Improvements in Hat Pouncing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hat Pouncing Machines.
We, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, and ALBERT TURNER of Denton, near Manchester,
Hatters Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:-.
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cutting off the surplus hair
from the surface of felt hats and smoothing the surface thereof so as to materially
cheapen the cost of the process in felt hat manufacturing known as "pouncing
or finishing.
The improved pouncing machine consists essentially of a frame or support with
a carrier mounted rotatively thereon, a block shaft mounted rotatively in the carrier
and transversely to the carrier axis, differential mechanism for rotating the block
shaft and carrier at a variable and slow speed, a clutch for holding a hat block or
shape on the block shaft and also a hinged swinging frame with a pouncing roll
mounted rotatively thereon to operate on the hat and a cam mounted on the carrier
frame with intermediate levers for guiding the pouncing roll over the contour
of the hat in all its movements, and also mechanism for automatically throwing
said swingng frame into position and starting the pouncing roll and stopping
same when the operation of pouncing is finished.
Dated this Seventh day of August 1896
HENRY HERBERT TURNER,
ALBERT TURNER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
We HENRY HERBERT TURNER and ALBERT TURNER of Denton, near Manchester,
Hatters Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed to.be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cutting off the surplus hair
from the surface of felt hats and smoothing the surface thereof so as to materially
cheapen the cost of the process in felt liat manufacturing known as "pouncing
or finishing.
The improved pouncing machine consists essentially of a frame or support with
a carrier mounted rotatively thereon, a block shaft mounted rotatively in the carrier
and transversely to the carrier axis, differential mechanism for rotating the block
Price S

page_text: shaft and carrier at a variable and slow speed, a clutch for holding a hat block or
shape on the block shaft, and also a hinged swinging frame with a pouncing roll
mounted rotatively thereon to operate on the hat, and a cam mounted on the carrier
frame with intermediate levers for guiding the pouncing roll over the contour
of the hat in all its movements, and also mechanism for automatically throwing
said swinging frame into position and starting the pouncing roll and stopping
same when the operation of pouncing is finished.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a right-
hand view of the machine, and Fig. 3 a plan. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the
machine, taken on the line X-X in Fig. 2.-Figs. 1", 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate
details.
In accordance with our invention (1) designates the frame of the machine (by
preference) of hollow pillar form, and (2) the driving-shaft rotatively mounted in
bearings on the base of the pillar, and carrying a fast pulley (3) and loose
pulley (31).
Mounted rotatively on the top of the pillar at (4) (see Fig. 4) is the carrier (5)
for the hat-block and hat to be pounced.This carrier is capable of rotating to-
and-fro about a vertical axis through a quarter-rotation or ninety degrees, and has
a pendent tubular shaft (5*). The axis of the tubular head of the carrier (5) is
at right angles to the axis of the shaft (5*), and as here shown the former is hori-
zontal and the latter vertical. Rotatively mounted in the carrier (5) is the shaft (6)
which carries the hat-block (7) and the hat thereon. This shaft is tubular and
carries a clutch (8) to hold the block, and a hand-wheel and screw (9) for operating
the clutch. In Fig. 4 the clutch is shown and the hat block omitted. We need
not describe this clutch further than to say that it has three jaws with arms
loosely hinged at their inner ends to a cellar on a shaft or spindle (9) fixed in
and forming a continuation of the screw (9), and that when the screw (9) is drawn
back the jaws of the clutch are caused to clamp on a pin on the hat-block, the clamp-
ing being produced by inclines on the arms of the jaws, which play through
apertures in a clutch-plate (8).
The shaft (6), called the block-shaft, is rotated through the medium of a bevel
gear-wheel (10) on said shaft, which gears with a bevel-pinion (11) fixed on the
upper end of the shaft (12) rotatively mounted in the axis of the carrier-shaft (5)
and extending down to the bottom of the pillar or frame where it has a step-
bearing. The shaft (12) is driven from a counter-shaft (13) in the base of the
pillar through the medium of mitre-gears (14), and the counter-shaft is driven
from the main shaft (2) through the medium of gear-wheels (15) and (16) on the
respective shafts.
