Improvements in Hat Brim Curling Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hat Brim Curling Machine.
I, WILLIAM JAMES MCGALL, Hat Manufacturer, residing on Gregory Avenue,
West Orange, New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of this invention is to curl the edges of felt hat-brims with increased
ease and facility and with uniformity and perfection, and it consists in the
improved hat-brim curling machine and in the arrangements and combinations of
parts of the same, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embodied
in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like letters indicate corre-
sponding parts in each of the figures,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine, a certain rotary-bearing-
plate being shown in vertical section,
Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2,
Figure 3 a section on line y and
Figure 4 a section on line 3.
In said drawing, a indicates a suitable bed-plate upon which is formed or
arranged a vertical standard, b, having horizontal arms b', 63, which provide
bearings for the journal-boxes, 63, 6, of the shaft for the curling-iron.
c indicates said shaft, d, a pulley thereon which receives its power from any
source over the belt e, and a curling-iron arranged upon the lower end of said
shaft.
The tool-shaft c is arranged in said bearings, 63, 64, so as to admit of a limited
vibration, the bearing, 63, sliding between the forks, 65, of the arm b', to allow such
vibration and the bearing 6 having a pivotal movement on the centers 6.
A spring, g, serves to hold the bearing, 6, the shaft c, and the iron thereon, in
their operative positions while a handled cam or excentric, h, is adapted to throw.
the said bearing and the shaft and iron from said, operative positions, against the
power of the spring.
An adjusting screw m, serves to limit the movement of the sliding bearing and
its shaft and curling-iron, toward the flange, k, of the turn-table.
The sliding bearing, 63, provides a perforation or passage, i, for gas or a gas pipe
or burner Pr the said perforation, or the said burner, being so formed or arranged
as to throw a jet of burning gas downward into a hollow or cup shaped curling-
tool, /, to heat the same to the required intensity.
The said cup shaped curling-tool serves to prevent the flame from coming into
contact with the combustible material of the hat.
Below the cup shaped part, the tool is provided with an annular bead or rounded
Hange, j, to enter beneath a co-operating flange k at the periphery of a rotary plate
or table l.
On the shaft c, between the bearing for journal-box 63 and an adjustable
bearing, s, is arranged a spring o, which tends to throw the shaft upward but
admits of a limited vertical play to provide for any irregularity of movement or
construction of the ironing tools or unevenness or variations in the texture of
the fabric worked upon..
Beneath the heated iron is arranged the rotary plate or annular turn-table, 1,
on which the hat is seated. At the peripheral edge of this is formed the inwardly
projecting guiding flange 4, which turns with said turn-table although it may be
independent of said turn-table and be rigidly secured to the bed or table of the
machine with good results.

page_text: By means of the overlapping flanges, the brim is given the curl and the said
curl is made permanent by the heat of the tool, f, and the pressure produced by the
spring o, which causes the bead or flange ; to press upward against the under or
hidden side of the curled fabric, thus the unsightly lustre produced by the ironing
will not be seen, but the exposed side of the curled brim, having received little or
no frictional or rubbing pressure will remain of the lustreless black, or color,
desired.
The turn-table may be turned by hand and provides a convenient means for
turning the bat as the brim edge is fed to the ironing and curling-tool.
I am aware that the invention may be variously modified in its construction
and operation and equivalent constructions of parts may be substituted for those
particularly and positively described and 1 do not wish to be understood as
limiting myself to the specific construction shown, although I deem it the more
practical and convenient of those constructions contemplated.
In operating the device, the tool is thrown out of its operative position by the
cam and the uncurled brim adjusted in between the flanges; the cam is then
pressed back and the springs, o and g, brings the flanges in proper relative positions,
the brim being thus given the desired curl; the heated tool is then given,
preferably a rotary motion which gives permanency to the curl, as will be
understood.
By turning the turn-table and at the same time guiding, the hat, the brim is
properly fed to the tools, and the ends and sides of the said brim are afterwards
cut down to the desired form. .
Having now 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
1. The improved hat brim curling machine herein described comprising a frame
or bed, a vertical shaft having bearings in said bed or frame and having a flanged
and heated ironing tool rotating with said shaft. means for rotating said shaft and
tool and means for heating said tool, and a table having a raised and inwardly
turned flange at the periphery thereof, which overlaps the flange of the tool and
holds the curled brim while the heated ironing tool is pressing the underside of the
concaved side of the brim, substantially as set forth.
2. The improved hat brim curling machine comprising a heated rotary tool
having a cup at the upper part to receive a gas jet and a flange at the lower part,
means for rotating said tool, a gas jet for heating the said tool and a rotary table
having a flange or bearing at the edge thereof which extends inwardly over the
Hange of the heated tool, substantially as set forth.
3. The improved hat brim curling machine herein described, comprising a rotary
table having at its peripheral edge a raised and inwardly extending flange, and a
frame having arms, 1, 62 having bearings for a vertical shaft c, said vertical shaft
a gear wheel or pulley at its upper end and a heated and flanged ironing tool, f, at
its lower end the flange of which underlies the flange of the turn table and is
adapted to present its heated surface to the concave side of the curled brim means
for heating said rotary tool and a spring o for raising said flange of the tool
against or toward the inwardly extending flange of the rotary table, substantially
a's set forth.
+. The improved hat brim curling machine herein described comprising a table
having a raised and turned flange at its edge, and a frame or bed having arms b¹, b²,
providing bearings for a vertical shaft, c, said vertical shaft, having means, d, for
transmitting rotary motion thereto and at its lower end having a cup shaped and
flanged ironing tool adapted to extend under the flange of the table and present
its heated ironing surface to the concave side of the curled brim, and means for
heating said tool, substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with the frame a, b, a pivoted bearing, i, sliding bearing, k,
shaft, h, in said bearings, means for rotating said shaft, and means for lifting the

page_text: same upward, a tool, h¹, arranged on said shaft, means for heating said tool, and a
guide to cooperate with the heated tool in giving shape to the fabric, substantially
as set forth.
Dated thin 97th of M. 1909
WILLIAM JAMES M° GALL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant..