Improvements in Hat-Ironing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1899 -Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hat-Ironing Machines.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK LARKIN, of No. 187, Broad Street, in the City of Newark,
County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, 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:-
This invention has reference to improvements in hat-ironing machines; and
the main purpose of my present invention is to provide a machine for the ironing
of hat-bodies placed upon a hat-block in which the movement of the iron upon
the hat-body is automatic, the mechanism for controlling the motion of the iron
and for pressing the same tightly against the hat-body being such, that the
iron lingers on the sides of the hat-body and passes quickly over the tip of the
hat-body, whereby a very beneficial result is obtained, in that the surface of the
hat-body is more evenly finished.
A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character
stated, which shall be of a simple, compact and effective construction, and in
which the several mechanism of the machine shall be under the complete control
of the operator.
A further object of this invention is to provide in connection with the machine
of the nature above set forth, a novel construction of clutch-device and means
connected therewith for actuating the iron-supporting table.
With these several objects in view, my present invention consists in the novel
construction of hat-ironing machine to be hereinafter described; and also, in
the novel arrangements and combinations of the several parts thereof, as well
as in the details of the construction of such parts, all of which will be more
fully set forth in the accompanying specification, and finally embodied in the
clauses of the claim.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings,
in which:.
Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the principles of my inven-
tion; Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same; and Figure 3 is a central
longitudinal section taken through the upper portion of the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the iron-supporting table and a portion of a
bracket connected with the machine-frame, in which the said table is rotatively
arranged; and Figure 5 is a plan or top view of the same.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the clutch-mechanism, said sec-
tion being taken on line 6-6 in Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the ironing table and parts connected there-
with; and Figure 8 is a similar view of a link employed in connection with the
said table.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section of the machine-frame, the bracket for sup-

page_text: porting the ironing table, and a pair of brackets or bearings in which a rod for
actuating the gear-mechanism for oscillating said table is slidably arranged;
and Figure 10 is an end view of the said parts represented in said Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the said bearings,
Figure 12 is a horizontal section of the clutch-mechanism represented in
Figure 6, said section being taken on line 12-12 in said Figure 6. Figure 13
is a perspective view of the guide-plate employed in connection with the clutch-
nechanism.
Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the said above described
views, to indicate corresponding parts.
In said drawings, A indicates a suitable machine-frame, comprising a table a
supported on the legs a¹ and having an opening a². Secured in the desired
positions on said table are the brackets a³, which are provided with the usual
bearings a, in which is rotatably arranged the driving shaft or spindle b.
Said spindle is provided with a loose pulley 6' and a fast pulley for driving
the same, and has arranged thereon, at its opposite end, any suitable form of
hat-block chuck 63, for retaining a hat-body on said block.
The said table a is also provided with a suitable bracket c at the one end
thereof, said bracket having a bearing-portion c¹. Rotatively arranged in said
bearing-portion c¹ is a stem or post of a suitable table or disc d, said stem
being connected with a hub d of said table or disc; and e is a gear-wheel which
is secured on said stem or post in any suitable manner, and is arranged in
position above said bearing-portion c¹, substantially as illustrated in the several
figures of the drawing. In order that the said table or disc d may receive an
oscillatory motion, I have provided the shaft or spindle with a suitable worm 65
which is in constant mesh with the teeth of a worm-wheel f of clutch-
mechanism F. Said clutch-mechanism consists, essentially, of the said worm-
wheel f, which has a tubular shaft f' arranged to rotate in the bearing-portion g¹
of a frame or cross-bar g secured to or connected with the brackets, in any
well known manner; and rotatively arranged in the tubular shaft f' is a spindle
fwhich has a disc f3 provided with a conical peripheral surface, at the one
end, and a screw-thread at its other end, on which there is a hand-wheel ft. The
said disc f3 is loosely fitted in a depression or recess fo in the worm-wheel f
said depression or recess having an inner conical surface f" with which the
conical peripheral edge of the disc f³ can be brought in operative frictional
contact when the hand-wheel f+ is turned on the threaded portion of the spindle f²
and against the outer surface of a second hand-wheel which is slidably arranged
on a feather. f in the shaft or spindle f, thereby bringing said wheel f8 tightly
against the edge of the tubular shaft f'.