Preliminary to the further description of the construction we will say that while
the block-shaft (6), with the block and hat, is rotating the carrier (5) turns slowly
about its vertical axis through a quarter of a rotation carrying the hat under a
rotating pouncing roll or head which thus traverses the surface of the hat body
from the centre of the crown to the band. This pouncing-roll is carried in a
hinged frame and the roll is moved in and out to conform to the position and con-
tour of the hat-body through the medium of a cam-plate on the carrier (5) and
intermediate mechanism to be described.-(17) is the frame which carries the
pouncing-roll (18). The frame (17) has hinge-bearings below at (17) (see Fig. 1)
on the main shaft (2). At its upper end is mounted a counter-shaft (19) which is
driven from a pulley (20) on the main shaft through the medium of a belt (21)
and a pulley (22) on the counter shaft (19). The pouncing-roll (18) is secured to
an obliquely-arranged shaft (18) mounted in bearings on the frame (17) above the
counter-shaft (19), and carries a. bevel friction-pinion (18) driven by a friction-
wheel (23) on the counter-shaft (19).

page_text: A weight (17) on an arm on the frame (17) supplies the yielding pressure which
tends to keep the pouncing-roll pressed up to the hat on the block.
Pivoted in the frame (17) by means of pivot-bearings at (24) is a guiding-
lever (24), the upper end of which bears on the surface of the hat on the block,
and the lower end of which is provided with a set-screw (24") which bears on a
cone (25). This cone is fixed on a cross shaft or bar (25) mounted in the frame
and adapted to slide endwise to a limited extent.
This shaft is moved in one direction by means of a spiral spring (25"), and in the
other direction by a device best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. On the lower end of an
upright rock-shaft (26) mounted on the frame, is secured an arm (26) carrying a
roller (26) which bears on the face of a disk or plate (25b) on the shaft (25) and
on the upper end of said shaft (26) is secured an arm (26b) bearing a roller (26°)
which bears on a cam (27) fixed on the carrier (5) and moving therewith.
This cam will have a form suited to the style or contour of the body of the
hat on the block; and as the carrier turns slowly around, the cam (27) and
spring (25") will move the cone (25) under the set-screw in the lever (24) in such
a manner as to swing the frame (17) and with it the pouncing-roll, and cause the
latter to follow that contour of the hat which would be seen in a sectional plane
passing down longitudinally through the axis of the hat-body. The movement
of the frame (17) is effected by the guiding lever (24) which bears on the hat at
its upper end. When the larger part of the cone (25) is pushed under the lever,
the fulcrum is on the hat and the frame (17) is pushed outwardly, carrying the
pouncing-roll with it. On the other hand, the lever (24) serves to adapt the
pouncing-roll to the elliptical contour of the hat-hody (see Fig. 2) seen in a
cross-section of the same. In this case the cone (25) becomes the fulcrum and the
frame (17) is pushed outwardly by the higher part of the hat body passing under
the upper end of the lever. The end of the fever which bears on the hat may
be padded or cushioned, if this be found necessary to prevent injury to the hat.
We will now describe the mechanism which slowly rotates the carrier (5)
through a quarter of a rotation, referring especially to Fig. 4.
Mounted loosely and rotatively on the shaft (12) between the mitre-gear (14).
thereon, and the lower flanged end of the hollow shaft (5*) is a spur-wheel (28)
which gears with a pinion (29) fixed on the upper end of a long wheel-boss rotatable
on a spindle (30) on the frame, and fixed on the lower end of the said- wheel-boss
or sleeve is a spur-wheel (31) which gears with a pinion (32) rotatively mounted
on the shaft (12). The pinion (32) is rigidly connected to or integral with a spur-
wheel (3) and this spur-wheel gears with a pinion (34) mounted rotatively in a
frame (35) adapted to turn or rotate about the shaft (12) as an axis. The pinion (34)
is integral with a spur-wheel (36) which gears with a pinion (37) fixed on the
shaft (12), and is integral also with a pinion (34) which gears with a spur-
wheel (33) fixed in or to a part of the frame of the machine. This wheel (33)
forms a step-bearing for the shaft (12).
The gearing just described being of a differential character we will give the
number of teeth which we prefer to employ in the several wheels as a guide in
constructing the machine.
Wheel (28) has sixty teeth, wheel (29) has fifteen teeth, wheel (31) has fifty
teeth, wheel (32) has twenty-five teeth, wheel (33) has thirty-three teeth, wheel (33)
has thirty-two teeth, wheel (36) has thirty-two teeth, wheel (34) has sixteen teeth,
and wheels (34) ana (37) have each sixteen teeth.
The pinion (387) drives the wheel (36) which causes the frame (35) to rotate
about its axis owing to the pinion (34) revolvng about the fixed wheel (33) but
as the wheel (33) has one more tooth than the wheel (33) the wheel (33) will be
diven slowly, and will drive the wheel (28) through the wheels (29), (31) and (32).
