Improvements in and relating to Machines for Applying Stiffening Compound to Hat Bodies, and particularly to the Brims thereof.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Applying Stiffening
Compound to Hat Bodies, and particularly to the Brims thereof.
We, LEWIS RASMAS HEIM, hat maker, of No. 80 Franklin street in the town of
Danbury, county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, and FRANK WILMOT SMITH,
hat manufacturer, of No. 10 Maple avenue in the town. of Bethel in said county
of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, United States of America, 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:
Our invention relates to certain improvements in machines for applying stiffen-
ing compound to hat bodies, and particularly to the brims thereof, and will be best.
understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompany-
ing drawings which form a part thereof, and in which-
Figure 1 is a plan of our improved machine, and
Figure 2 à sectional elevation thereof at the line of Figure 1.
Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in both figures of the drawings.
1 is a bed or table supported by suitable legs 23 is the power shaft journaled in
bearings 4 bolted to the underside of the table 1. 5, 6, are conical shaped feed rolls
secured respectively on the upper ends of inclined shafts 7, 8, the latter being
journaled in adjustable brackets or supports 9, 10. Rigid with the table aro
ears 11; between which the bracket 9 is pivoted. 12 is a set screw tapped within
the upper end of a post 13 which rises from the table in the immediate rear of the
bracket 9. The end of the set screw 12 bears against the bracket 9, and by mani-
pulating this screw, said bracket may be rocked on its pivot and the roll 5 adjusted
to a proper plane with respect to the rolls 6, as will be readily understood by
reference to Figure 2.
14 is a slide working in ways 15 formed on the table, and 16 are ears which rise
from the inner end of said slide and between which the bracket 10 is pivoted.
17 is a post formed rigid with the slide 14, and 18 is a set screw tapped within the
upper end of said post. The end of the set screw 18 bears against the outer portion
of the bracket 10 and by manipulating this screw said bracket 9 may be rocked
on its pivot, whereby the roll 6 may be adjusted with respect to the roll 5.
19 is a post formed rigidly with the table, and 20 is a coil spring which is inter-
posed between the post 17 on the slide 14 and said post. 19. The spring 20 exerts
a tendency to keep the roll 6 pressed tightly against the roll 5.
29, 30, are two bevel gears secured on the power shaft 3, which intermesh with
the respective gears 31, 32, on the ends of the shafts 7, 8, whereby motion is com-
municated from the power shaft to the conical shaped rolls 9, 10.
The stiffening compound is contained within a reservoir 33 located. somewhat.
above the horizontal plane of the rolls 5, 6, and 34 is an outlet pipe which conducts
the stiffening compound from the reservoir. 36 is a cock by means of which the
quantity of liquid flowing through the pipe 34 may be regulated. The pipe 34
leads from a valve chamber 37 at the bottom of the reservoir, and 38 is a slide
valve working in said chamber, which controls the fiew of liquid therefrom.

page_text: When the valve 38 is in its highest position, as shown in Figure 2, the supply
of liquid from the reservoir will be cut off, but when said valve occupies its lower
position the stiffening will be free to flow through the pipe 34 to the hat. This
valve 38 is automatic in its operation, and the mechanism for effecting the move-
ments of said valve we will now describe.
39 is a short vertical shaft or spindle secured to the bottom of the table, and 40
is a spur gear journaled loosely around said shaft. 41 is a vertical slide which
works in a way 42 planed in a support 43. 44 is a lever pivoted at 45 to a post 46
rigid with the table, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to the upper
end of the vertical slide 41. while the other end is pivoted to the lower end of a
link 47. The upper end of the link 47 is pivoted at 48 to the end of the slide
valve 38. 49 is a cam formed upon the face of the gear 40 upon which the lower
end of the vertical slide 41 tracks. The weight of the slide 41 is sufficient to
keep said slide normally pressed against the cam 49. The contour of the cam 40
is such that when said cam is rotated a vertical reciprocation will be imparted to
the slide 41..
Motion is imparted to the gear 40 from a spur pinion 50 formed on the hub of
a bevel gear 51 which is loosely journaled around a vertical spindle 52 secured to
the bottom of the table. The bevel gear 51 meshes with and is driven by a bevel
gear 53 secured on the power shaft. The proportions of the gears 40, 50, 51, 53,
are such that the power shaft will make ten revolutions to revolve the gear 40 once.
The clutch mechanism whereby the machine is started and automatically brought
to a stand still we will now describe.
54 is the power pulley loosely mounted on the end of the power shaft, and 55
are teeth formed on the hub of said pulley. 56 is a collar tight on the power shaft
and adjacent to the toothed hub of the power pulley.
The collar 56 has a groove 57 cut therein within which works a sliding spring-
actuated bolt 58. The bolt. 58 has a beveled offset 59 projecting therefrom which
is adapted to be engaged by the beveled foot 60 of a vertical slide 61, working in
a way 62 planed in the end of the support 43. When the slide 61 is, in its elevated
position the bolt 58 will be free to engage the teeth on the hub of the power pulley, and
said pulley. will cause the power shaft to be revolved; but when said slide is depressed
so that the beveled foot thereof will engage the bolt 58, said bolt will be withdrawn
from the teeth or notches on the hub of said power pulley and the machine will be
brought to a standstill. 63 is a vertical slide working in the way 42 beside the
slide 41, and 64 is, a bar which connects the slides 61, 63, together so that the
movements of said slides will be simultaneous.
The lower end of the slide 63 tracks upon a raised annular step or cam 65
formed on the upper face of the gear wheel 40 immediately adjacent to the cam 49.
66 is a recess or depression made in the surface of the annular step 65 within which
the slide 63 rests when said slide is in its lower position and the machine is at a
standstill.
67 is a rock shaft journaled in bearings 68 on the table, and 69 is a finger which
projects beneath the bar 64 and is secured to one end of said rock shaft. The other
end of this rock shaft is provided with an operating handle 70 by means of which
said shaft may be rocked and the finger 69 caused to raise the slides 61, 63, to
permit the bolt 58 to. engage the toothed hub of the power pulley, whereby the
machine is set in motion.
71 is an adjusting screw tapped within the outer end of the slide 14, the head
of which screw bears. against the end of one of the ways.15, as clearly shown in
Figure 1, and by manipulating said screw the inward throw of the slide 14 may be
regulated, by means of which the pressure of the rolls on the hat body is increased
or diminished.
The function of the rolls 5, 6, is to revolve the hat body as the stiffening is
applied thereon, and by the action of said rolls the stiffening is made to soak.
thoroughly into the felt.
The relative diameters of the various gears with respect to the cam which

page_text: controls the stiffening supply are such that the hat body will be revolved several
times while the stiffening is being applied thereon.
As shown in the drawings the rolls 5, 6, will be revolved twenty (20) times while
the gear 40, carrying the cam, is revolved once, and such revolution of said rolls
will revolve the hat body approximately four times. The cams 49, 65, are so timed
with respect to each other that the stiffening supply will be cut off by the cam 49
sufficiently in advance of the stopping of the machine by the action of the cam 65
so that the hat body will be revolved at least one complete revolution by the
rolls 5, 6, before the machine is brought to a standstill.
The effect of rolling the hat body through the rolls 5, 6, after the stiffening
supply has been cut off, is to thoroughly and evenly distribute the stiffening, and
also to remove any surplus, so that the quality of the hat is greatly improved.
Around the hub of the gear 30 is secured a collar 72, the gear itself being
arranged to slide freely on an ordinary feather 73 along the shaft 3, and a post 74,
depending from the slide 14 within the groove 75 left. between said collar and gear,
connects said slide and gear together as to sliding movements without interfering
with the rotation of the gear.
76 is a slide bar supported beneath the bed in such manner as to be capable of a
free sliding movement. 77 is a shoulder formed on one end of this sliding bar,
against which shoulder binds a screw bolt 78 driven through the post 74, while the
other extremity of the slide bar is formed into a step 79 which projects immediately
beneath the lower edges of the cam gear 40. 80 is a wiper cam which is secured to
the under surface of the gear 40 at such a point that the revolution of said gear
will carry such wiper cam against the slide bar 76 to operate the latter immedi
ately prior to the time when the machine is stopped by the action of the cam 65
on the upper surface of this gear.
,
It will therefore be clear that when this slide bar 76 has been actuated by the
wiper 80; the slide 14, the bracket 10, with the roll 6 and the hat. supporting device
carried thereby, together with the gears 30, 32, will be carried bodily outward so,
as to effect the separation of the rolls 5, 6, whereby a hat body may be removed
and another one placed in its stead. At the same time it will be clear that the
spring 20 will keep the step 79 of the slide bar in close contact with the wiper
oam 80, so that when the latter is removed by the subsequent revolution of the
gear 40 said slide together with all the parts actuated thereby will be returned to
normal position.
For the purpose of laying a foundation to a claim that is not limited to any
special style of device for immediately supporting the hat body, we would call
attention to the fact that the automatic separation and closing of the rolls as just
described is entirely independent of any hat supporting device used, the particular
object aimed at in this connection being to effect the separation of the rolls auto-
matically and without disturbing the engagement of the beveled gears 30, 32.
We have also provided a device for supporting the hat body which is capable of
an independent and positive adjustment to elevate or lower the hat body without
disturbing the vertical plane of the edge of the same which passes between the
rolls. This device comprises a vertical guide plate 81 secured to the bracket 10,
within which plate a bar 82 fits snugly but is capable of a free vertical play and is
provided with an elongated slot 83 through which a screw threaded pin 84 projects
from the plate 81, a thumb nut 85 being driven around the extremity of this pin
against the bar 82 whereby the latter may be secured in any vertical adjustment.
The upper portion of this bar 82 is bent inwardly at an angle, and upon the
extremity of this angular portion 86 is supported the tip block 87. The part 86
is at such an angle to the vertical portion of the bar 82, that it is in axial disposi
tion with respect to the block 87 and the hat body 88 supported thereon, while
at the same time the hat will always be presented between the rolls, 5, 6, in a
vertical plane, so that it will be clear that these conditions will not be altered in
the slightest by the adjustment of such bar up and down within the plate 81.
To the opposite bracket 9 is also secured a guide plate 89 within which is cor-

page_text: fiued a bar 90 capable of vertical play and secured in various adjustments by means
of a screw pin 91 projecting from said plate through an elongated slot 92 in the
bar, and a thumb nut 93 which is driven around said pin against the bar itself.
This bar is curved upwardly and outwardly, and on the extreme lower end of the
outwardly curved portion 94 is secured a finger 95 which wipes along the lower
edge of the hat body. immediately beyond the rolls, for the purpose of removing
any of the stiffening which has gathered on such edge and might otherwise dry into
a hardened bead. Projecting from the body of this bar 90 is a bracket 96 to the
outer end of which is secured a combined support and guide for the hat body. The
support consists of a horizontally disposed ledge 97 on which the edge of the hat
body may rest, while the guide consists of a curved rib 98 rising from the outer
edge of this ledge and adapted to pass inside the hat body at a point immediately
before the entrance of the latter between the rolls. While this support and guide
are perhaps not absolutely necessary still they are very desirable and in all pro-
bability would always be present in our machine, and moreover they aid materially
in properly supporting and guiding hats whose lower edges are not uniformly
disposed.
Referring to the devices for adjusting the hat body in different horizontal planes,
we would further call attention to the fact that, since the roll 6 and the guide
plate 81 are both are both carried by the bracket 10, they must always occupy the
relative posirions shown at Figure 2 of the drawings, and since this is true, it will
be clear that any independent elevating or lowering of the hat body which would
carry the inner edge of the latter out of a fixed vertical plane would result in the
improper presentation of the hat to the rolls, since this roll 6 itself has no
independent adjustment whereby it could be made to follow up the adjustment of
the hat body.
"
Therefore, in this respect, our improvement results in a decided advantage,
since the stiffening may be applied to the hat throughout any extent from the
lower edge thereof without disturbing the vertical disposition of the hat body as it
is presented to the rolls.
From the foregoing it will be clear that, by reason of the fact that this vertical
adjustment of the hat body is perfectly independent, it is immaterial whether
the hat supporting devices be carried by the slide or whether they rest upon a
stationary part of the machine, the gist of our invention in this respect resting
in the broad idea of adjusting the hat body to different horizontal planes without
disturbing the vertical disposition of the inner edge of said body where the
latter is presented to the rolls.
