IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIMMING HATS AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Stern, of Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of
Germany, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIMMING HATS AND IN
THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN.”
Sealed the 28th November 1876, and dated the 29th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Storu at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1870.
"
HERMANN STERN, of Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of Germany, IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRIMMING HATS AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention has for its object improvements in trimming hats and in the
machinery employed therein.
I proceed as follows:-I place around the brim of the hat, by means of a machine,
a wire of any suitable thickness, which I fasten thereto by means of a ribbon of any
suitable length, such ribbon being fastened around the brim by means of glue or
other suitable adhesive material.
The machine is constructed as follows:-Within a metal framework of suitable
size and form I place a shaft, hercafter termed the lower shaft having fixed bearings,
and just above this first shaft I place a second or upper shaft, resting on bearings,
which move in parallel guides. Upon each of such shafts I fix a roller, the diameter
of the roller fixed on the lower shaft being diminished to a suitable degree to allow
a sufficient space to exist between the top and brim of the hat.
The lower roller revolves by means of a string pulley, and this motion is imparted
by means of cog wheels gearing into each other to the upper shaft, so that the
rollers on both shafts have the same speed on their peripheries.
The two rollers are
pressed closely together by means of weights fixed to suitable bearings at the top of
the machine.
The machine works in such a manner that the ribbon above mentioned, which is
stiffened with starch in a similar manner to the hat body itself, passes beneath the
lower roller, and is conveyed into a water reservoir, where it is wetted, and from
whence it is conducted between two sponges fixed in suitable positions on the frame,
whereby all the superfluous moisture is absorbed, and is caused to return again into
the water reservoir. The ribbon then passes through a suitable folding guide, con-
veniently placed on the frame from whence it issues, and thence is led together with

page_text: the wire first mentioned, between the two rollers, which pressing the ribbon around
the brim of the hat, which is also previously wetted, thus causes it firmly to adhere
to the brim. I prefer to heat the rollers by means of gas or heaters, or otherwise,
as when warmed to a proper degree of heat they the better manipulate the materials
passing between them.
In order to prevent the brim of the hat projecting too far between the rollers, and
at the same time, to ensure the ribbon being uniformly and evenly folded, I adjust
a suitable guide in a convenient position just above the lower roller.
By the use of my improved machinery hats can be trimmed far more expedi-
tiously and more neatly than hitherto, at the same time that skilled labour may in
a great measure be entirely dispensed with, thus materially reducing the cost of
manufacture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hermann Stern in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th November
1876.
HERMANN STERN, of Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRIMMING HATS AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention has for its object improvements in trimming hats and in the
machinery employed therein.
I proceed as follows:-I place around the brim of the hat, by means of a machine,
a wire of any suitable thickness, which I fasten thereto by means of a ribbon of
any suitable length, such ribbon being fastened around the brim by means of glue or
other suitable adhesive material.
And I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, on which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention.
Figure 1 of such Drawings shews a section of the machine at the line A, B,
Figure 2; Figure 2 shews a plan view thereof; Figure 3 shews a section on the
line C, D, Figure 1; and Figure 4 shews an end elevation of the machine.
Within a metal framework a of suitable size and form I place a shaft b, hereafter
termed the lower shaft, having fixed bearings, and just above this first shaft b I
place a second or upper shaft c, resting on bearings which move in parallel guides
d, d. Upon each of such shafts, b and c, I fix rollers, e and f, the diameter of the
roller e fixed on the lower shaft b being diminished to a suitable degree to allow a
sufficient space to exist between the top and brim of the hat.
The lower roller e revolves by means of a string pulley ", and this motion is im-
parted by means of cog wheels g and h, gearing into each other to the upper shaft c,
so that the rollers on both shafts have the same speed on their peripheries. The
two rollers e and f are pressed closely together by means of weights i and k, fixed
to suitable bearings at the top of the machine.
The machine works in such a manner that the before-mentioned ribbon, which is
stiffened with starch in a similar manner to the hat body itself, passes beneath the
lower roller e, whence it is conveyed into a water trough or reservoir m, where it is
wetted, and from whence it is conducted between two sponges n and o, fixed in con-
venient positions, and in any suitable manner, to the frame of the machine, whereby
all the superfluous moisture is absorbed and is caused to retain again into the water
reservoir or trough m. The ribbou then passes through a suitable folding guide p
conveniently placed on the frame of the machine from whence such ribbon issues,
and thence is led, together with the wire first mentioned, between the two rollers
e and which pressing the ribbon around the brim of hat, which is also pre-
viously wetted, thus causes it firmly to adhere to the brim. I prefer to heat the
rollers by means of gas or heaters, or otherwise, when warmed to a proper degree
of heat they the better manipulate the materials passing between them.
In order to prevent the brim of the hat projecting too far between the rollers,

page_text: and at the same time to ensure to ribbon being uniformly and evenly folded I adjust
a suitable guide q in a convenient position between the two rollers e and f.
By the use of my improved apparatus hats can be trimmed far more expedi-
tiously and neatly than hitherto, at the same time that skilled labour may in a
great measure be entirely dispensed with, thus materially reducing the cost of
manufacture.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, I would have it understood that what I claim and desire to secure by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are, my improvements in trimming hats
and in the machinery employed therein, as herein-before described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermann Stern, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
HIRDMANN SHED