In order that the wheel (28) may drive the shaft (5) of the carrier (5) we pro-
vide a locking rod or bolt (38) mounted to slide vertically in guides in the flanges
on the shaft (5) the lower end of said bolt being adapted to engage one of four
holes or sockets (28) in the wheel (28) (see Figs. 4 and 6). The upper end of the

page_text: bolt is coupled to one arm of a lever (39) (Figs. 2 and 4) fulcrumed on a rigid
operating-arm (40) on the carrier (5). The bolt may have on it a spring (38%) to
shoot at the proper time.
We will now describe the means for shifting the driving belt (32) to the tight
pulley (3), and the means for automatically shifting said belt to the loose pulley (3):
and thus stopping the machine when the pouncing operation is finished..
Mounted to slide longitudinally in bearings at the base of the frame is a belt-
shifter (41) having an eye (41) at its extremity through which the belt (42")
plays, and coupled at its lower end to this sliding shifter by a collar (41) and
link (42) is a shifting-lever (42) (see Fig. 1 and 1") fulcrumed on the frame (1).
Fig. 1 shows the parts as they appear when the belt is on the loose pulley and the
machine at rest.
By pushing the upper end of the lever (42) over to the left (in Fig. 1) the
belt (42) will be shifted on to the tight pulley and a strong spring (41b) on the
shifter (41) will be compressed.
**
To hold the lever in this position against the tension of the spring we employ
a toggle" device (43) the two links of which are pivoted, one to the lever and the
other to the main frame. When shifting-lever is pushed over to the left, the
"toggle" will assume the position seen in Fig. 1" and as the three pivotal points
will then be in line the lever will be held.
"
On one of the links is an arm (43) which now stands upright and at right angles
with the link. If this arm be pushed over to the right (see Fig. 1") the toggle
will be broken and the spring (41") will instantly shift the belt over on to the loose.
pulley and stop the machine.
Means are provided for effecting the shifting of the lever (42) and the release
of the "toggle" (43) by the rotation of the carrier (5). This consists of two
studs (44) and (45). (see Fig. 5) which projects out laterally from the base of the
carrier (5). The stud (44) engages the end of the lever (42) and shifts the belt
on to the tight pulley, when the operator sets the carrier around to its operative
position, and the stud (45) strikes and trips the " toggle" when the carrier shall:
have reached about the end of its travel.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The block with the hat upon it is secured to the block-shaft (6) by the clutch (8).
and drawn up firmly to the chuck-plate (8) by the screw (9). In doing this the
frame (17) carrying the pouncing-roll is pushed back out of the way. The parts
will then stand as in the drawings. The operator now grasps the operating-
arm (40) depressing the lever (39) so as to withdraw the bolt (38) and free tho
carrier from the wheel (28) and swings the carrier around until the bolt
engages the next socket (28) in the wheel (28). This will bring the tip
or crown of the hat under the pouncing-roll. In doing this the stud (44)
engages the lever. (42) and moves it over in such a manner as to shift
the belt (42) on to the tight pulley, and to compress the spring on the shifter.
The toggle" (43) will also be set, as in Fig. (1) so as to hold the lever.
The machine is now in motion, the pouncing-roll and hat rotate axially, and the
hat swings round slowly about the axis of the carrier back to its first position,
the pouncing-roll passing thus over the surface of the hat from the tip to the
band.
When the parts return to their first position the pin or stud (45) strikes the
upright arm of the "toggle," releases the lever (42) and, allows the spring (41)
to instantly shift the belt and stop the machine.
.
We will now explain the preferred construction of the pouncing-roll or head (18)
with especial reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9. In substance this is a hollow roll with:
a removable sheet of sand-paper or the like wrapped about it, the ends of the strip
of paper being tucked into a slot in the face of the roll and secured by a grip
inside of the latter. Fig. 7 is an end view of the roll, showing the grip open,"
and Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the grip closed. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal
axial section of the roll. ....
ว

page_text: The shaft (18) has on its extremity an end plate (18), and the hollow roll (18)
is open at its outer end, and has a long internal boss and a longitudinal slot (18k)
in its rim. The plate (18") is furnished with a pin (18) which projects into the
roll and parallel with its axis, and a hinge-pin (184) to which is hinged a jaw (18)
adapted to form, with the pin (18) a clamp for the ends of the sand-paper. A
spring of any kind, as (188) for example, serves to close the clamp on the paper
as seen in Fig. 8. To open the clamp and at the same time bring the slot (18b)
opposite to the clamp, as in Fig. 7, there is a pin (18) projecting from the inner
face of the closed end of the roll (18) and arranged to engage and open the jaw (18")
when the roll is rotated about the shaft in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7.
When the ends of the sand-paper are properly inserted in the clamp the spring (18)
is allowed to close the clamp and rotate the roll (18) to the position seen in Fig. (8).
The paper may be readily removed when worn out and replaced by a fresh sheet.
The pouncing-roll rotates in the same direction as the hat on the block, and it is
set obliquely to the axis of the hat and block in order to prevent the sand-paper at
the ends of the roll from coming in contact with the convex surface of the hat and
marking it.
The form of the guiding-lever (24) is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The
purpose of the set-screw (24") in this lever is to adjust the pouncing-roll accurately
to the surface of the hat.
The cam (27) which serves to adjust the pouncing-roll to the surface of the hat
during the movement of the carrier (5) may be readily changed that is,-cams of
different forms may be employed to suit hats of different forms and styles.
To permit of the pouncer lying flush against the surface of the hat we provide
suitable means whereby the shaft in bearings (18) and the upper part of the
frame (17) may have a slight lateral movement and for that purpose we may provide
a knuckle, ball or swivel joint (18b) (see Fig. 10), and provide the collar or
sleeve (18) with a pin or pivot designed to rest in the upper end of bracket (17).
In lieu of, or in addition to, such ball joint, we may arrange the upper part (18)
to swivel on centre pin (18) or equivalent means. The entire frame may havo
a slight lateral movement.
Having thus 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:
"
1: A machine for pouncing hats, consisting of a frame with carrier mounted
rotatively thereon, a block-shaft mounted rotatively in the carrier and transversely,
of the carrier-axis, mechanism for rotating the block-shaft and carrier, a block-
clutch and hat block carried by the block-shaft, a hinged and weighted swing-
frame carrying a pouncer" designed to operate on a hat on the block, mechanism
for operating the pouncer, a cam mounted on the carrier, a guiding-lever mounted
in the said hinged frame and its upper end adapted to bear on the hat and means
whereby the pouncer is kept in proper contact with the hat in all its movements
substantially as set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
2: In a machine for pouncing hats the use and combination of sliding
bar (25), mounted in a swing frame (17), cone (25) on said bar, upright rock-
shaft (26) provided with cams at its ends, bearing rollers (25) and (25), a cam (27)
on the carrier (5) on which the roller (25) hears, and a plate (25) on the bar (25*)
on which the roller (25) bears, all mounted and operating relatively to the other
arts of said machine, as set forth.
3: The use and combination of frame (1), carrier (5), main shaft (2) pro-
ided with tight and loose pulleys, intermediate mechanism between shaft and
arrier whereby the former drives the latter, shifter (42) and shifting-lever (42),
toggle" (43) which couples the upper end of the lever (42) to the frame, and is
provided with an arm (43) in the carrier adapted to engage the shifting-lever,
nd pin (45) in the carrier adapted to engage the arm on the "toggle," substantially
s set forth.

page_text: 4: In a machine for pouncing hats the use and combination of frame (1),
carrier (5) mounted rotatively on the frame and having a hollow shaft (5³),
holt (38) mounted in the carrier shaft, operating arm (40) on the carrier, bolt-
operating lever (39) mounted on the arm (40), wheel (28) mounted loosely in the
shaft (5), and provided with sockets (28) to receive the bolt (38), driving-shaft
and intermediate actuating mechanism substantially as set forth.
5: The combination of shaft (18) with a fixed end plate (18") provided with a
piu (18) and a hinge pin (184) both parallel with the shaft of the jaw (18) hinged
on the pin (184) and adapted to clamp on the pin (18) a spring adapted to close
jaw, and the hollow, longitudinally-slotted roll (18) mounted rotatively on the shaft,
and inclosing said clamping device said roll having a pin (18) adapted to engage
the jaw (18) and open it when the roll is so rotated as to bring the slot therein
opposite to the clamp, substantially as set forth.
6: In a machine for pouncing hats a pad or pouncer mounted on shaft with
swivel joint carried in movable or swivel part of frame, and adapted to lie against
the surface of the hat held and traversed beneath it as set forth.
The combination and arrangement of parts constituting our improved hat
nouncing machine, substantially as set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 7th day of June 1807
HENRY HERBERT TURNER,
ALBERT TURNER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.