Improvements in and relating to Hat Forming Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hat Forming Machines.
I, RICHARD JAMES LYNCH, of No. 323, Main Street, in the City of Danbury,
County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hat forming
machines, but more particularly has reference to the means for cleaning the feed
rolls through which the mat of fur is fed from the endless apron to the picker
roll in the blowing compartment.
The object of my invention is to enable the operator to readily cleanse the feed
rolls of all matted particles of fur, grease or other foreign substances so that there
will be no imperfections in the hat when initially formed on the usual cone, and
with these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction
and combination of parts such as will be hereinafter fully set forth and then
specifically be designated by the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may more
fully understand its nature and construction, I will proceed to describe the same
in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part
of this application and in which
Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken, illustrating my improvement as applied
to a hat forming machine.
Figure 2 a side elevation, and
Figure 3 a sectional elevation.
Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
Prior to my invention, it has usually been customary for the operator or his
assistant to frequently clean the fur feeding rolls by hand, it being necessary
to climb up the fur carrying apron in order to properly get at these rolls, and this
necessitated considerable loss of time, and moreover the operation of cleaning
always disturbed the mat of fur which lay upon the carrying apron.
My invention aims to accomplish the thorough cleaning of the rolls at any
time by means of automatically operated contrivances within the control of the
operator, and will be best understood from the following description.
1 is the frame of the machine, 2 are horizontally disposed guide ways supported
on each side of the frame at the inner end thereof, and 3 are journal boxes bolted
upon the frame at opposite sides of the front end thereof.
4 is the usual fur blowing chamber which adjoins the inner end of the frame,
5 the usual feed rolls journaled in the ordinary manner within the wall of said
chamber and through which the fur is fed into the latter, 6 is the picker roll
and the brush roll journaled within the compartment 4 in the usual manner.
8 are blocks adapted to slide freely within the ways 2 9, 10, are the apron
carrying rollers which are journaled respectively within the blocks 8 and the
boxes 3, and 11 is the apron which carries the fur:

page_text: 12 is a rock shaft journaled within boxes 13 bolted to the frame, and 14 are
cranks secured to said shaft at opposite sides of the frame. 15 is a pinion secured
to one end of said rock shaft, and 16 is a rack bar engaging with said pinion
and capable of sliding freely within boxes 17 secured to the frame.
18 are connecting rods whose extremities are pivoted to the blocks 8 and
cranks 14, so that it will be readily understood that the rocking movements of
the shaft 12 will effect sliding movements of the blocks 8 so as to cause the inner
apron roller 9 to be moved away from or toward the feed rolls 5 as the case may be.
19 is a gravity roll which rests upon the lower portion of the apron so that it will
be clear that the upper or fur carrying surface of the apron will always be taut
when the roll 9 is moved away from the feed rolls.
20 is a hand lever pivoted at its lower end to the frame and loosely connected at
or about its middle portion to the outer end of the rack bar 16. When the opera-
tor pulls this lever the rock shaft will be turned, thereby causing the blocks 8 to
be drawn outwardly until the position of the cranks 14 is as shown at Figure 3,
and when the operator pushes upon the handle the blocks will be restored to their
normal position and the cranks will be in the position shown in Figure 2, and
during these operations the gravity roll 19 will always keep the upper surface of
the apron taut. I have shown a table 21 immediately beneath the upper portion
of the apron, which table is secured to the frame in any suitable manner, and
although this table is perhaps desirable, still it is not absolutely necessary and I
do not wish to be limited to the employment of the same.
The cleaning brush and the means for throwing the same into and out of position
and the mechanism for operating the same, are controlled by the movements of
the cranks 14, as will be clearly understood from the following description.
22 is a horizontally disposed rod secured to brackets 23 which project from the
wall of the chamber 4 outwardly toward the outer end of the frame, and 24 is
the brush which is pivoted around the rod 22 so as to slide freely along the same.
25 is a rod secured to the back of the brush, and 26 is a yoke whose inner end is
loosely pivoted around said rod on opposite sides of the brush, so that the rod is
capable of a free sliding movement within the yoke, the outer end of said yoke
being provided with elongated slots 27 through, which extend pins 28, which latter
project laterally from uprights 29 secured to the frame 1.
It will thus be clear that when said yoke is thrown outwardly the brush will
be thrown downwardly, and when the yoke is thrown inwardly the brush will be
restored to its normal or elevated position.
30 are lugs which depend from the yoke on opposite sides thereof, and 31 are
pins which project laterally from the inner faces of the cranks 14, the relative
arrangement of said lugs and pins being such that when the cranks are thrown
outwardly by means of the hand lever 20, these pins will strike against said lugs,
so as to force the yoke outwardly to effect the throwing down of the brush against
the feed rolls.
32 are pins which project laterally on opposite sides of the yoke and from the
outer faces thereof, and when the cranks are revolved inwardly, the pins 31 will
clevate the yoke, and during the continued return movement of these cranks the
extremities of the latter will strike against the pins 32 and will force the yoke
inwardly so as to effect the throwing back of the brush to its normal or elevated
position.
The operation of my improvement is as follows:-
The parts are in their normal position as is shown at Figures 1 and 2, and the
throwing of the brush into position to perform its function is accomplished by
pulling the lever 20 forward, which movement of said lever will cause the forward
apron roller 9 to be withdrawn so as to make way for the brush, and will subse-
quently effect the forward movement of the yoke, thereby pulling down the brush
and allowing the latter to come into contact with the feed rolls, so that the various
parts will be in the position as shown in Figure 3.
The pushing of the hand lever inward will cause the pins 31 to elevate the yoke

page_text: and the brush during the return movement of the cranks 14, and when the ex-
tremities of the cranks come into contact with the pins 32, during the continued
movement of said cranks, said yoke will thereby be thrown inward, carrying with it
the brush into its normal or elevated position.
In order that the yoke may readily be returned and retained in its normal or
elevated position I employ a weight 33 suspended by a cord 34 over a pulley 35,
which latter is journaled to any convenient part of the machine, as for instance
one of the side walls of the chamber 4, the other end of said cord being secured
to the yoke.
While this attachment of the weight and string is not absolutely necessary,
nevertheless it is very serviceable, and I prefer to use it, since it materially
relieves the operator when throwing the hand lever inwardly to effect the return
of the yoke to its normal or elevated position.
The shaft of the inner roller 9 has secured thereto a pinion 36 which meshes
with an idle spur 37 journaled at the side of the frame 1, said spur in turn mesh-
ing with a pinion (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) carried by the shaft of the
lowermost feed roll 5, which pinion meshes with the pinion 37" carried by the
shaft of the upper feed roll. When the apron roller 9 is thrown backward said
pinion 36 and spur will be disengaged, and when said roller is returned to its
normal position said pinion and spur will come into engagement.
.
It is neither necessary nor convenient that the brush 24 should be of a length
equal to the length of the feed rolls so that the entire area of the latter may be
cleansed, and I therefore have shown a comparatively short brush and I employ
mechanism for the purpose of shifting this brush back and forth lengthwise of
the feed rolls so that the latter may be wiped throughout their length, which
mechanism I will now describe.
38 is a bracket bolted to the frame of the machine and extending laterally
therefrom and having therein horizontally disposed ways 39, and 40 is a block
capable of sliding freely within said ways said block being provided with a hole 41.
42 is a worm gear horizontally disposed and journaled within the extremity of
the bracket 38, and 43 is a worm carried by the extreme end of the shaft 44 of
the picker roll, which worm engages with the worm gear 42. 45 is a crank pin
extending from the upper face of the gear 42, and 46 is a link whose ends are
respectively pivoted around said crank pin and to the block 40 so that it will be
readily understood that the revolution of the worm gear 42 will effect the recipro-
cation of said block throughout the ways 39.
Of course it will be clear that the shaft of the worm gear 42 may be extended
downward so that a pulley may be placed thereon, whereby the reciprocation of
the block 40 may be effected by an independent belt instead of by the shaft of
the picker roll, and this modification is so obvious that it will require no further
description.
The rod 25 has at one extremity immediately overhanging the block 40 a crank-
like projection 47, and when the brush is thrown down against the feed rolls,
in the manner hereinafter set forth, said projection will engage with the hole 41
so that said rod 25, and consequently the brush 24, will partake of the reciproca-
tions of said block, so that it will be clear that the action of said block will cause
the brush to be carried back and forth throughout the length of the feed rolls, or
such portion of the latter as is deemed desirable.
The process of cleaning the feed rolls of hat forming machines has heretofore
been difficult and has involved such a great loss of time that some expeditious
means for properly cleaning these rolls has been greatly sought after, and I
believe that I am the first to provide means and to so operate the brush by the
automatic contrivances that are brought into play by the movements of the hand
lever as hereinafter described, without disturbing the fur on the apron, and without
any loss of time whatever due to the stopping of the machine itself.
The main feature of my invention is the swinging brush which is capable of
reciprocatory movements in the direction of its length, and while the pivoted yoke

page_text: and the means for operating the same constitute a very satisfactory means for
throwing this brush up and down, nevertheless I do not wish to be limited to the
employment of any particular appliances for accomplishing this result, since other
devices may be employed for this purpose, and moreover the brush could be
thrown down by hand and easily kept in this position during its reciprocatory
movements.
By the use of my improvement, the feed rolls may be quickly and effectually
cleaned at frequent intervals during the operation of the fur blowing devices, with-
out any appreciable loss of time, thus greatly contributing toward the excellence
of the hats as well as materially lessening the cost of their production.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1-In a hat forming machine, the combination with the feed rolls, of a cleaning
brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of reciprocatory movements in the
direction of its length, devices for elevating said brush and for throwing the same
down against said rolls, means moving in harmony with said devices for with-
drawing the fur carrying apron and for restoring it to a normal position whereby
said brush may be accommodated, and mechanism for automatically reciprocating
said brush in the direction of its length when thrown down against said rolls,
substantially as set forth.
2-In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which deliver
the fur into the blowing chamber, the endless apron which carries the fur to said
rolls, the cleaning brush pivoted above said feed rolls and capable of free recipro-
catory movements in the direction of its length, means for swinging said brush
down against said rolls or into its normal elevated position, and automatic mechan-
ism for reciprocating said brush when thrown down against said rolls, substantially
as set forth.
3 In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the endless apron which delivers the fur
to said rolls, the cleaning brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of free
reciprocatory movements in the direction of its length, nieans for first withdrawing
said apron away from said rolls and for subsequently throwing said brush down
against said rolls, and mechanism for imparting reciprocatory movements to said
brush when against said rolls, substantially as set forth.
4 In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the endless apron which delivers the fur
to said rolls, the cleaning brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of free
reciprocatory movements in the direction of its length, means for first withdrawing
said apron away from said rolls and for subsequently throwing said brush down
against said rolls, the reciprocatory block guided within a bracket supported
by the frame of the machine and having therein a perforation, the shaft of the
picker roll having a worm mounted thereon, the worm wheel journaled on said
bracket and in engagement with said worm and carrying a crank pin, the link
connecting said block and crank pin whereby reciprocatory movements will be
imparted to said block from the shaft of the picker roll, and the rod carried by
said brush and having a crank-like portion adapted to engage with the perforation
in said block when the brush is thrown down against said rolls, whereby the brush
will be reciprocated, substantially as set forth."
5In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the endless apron which delivers the fur
to said rolls, the cleaning brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of free
reciprocatory movements in the direction of its length, devices for withdrawing
said apron from said rolls and for returning it to normal position, and means
operating in harmony with said devices for throwing said brush down against said

page_text: 5
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olls and for restoring it to its normal or elevated position, substantially as set
forth.
6-In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the blocks capable of sliding within ways
in proximity to said rolls, the rollers journaled respectively within said blocks
and within uprights at the outer or opposite end of the machine, the endless apron
carried by said rollers, the brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of reciproca-
tion in the direction of its length, means for sequentially withdrawing said blocks
from the feed rolls and throwing said brush down against said rolls, and for
subsequently returning said blocks and brush to normal positions, and auto-
matically operated mechanism in engagement with the part carried by said brush
in its position against said roll, whereby said brush may be reciprocated, substan-
tially as set forth.
7-In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the blocks capable of sliding within ways
in proximity to said rolls, the rollers respectively journaled within said blocks
and within uprights at the outer end of the machine, the endless fur carrying
apron around said rollers, the brush pivoted above the feed rolls and capable of
free reciprocatory movement in the direction of its length, the yoke loosely pivoted
at its inner end to said brush on opposite sides thereof, while its outer end is sup-
ported by the frame of the machine and is constructed to permit of free outward
and inward swinging movements of said yoke, means for sequentially throwing
said blocks outwardly away from said feed rolls and for sliding said yoke out-
wardly whereby the brush is thrown down against said feed rolls, and for subse-
quently restoring said parts to their normal position, and automatically operated
mechanism in engagement with said brush when the latter is against the feed
rolls, whereby reciprocatory movements are imparted to said brush, substantially
as set forth.
8-In a hat forming machine, the combination of the feed rolls which discharge
the fur into the blowing compartment, the blocks capable of sliding movements in
ways in proximity to said rolls, the rollers journaled respectively in said blocks
and in supports at the front of the machine frame, the endless fur carrying apron
around said rollers, the brush pivoted above said rolls and capable of free recipro-
catory movements in the direction of its length and carrying a laterally projecting
rod at its back, the yoke loosely pivoted at its inner end around said rod and hav-
ing at the other extremity elongated slots and provided with depending lugs and
with pins projecting laterally from its outer sides, the pin supports extending
through said slots whereby the yoke is supported and is capable of sliding move-
ments, the rock shaft journaled in the frame of the machine and carrying cranks
and pinion, said cranks having laterally projecting pins which act against the yoke
and its depending lugs while the extremities of said cranks act against said pins
which project from the yoke, the connecting rods pivoted to said blocks and cranks,
the rack bar in engagement with said pinion, the pivoted hand lever for operating
said bar, the reciprocatory blocks capable of sliding within ways at the side of the
frame and having a perforation, the worm wheel journaled at the side of said frame
and provided with a crank pin, the connecting link pivoted to said pin and block,
the shaft of the picker roll carrying a worm in engagement with said worm wheel,
and a hook carried by the brush rod and capable of engaging with the perforation
in said block when the brush is thrown down against the feed rolls, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1000.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.