In this manner, said disc f3 can be operated to cause an intermediately placed
connecting mechanism, between said disc and the gear-wheel e herein-above
mentioned, to engage said gear and actuate the said table or disc d upon the
bearing-portion c. Said second hand-wheel fo is loosely arranged on said shaft
or spindle f, and is also to be used for the turning of said shaft 2 independent
of the shaft f, for the purpose to be herein-after set forth more in detail. Said
friction disc has on its outer face, as shown more especially in Figures 1, 3
and 6, a plate h, preferably held in position on said disc by means of bolts or
screws Said plate h has a pair of parallel ribs h² provided with overlapping
edges, whereby a suitable guide is provided for a stud-bolt 4; the head h³ of
which is arranged beneath said edges h³ and the body of which extends between
said edges and projects beyond the same, as shown. "Said stud-bolt is adjustably
held in position on said plate h by means of a nut 6 which is screwed up tight
against a washer 7 and sleeve on said bolt, substantially as illustrated in Figures 6
and 12 of the drawing. Rotatively arranged on said sleeve 8 is a suitable
roller which is capable of a rotative and reciprocating movement vertically
between two posts or uprights e² connected with a sleeve el which is secured on

page_text: a horizontal rode by means of set-screws et. Said rode is slidably arranged
beneath the table a of the machine-frame in suitable holes in the sides of the
legs of the frame, which form bearings, as indicated in Figure 1, or it may be
slidably arranged in perforated hangers e, see Figure 11, each hanger having
a screw-threaded stem e which can be passed through a proper hole in the table a
and the hanger secured in position by means of the nuts e7, substantially as
illustrated in Figure 9. The said rod e³ has a rack e8 at its forward end, as
indicated more especially in Figure 2, the teeth of which are in operative mesh
with the teeth of the gear e. Thus, it will be evident, that the continuous rotary
motion of the friction disc f3, when engaged by the worm-wheel f, will cause
a reciprocatory sliding motion of the rod e, which in turn causes an oscillatory
motion of the said table or disc d. From an inspection of Figures 1 and 6, it will
be evident, that by changing the position of the stud-bolt 4, the throw of the
rod may be suitably changed to vary the oscillatory motion of the said table
or disc d. It will thus be seen, that whether the said disc f³ is in operative or
inoperative engagement with the worm-wheel f, the teeth of the latter are in
constant mesh with the worm on the shaft or spindle and there is no wearing
out or breaking off of the teeth, as in the clutch-mechanism heretofore employed
in connection with hat-ironing machines.
As clearly indicated in Figures 3, 5 and 7, the said table or disc d may be
provided with one or more rollers ³, arranged in a suitable opening or openings
in said table, and slidably arranged on said roller or rollers is a bed-plate
having an opening and longitudinally arranged projections or ribs which
are movably placed beneath the holding or guiding lips of a suitable plate,
secured in position upon the table or disc d by means of screws, or in any other
suitable manner.
The end of said bed-plate has an upwardly extending post i and an arm i
provided with a screw-threaded eye-portion 22 in which there is a set-screw 23,
substantially as illustrated. Said bed-plate d also has a pointed stud 14, and
arranged between the pointed end of said stud and the set-screw 3, so as to be
capable of a partial rotative motion between the said points of support, is a
bar having an enlarged and hollow portion provided with a cover, the
whole forming a chamber in which there is a suitable jet or burner j connected
with a gas-supply pipe j. In the portion there is an opening for the inser-
tion of a lighted match to ignite the gas at the jet j¹. The said enlarged por-
tion, which can thus be sufficiently heated, forms the iron for ironing the
hat-body on the block 6, against which it is pressed by the mechanism to be
directly described.
