insert
or remove the roll of hat hodies.
In operation the two surfaces of the apron D between which the roll of hat
bodies is placed are moved to and fro in opposite directions and rotate the roll of
hat bodies first in one direction and then in the reverse direction thus obtaining as
nearly as practicable the same movement and the same elastic pressure as in hand
planking and the movement and action are such that if the hat bodies are rolled up
foose before putting them into the machine they will be loose when they are taken
out again the same also where thin felt is required and they are rolled up tight
they will be tight when they are withdrawn.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.―
1. Apparatus for planking hat bodies constructed with a looped apron suspended
between two upright planks one or both of which have a reciprocating movement―
or suspended between rollers-into which the roll of hat bodies is placed and
caused to rotate backwards and forwards substantially as described.
2. A machine for planking hat bodies constructed with one two or more looped
aprons a central reciprocating plank to which one edge of the looped aprons are
affixed two side planks divided into two or more lengths capable of being moved
to and from the central plank and provided with hinged doors or flaps to which
the other edge of the looped aprons are attached cranks or eccentrics for operating
the planks and a trough or kettle for containing hot water or liquor substantially
as described.
3. A machine for planking hat bodies constructed with the several parts
arranged in combination substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of January 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.