New or Improved Apparatus for Stretching Felt Hat Bodies.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Stretching Felt Hat Bodies.
I, ROBERT ROBINSON of the Firm of James Robinson & Sons, Romiley, near
Stockport, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object to stretch felt hat bodies more perfectly and
expeditiously than heretofore and obviate stretching such bodies by hand, and
consists essentially of a, by preference, wooden block, divided in halves and of a
shape more or less corresponding to the conical formation of a felt hat body after
planking, and which block is mounted at the top of two rods, one half of said block
being secured to each rod, and which rods extend downwards and are both loosely
mounted at their lower extremities on a horizontal stud or shaft.
Being loosely mounted on the said stud or shaft the rods may recede from or
approach each other, each rod moving in an arc of a circle from one common centre,
and the rods are so formed or arranged that the two halves of the block may meet
together to make up the block as a whole.
Upon this divided block the hat body to be stretched is placed when the two
balves are together and by causing the two halves to recede from and approach
each other and alternately turning the hat body round, the hat body becomes
effectually stretched.
To cause the two halves of the block to have a frictional hold upon the interior
of the felt hat body I provide the exterior surfaces of said block with teeth or studs
of rubber which I have found hold the felt, but at the same time do not unduly
distress it. I may use studs of cork or other similar substance having a high
frictional quality, but I prefer rubber.
In order to cause the two halves of the block to recede from each other as afore-
said I introduce a double or << egg shaped cain between the rods, the rods being
bent to allow for this and the space between being equal to the minor axis of the
cam. Said cam is mounted upon a horizontal shaft supported in suitable bearings
and fitted with a driving pulley or its equivalent. Motion being imparted to the
said shaft the cam is caused to simultaneously press against the two rods and so
separate them a distance equal to the major axis of the cam.
To cause the two halves of the block to meet or the rods to approach each other
and keep in touching contact with the cam I employ by preference a set of springs
each connected at one extremity to a stationary object and at the other extremity
to the rod which recedes in an opposite direction.
In this way the cam serves to push apart or separate the rods from each other
whilst the springs serve to draw them together.
The apparatus is by preference fitted to a table or wooden frame to facilitate the
mounting of the several parts and bearings and allow accomodation for the operator,
he two rods passing through an elongated opening in the table top.
In stretching the hat body I purpose using three or more blocks each differing
in their degree of conical formation, the first one being adapted for stretching
the extreme apex of the hat body, and the remaining blocks being of a form that
will gradually give the hat body the required amount of stretch. A series of
machines may be fitted to one table operated singly or all driven from one single
pulley.
And in order that my improvements shall be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a drawing and will now proceed to
describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view and Fig. 2 an end exterior view of my
improved machine for stretching felt hat bodies.
In accordance with my invention I employ the block A formed in halves as
illustrated, and mounted upon the top of the two vertical rods B and C, which
extend downwards through the opening D in the table top E and are mounted on
the stud F as illustrated.
The shape and proportions of the block A vary according to the part of the hat
body requiring to be stretched and similarly the block may vary in shape according
to the shape it is desired to give to the hat. Fig. 3 illustrates the block which
would be used for stretching the apex of the hat body, whilst Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate
the block for effecting the finishing stretch.
The surface of the block (seen more clearly in plan view Fig. 4) is studded with,
by preference, rubber studs G or their equivalent to afford a frictional hold upon
the felt whilst the two halves of the block are separated.
H is the double cam mounted and keyed upon the shaft I supported in bearings J
depending from the underside of the table or framework K, which cam is so
adjusted on the shaft 1 as to come between the bent portions of the two rods or
levers B and C as illustrated. Upon the end of the shaft I is a driving pulley L
or other equivalent means for rotating the shaft. By imparting rotary motion to
said shaft the cam is caused to rotate and in so doing simultaneously press against
both rods or levers and separate or push them apart as illustrated in Fig. 5, conse-
quently by placing a hat body on the block A and turning it round alternately
with the opening of the block the hat body becomes effectually distended and
stretched.
To keep the rods in contact with the cam, springs M, N are employed, spring M
being secured at one end to the hook O and at the opposite end to the rod or lever C,
whilst spring M is secured to hook P and rod or lever B the tension of the springs
causing the rods to bear upon the cam. A stout rubber band passed around the
rods or levers at Q or weights suspended over pulleys by cords or other equivalent
means may be used for drawing the rods or levers together. The levers B and C
may be mounted on separate studs if desired.
A set of cranks, eccentrics or links may be used for separating the rods B and C,
but I prefer a cam as aforesaid.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improved hat stretching machine, consisting of divided block A in its
various forms, rods B and C, double cam G and springs L and M or their equivalent
all mounted and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on
the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The divided block A provided with studs G or their equivalent substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 13th day of May 1893.
ROBERT ROBINSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.