Said bar k, as will be seen from Figure 7, has a pair of perforated lugs or
ears in which there is a pin for securing the end of a flat spring between
said ears.
The opposite end of said spring is movably arranged between a pair
of pins secured in the cross piece d¹² of the bed-plate d³, as clearly illustrated
in the several figures of the drawing.
The purpose of said spring is that the iron, no matter in which position
the ironing block is brought against the round surface of the hat-block, will
at all times present its flat surface for proper ironing-contact with the hat-body,
at any portion thereof.
In order that the iron is forced against the hat-body upon the hat block, during
the revolutions of the latter, the bed-plate is made to slide between the said
plates on the table or disc d, as above mentioned, the iron being constantly
forced into operative engagement with the hat-body on the block by means of a
spring-actuated mechanism which presses against the end of said bed-plate and
forces the parts connected therewith normally against the hat-body on the block;
and the latter, during the revolutions thereof, and owing to its peculiar shape,
will cause the said bed-plate and iron thereon to reciprocate in its guides on
the table . It will thus be evident, that while a rotary motion is imparted

page_text: to the hat-block, by means of the main shaft or spindle b, and an oscillatory
motion in a horizontal plane is imparted to the table or disc d by the mechanism
above described, the iron, which is constantly held against the hat-body on the
rotating block, will move in a horizontal plane to the extent of the oscillating
motion of the table or disc d, according to the throw of the parts connected
with the friction disc f, as will be clearly evident.
Said spring-mechanism consists, essentially, of a rod which is connected with
a collar suitably secured to the bearing-portion e¹, and has a bifurcated end 12
in which there is a pin or bolt m. Pivotally arranged on said pin or bolt m
is an upwardly extending lever or rod o, which has a hand-piece o¹ and is pivotally
connected with a link n. Said link, in turn is pivoted to a bolt or pin 10
secured in perforations in the projections 3 extending from the back of said
bed-plate Said lever or rodo is thus slidably arranged between the arms
of said projection and can be used by the operator for causing the disengage-
ment of the iron from the work on the hat-block. The collar has a pair of
eye-portions 3, in each of which I have arranged a rod . Said rods are
connected at the top by a bifurcated piece having a handle 76 and a pin or
bolt on which there is a roller 18, and connected with said piece and the
eyes are a pair of coiled springs 19, the normal tendency of which is to force
the said roller 18 into a notch o in the lever or rodo, substantially as illustrated
in Figures and 3. This action is the cause of bringing the iron in constant
operative contact with the work upon the hat-block, the several parts of the
mechanism working against the tension of said springs, as will be understood.
When it is desired to disengage the iron from its contact with the hat-body
upon the block, to remove the said hat-body, the operator takes hold of both
hand-pieces o and 76 connected, respectively, with the lever o and the piece 15,
and forces the roller 8 from the notch o² to another notch in the portion o
of the lever or rod o, below its pivotal support m, whereby the bed-plated and
its parts connected therewith will be moved from their operative positions
indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, to the disengaged positions illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5. To prevent the roller 18 being forced beyond the
notch 3, owing to the great tension of the springs 19, a stop-piece o may be
provided, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
The operation of the machine will be evident from the above description aud
an inspection of the several figures of the drawing, and needs no further
explanation.
Suffice it to say, however, that while the hat-block is rotating in a vertical
plane against the iron, the latter oscillates in a horizontal plane to the extent
of more than a half circle, that is, from band to band, and over the tip of the
hat-body on the hat-block and back again, to properly and perfectly iron the
hat-body.
Of course, it will be evident, that by changing the position of the stud-bolt
or pin connected with the plate h, the stroke and movement of the rod e³ can
be variously changed, so that the iron can be used in connection with hat-blocks
of different sizes; or, that the iron can be made to pass from the band to the
tip and back again instead of passing over the entire surface of the hat-body.
The hand-wheel f, herein-above mentioned, is more especially for the purpose
of bringing the iron into a position at or near the band of the hat-body before
causing the operative engagement of the friction-disc f3 and the worm-wheel
for operating the same, for, by turning the said wheel by hand the
operator causes the rode to move the table or disc d to any desired
position, and in consequence, he can bring the iron against the desired part
of the hat-body on the block, before starting the ironing operation.
I am fully aware, that many changes may be made in the various arrange-
ments and combinations of the mechanism and parts thereof, as well as in the
details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of my

page_text: present invention; hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements
and combinations of the various mechanism, as herein described and illustrated,
nor to the exact details of the construction thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block, and means
for rotating the same, of a table or disc oscillating in a horizontal plane, a bar
or post arranged upon said table, an iron on said bar or post, mechanism for
operating said table or disc, and means connected with said table for causing
the iron to press against the work on said hat-block, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
2. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block, and means
for rotating the same, of a table or disc oscillating in a horizontal plane, mechan-
ism for operating the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table or disc, a bar
or post on said bed-plate, an iron on said bar or post, and means engaging with
said bed-plate for causing the iron to press against the work on said hat-block,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block, and means for
rotating the same, of a table or disc oscillating in a horizontal plane, a bar or
post arranged on said table, an iron on said bar or post, mechanism for operating
said table or disc, and means connected with said table or disc for causing the
iron to press against the work on said hat-block, consisting, essentially, of a
spring-actuated lever or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block, and means
for rotating the same, of a table or disc, oscillating in a horizontal plane,
mechanism for operating the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table or
disc, a bar or post arranged on said table, an iron on said bar or post, and means
in engagement with said bed-plate for causing the iron to press against the work
on said hat-block, consisting, essentially, of a rearwardly extending projection
on said bed-plate, a link pivotally connected therewith, and a spring-actuated
lever or arm pivotally connected with said link and a portion of the frame of
the machine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block thereon, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having
a bearing-portion connected with said frame, a table having a stem arranged in
said bearing-portion, a bar or post arranged on said table, an iron on said bar or
post, means connected therewith for causing the iron to press against the work
on said hat-block, and mechanism for causing an oscillating motion of said table
in a horizontal plane, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block thereon, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having
a bearing portion connected with said frame, a table having a stem in said
bearing-portion connected with said frame, a bar or post arranged upon said
table, an iron on said bar or post, means connected therewith for causing the
iron to press against the work on said hat-block, and mechanism for causing
an oscillating motion of said table in a horizontal plane, comprising, a gear
connected with said table, a rod having a rack in mesh with said gear, and
means connected with said rod for causing a backward and forward motion of
said rod in bearings in the machine-frame, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
7. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block thereon, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having
a bearing-portion connected with said frame, a table having a stem arranged
in said bearing-portion, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table, a bar or post
arranged on said bed-plate, an iron on said bar or post, means engaging with
said bed-plate for causing the iron to press against the work on said hat-block,

page_text: and mechanism for causing an oscillating motion of said table in a horizontal
plane, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block thereon, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having
a bearing-portion connected with said frame, a table having a stem
arranged in said bearing-portion, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table,
a bar or post arranged on said bed-plate, an iron on said bar or post, means engag-
ing with said bed-plate for causing the iron to press against the work on said
hat-block, and mechanism for causing an oscillating motion of said table, com-
prising, a gear connected with said table, a rod having a rack in mesh with said
gear, and means connected with said rod for causing a backward and forward
motion of said rod in bearings in the machine-frame, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
9. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having a bear-
ing-portion, an oscillating table connected with said bracket, means for operating
the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table, a bar or post on said bed-plate,
an iron on said bar or post, a rearwardly extending projection on said bed-plate,
a link pivotally connected therewith, a rod connected with said bracket, and
a spring-actuated lever or rod pivotally connected with said link and said rod l,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a rotary hat-block, and means for rotating the same, of a bracket having a bear-
ing-portion, an oscillating table connected with said bracket, means for operating
the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said table, a bar or post arranged on said
bed-plate, an iron on said bar or post, a rearwardly extending projection on said
bed-plate, a link pivotally connected therewith, a rod connected with said
bracket, a rod or lever o pivotally connected with said link and said rod 1, notches
in said rod o, a pair of eyes on said bracket, rods sliding in said eyes, a piece
connecting said rods 14, springs and a roller 18, all arranged, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
11. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and means
for rotating the same, of a bracket having a bearing-portion and an oscillating
table on said bracket, a bar or post arranged on said table, an iron on said bar
or post, and an operating means between said table and the hat-block operating
mechanism, consisting, essentially, of a gear e, a rod e³, a sleeve e¹ having up-
rights or posts, a friction-clutch operated from the spindle of the machine, and
a pivotal connection between said clutch and the uprights or posts of said sleeve c¹,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and a spindle
for rotating the same, and means for operating said spindle, of a bracket having
a bearing-portion and an oscillating table on said bracket, a bar or post arranged
on said table, an iron on said bar or post, and an operative means between said
table and spindle, consisting, essentially, of a gear e, a rod e³, a sleeve e¹ having
uprights or posts, a friction clutch operated from said spindle, a plate / connected
with said clutch, guide-bars on said plate, a stud-bolt between said bars, and a
roller on said bolt, movable between said uprights or posts of said sleeve, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
13. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,
a hat-block thereon, and a spindle for rotating the same, means for rotating
said spindle, a bracket c having a bearing-portion, an oscillating table on said
bracket, a rod or bar arranged on said table, and an iron on said rod or bar, a
gear-wheel connected with said table, perforated hangers 5 having screw-threaded
portions for securing said hangers to said table, a rod 3 slidably arranged in said
hangers, and means between said gear-wheel and said rod for actuating the
said rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with the frame of the machine,

page_text: a hat-block thereon, and a spindle for rotating the same, and means for operating
said spindle, a bracket having a bearing-portion, an oscillating table on said
bracket, a rod or bar on said table, and an iron on said rod or bar, a gear-wheel
connected with said table, perforated hangers e having screw-threaded portions
for securing said hangers to said table, a rod e³ slidably arranged in said hangers,
and means between said gear wheel and said rod for actuating said rod, com-
prising a sleeve el having uprights or posts, a friction-clutch operated from said
spindle, a plate h connected with said clutch, guide-bars on said plate, a stud-bolt
between said bars, and a roller on said bolt, movable between said uprights or
posts on said sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
15. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and a spindle
for operating the same, and means for rotating said spindle, of an oscillating
ironing table, and means between the table and the spindle for actuating said
table, consisting, essentially, of a worm on said spindle, a recessed worm-wheel
in operative mesh therewith, a tubular shaft connected with said worm-wheel,
a friction-disc f3 and a shaft on said disc, arranged in said tubular shaft, a pair
of hand-wheels on the shaft of said disc f³, a rod operatively connected with
said ironing table, and a pivotal connection between said rod and the friction-
disc f3, and an intermediate means between said worm-wheel and rod for actuating
the latter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
16. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and a spindle
for rotating the same, and means for operating said spindle, of an oscillating
ironing table, means for actuating the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said
table, a pair of pivots connected with said bed-plate, a rod or bar arranged
between said pivots, and an iron on said rod or bar, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
17. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and a spindle
for rotating the same, and means for operating said spindle, of an oscillating
ironing table, means for actuating the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said
table, a pair of pivots connected with said bed-plate, a rod or bar arranged
between said pivots, an iron on said rod or bar, and a spring connected with said
rod or bar, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
18. In a hat-ironing machine, the combination, with a hat-block and a spindle
for rotating the same, and means for operating said spindle, of an oscillating
ironing table, means for actuating the same, a reciprocating bed-plate on said
table, a pair of pivots connected with said bed-plate, a rod or bar arranged
between said pivots, an iron on said rod or bar, a pair of ears or lugs on said
rod or bar, a pair of pins on said bed-plate, and a flat spring connected at one
end with said ears or lugs, and at the other end being arranged between said
pins, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
قيم
.. 1000
GEORGE FREDERICK LARKIN,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.