-
Secured to the tops of the brackets 9, 10, are scrapers 99, 100, which extend
in close proximity to the tops-and sides of the rolls 5, 6, the function of these
scrapers being to remove all the stiffening compound which might work up on
top of the rolls or down the sides thereof, and to sweep the same away from the
hat body. These scrapers, although they constitute a minor feature of our
invention, nevertheless are exceedingly useful and frequently prevent a hat from
being "gummed" by the stiffening compound.
Secured to the bracket 9 is a drip pan 101 which is provided in its bottom
with perforated thimbles 102 103, through which the shafts of the rolls 5, 6,
extend. 104, 105, are sheds which are secured to the bottoms of the rolls and
respectively overhang said thimbles. The object of the drip pan is to catch
and retain all of the stiffening compound which drips from the rolls, while the
raised thimbles and sheds 'prevent the stiffening from flowing down the shafts 7, 8,
and thereby clogging the running gear of the machine.
One of the most serious disadvantages present in hat stiffening machines arises
from the gumming and consequent clogging of the shafts in their bearings and
of meshing gears and other running parts of the machine, and such clogging
renders it imperative that the machine shall receive an overhauling and cleaning
every now and then, occasioning expense and loss of time. Our drip pan arrange-
ment, although in itself a simple affair, is nevertheless exceedingly serviceable

page_text: and can moreover be used in connection with any machine employing rolls for
applying the stiffening compound.
In machines for stiffening hats if the stiffening compound is applied to the
hat at a point so remote from the rolls that the stiffening runs down the hat
and becomes improperly distributed before the rolls perform their function, the
hat must be passed between the roils an unusual number of times in order that
the stiffening may be properly applied. On the other hand, if the stiffening is
applied at a point too near the rolls, there will be no opportunity for its proper
distribution throughout the area required to be stiffened, before such rolls per-
form their function, this is also true with different kinds of stiffening some of
which flows more readily than others, and also a marked difference exists between
certain kinds of hats, and some hats absorb the stiffening more readily than
others.
We have therefore equipped our present improvement with means for applying
the stiffening at any desired distance from the rolls, which means we will now
describe.
106 is a pipe which telescopes within an enlarged portion 107 of the pipe 34,
and in such manner as to be capable of a free rotary movement, a set screw 108
driven through the portion 107 against this pipe 106 being employed to secure
the latter in any desired rotary adjustment. 109, 110, are short thimbles pro-
jeeting upwardly from this pipe 106, and 111, 112, are two delivery pipes which
telescope within these thimbles and are secured in any suitable vertical adjust
ment therein by means of set screws 113, 114, and furthermore are provided at
their upper extremities with nozzles 115, 116, which extend laterally toward
each other and are separated by any suitable: space. In proper position with
respect to the hat body these nozzles are respectively outside and inside said
body, as shown at Figure 2.
.
It will be clear that this adjustment of the devices for locally applying the
stiffening compound is not necessarily limited as to its utility to any special
construction of hat stiffening machine, the gist of the invention in this respect
resting in the idea of independently adjusting these devices with respect to the
rolls which act upon the hat.
It will of course be obvious that, although we have shown only the bracket 10
carried by a slide, it would not amount to invention but would be the outcome
of mere mechanical skill, to mount the other bracket 9 on a slide and to operate
the same precisely as the slide 14 is operated, and therefore we do not wish
to be limited to a sliding arrangement as adapted to only one of the brackets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in, what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is:- J
.j
1. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of means
for conducting and applying the stiffening, a pair of rolls between which the
hat is passed, devices for supporting the hat and for properly presenting the
same to said rolls, means for revolving the rolls, automatically controlled
mechanism for stopping the rotation of the rolls, and instrumentalities au!-
matically controlled and operated by said mechanism for separating the rol's
immediately prior to the stopping of the rotation thereof, substantially as. set
forth.
2. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of the slide.
which carries the hat supporting devices and one of the rolls, the power driving
mechanism, automátic means for stopping the machine, and instrumentalities
automatically controlled and operated by the stop mechanism for retracting
said slide at a predetermined time, substantially as set forth.
3. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of the slide
upported on the bed of the machine, the pair of rolls one of which is supported
within a stationary part of the machine while the other one is supported by said

page_text: slide, the hat supporting devices carried by said slide, means as a spring-for
throwing said rolls and devices in normal position, means for revolving the rolls,
automatically operated mechanism for stopping the rotation of the rolls, and
the slide bar intermediate of said slide and stop mechanism and automatically
operated by the latter to retract said slide and the parts carried thereby at a
predetermined time, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the power shaft, the slide supported on the bed of the
machine, the shafts supported respectively by the stationary bed of the machine
and by said slide, the rolls secured on the upper ends of said shafts, the bevel
gears on the lower ends of said shafts, the bevel gears on the power shaft
meshing with the first named gears, one of these power shaft gears being
capable of sliding on its shaft, means for connecting this sliding gear to the
slide, the hat supporting devices carried by said slide, means for revolving the
power shaft; stop mechanism for arresting the movement of said shaft, a rotary
cam for operating said stop mechanism, a spring for maintaining the normal
position of said slide and the parts carried thereby, the slide bar supported
beneath the bed of the machine and abutted at one end against said slide, and
means carried by said cam and operating against the other end of said bar to
throw back the same and thereby effect the retraction of the slide and the
parts carried thereby at a time prior to the stopping of the power shaft, substan-
tially as set forth.
5. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of the rolls
between which the hat is passed, with devices for supporting the hat and for
presenting, the inner edge of the hat body to said rolls in a vertical plane, and
means for adjusting said devices in different horizontal planes without disturbing
the vertical disposition of said edge, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the rolls between which the hat is passed, with hat
supporting devices and means for adjusting the latter in different horizontal,
planes and for presenting the inner edge of the hat body to said rolls in a fixed
vertical plane, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the slide, the bracket carried thereby, the vertically dis-
posed guide plate secured to said bracket, the bar guided and capable of sliding
within said plate and having an angular bent portion projecting from the upper
part thereof, the tip block supported on the extremity of such bent portion, and
means for aljusting said bar in different horizontal planes, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination with means
for supporting the hat body and the rolls between which the hat is passed of the
vertically adjustable bracket 96 having secured thereto the horizontal ledge for
supporting the lower edge of the hat body, the outer edges of such ledge being
bent and curved and adapted to extend within the hat body whereby the latter
is properly guided between said rolls, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of the rolls journaled within the brackets 9, 10, of the
scrapers. secured to the upper extremity of said brackets and extending
in close proximity to the tops of the ralls, the extremities of such scrapers being
bent and curved in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.
10. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats had in which the hat is passed
between vertically disposed rolls, the drip pan secured in position below such
rolls and provided with perforated upwardly extending thimbles through which
the shafts of said rolls pass, and the sheds secured to the bottoms of said rolls
and overhanging said thimbles, substantially as set forth.
11. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of the rolls,
means for properly supporting the hat and for presenting the same between said
rolls, and means for locally applying the stiffening compound to the hat at different
points with respect to such rolls, substantially as set forth.
12. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of the rolls
between which the hat is passed, means for properly supporting and presenting

page_text: the hat between said rolls, the pipes provided with suitable nozzles for applying
the stiffening to said hat, and means for adjusting said pipes toward and away
from said rolls whereby the stiffening may be applied to said hat at points variably
distant from said rolls, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination of the brackets, the rolls supported therein, devices for
supporting the hat and for presenting the same between said rolls, the vertically
disposed pipe through which the stiffening is led, the horizontally disposed pipe
connected to said vertical pipe by a rolling joint, the vertical pipes leading from
said horizontal pipe and provided at their upper extremities with nozzles which
extend laterally toward each other, and means whereby said nozzles may be adjusted
toward or away from said rolls, substantially as set forth.
14. In a machine for stiffening the brims of hats, the combination of a pair of
rolls for acting upon the hat after the stiffening is applied, means for supporting
the hat with its inner edge in a fixed vertical plane, means for adjusting such
support to different horizontal planes without disturbing said vertical plane,
devices for applying the stiffening to said hat, mdans for adjusting said devices
toward or away from said rolls, the combined support for the lower edge of the
bat and curved guide for the inside of the hat, means for imparting revolution
to said rolls, automatically operated appliances for stopping the machine at pre-
determined times, and devices controlled and operated by said appliances for
separating the rolls immediately prior to the stopping of the machine, sub
stantially as set forth.
Dated this First day of November 1897
JENSEN & SON
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. Patent Agents.