Improvements in Hat Beating and Cleansing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hat Beating and Cleansing Machines.
I, CLAES ERIC WINTERROS, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 1101 Green Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
and State of Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineer, 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 has relation to a machine adapted to beat and thoroughly cleanse
felt hats; and in such connection it relates particularly to the general construction
and arrangement of such a machine.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a machine of simple
construction adapted to more quickly and thoroughly beat and cleanse felt hats
than has heretofore been possible manually; second, to provide in such a machine,
a block having a pilous outer surface consisting preferably of bristles or analogous
brush-like material upon which the hat is mounted preparatory to the beating and
cleansing operations; third, to provide in such a machine reciprocatory beaters
adapted to beat against the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the
block; fourth, to provide in such a machine, rotary brushes adapted to brush the
brim and crown of the hat when upon the block; fifth, to provide in such a
machine, means for rotating the block and the hat mounted thereon; sixth, to
provide in such a machine, a block adapted to be removably secured to a rotating
shaft and means for intermittently revolving said shaft and block, when the same
are rotating; and seventh, to provide in such a machine, means for stopping the
rotation of the block and shaft, when the same reach a predetermined position in
their revolution to permit of the removal and replacement of the hat upon the
block.
My invention stated in general terms, consists of a machine for beating and
cleansing hats, when constructed and arranged for operation in substantially the
manner hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming
part hereof, and in which
Figure 1, is an elevational view of the right hand side of the machine, embodying
features of my invention.
Fig. 2, is a similar view of the left hand side of the machine.
Fig. 3, is a front end elevation of the machine.
Fig. 4, is a rear end elevation of the same.
Fig. 5, is a front elevational view enlarged of one of the revoluble and rotating
shafts carrying the block for the hat.
Fig. 6, is a similar view partly sectioned, to more clearly illustrate the construction
and arrangement of the same.
Fig. 7, is a sectional view enlarged of the mechanism for braking the upper end
of said shaft, to stop the rotation of the block at a determined position in the
revolution of the same.
Fig. 8, is a top or plan view enlarged illustrating in detail the mechanism for
beating the hat and the auxiliary brush supporting the brim of the bat during the
beating operation.
Fig. 9, is a longitudinal sectional view enlarged of the block, illustrating the
means for securing the same to the upper end of the revoluble shaft.

page_text: Fig. 10, is an underneath plan view enlarged of said block removed from the
shaft; and
Fig. 11, is a side elevational view enlarged, illustrating in detail the universal
joint for one of the supports or arms in which rotate the brushes for cleansing the
brim and the crown.
Referring to the drawings a, represents the base of the machine upon which is
supported the upright or standard a', forming a bearing at its upper end for a
shaft a². The shaft a², is provided at one end with a driving pulley a³, and at
its other end with a mitre-gear b. Upon the shaft a², is loosely mounted a
frame b', consisting as shown, of three radially disposed brackets, although the
frame may consist of more or less brackets, without departing from the spirit of
my invention. Each bracket is provided with bearings 62, in which rotates a
radially disposed shaft 3, the lower end of which is provided with a mitre-gear,
meshing with a mitre-gear b, of the shaft a³, the arrangement being such, that
while the shaft a², is rotating the frame b', may be revolved by hand, and the
shaft b³, may while rotating in the bearings b, of said frame, be revolved with said
frame. Each shaft 3, consists of two members or sections, each terminating in
disks and respectively, the disks being frictionally clamped together by means
of a plate 6', and washer 68, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 6. The upper
member or section of each shaft 65, is provided with a head 6, upon which is
adapted to be secured a block d, on which the hat is to be mounted. This
block d, consists of a frame of suitable inflexible material, preferably wood, having
a pilous outer face or surface of bristles d', or similar brush-like material, shaped
to conform to the interior of the crown of the hat mounted upon the block. The.
block d, is secured to the head , of the shaft 3, preferably in the following
manner. The block d, is recessed as at d³, and in the top of this recess is provided
a spring, projecting to the lower end or base of the block. This spring 60,
carries a catch or latch 6, the end of which is adapted to enter one of a series
of notches 61, formed in the sides of the head 69, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 9
and 10, of the drawings. By withdrawing the catch or latch 6, from the
notches 613, the block d, may be lifted from off the head 6°. This spring catch 6,
and notched hend 6, also constitute a means of adjustment up and down of the
block d, upon said head to compensate for varying heights of the crown of the hat
to be supported on the block. At a certain position during the intermittent
revolution of the shafts , it is necessary to prevent the upper member of the
shaft 3, and its block d, from rotating to permit of the removal and replacement
of a hat upon the block. To accomplish this use is made of the following
preferred mechanism, with reference particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, of the
drawings. As above explained the two members of each shaft 3, are united by
friction disks, which ordinarily will clamp the two members sufficiently together,
to permit of the rotation of the shaft 63, in its entirety. To prevent the rotation
of the upper member, there is secured a collar e, having an indentation or recess e¹,
in its periphery. Opposite this collar and adapted to bear upon the periphery is
provided a pin e, having a sliding movement in the frame b₁, and projecting
entirely through and on either side thereof. Upon the bearing for the shaft a²,
is secured an upwardly projecting spring arm e, carrying a cam projection e
arranged in the path of the pin e, and adapted, when said pin strikes against said
projection, to force the pin inward against the periphery of the collar e, and into
the recess e, thereof. The pin will thus set as a brake upon the upper member
of the shaft 3, the lower member and washer 68, continuing to rotate upon the
disk, at the lower end of the said upper member.
To the upper end of each bracket of the frame b', is secured an upwardly
projecting brush f, adapted when a hat is mounted on the block d, to rest against
and form a support for the under surface of the brim A, of the said hat, while the
same is rotating with the block d. As indicated in the drawings the shafts b³, are
adapted to be revolved with the frame b', so as to occupy three positions. The
first is that in which the upper member of the shaft 3, is at rest, as above

page_text: described, in which position the hat may be mounted upon or removed from the
block; the second position of the shaft, its block and the hat carried thereby, is
that in which the beating of the hat is accomplished and is indicated in the
drawings by that position in which the shaft 63, is substantially horizontal. In this
position the top of the crown B, of the hat rests against a concave brush g, or other
guiding piece secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed arm g', hinged at its
lower end, as at 93, upon a shaft k, supported above the base of the machine, the
hinged connection being such, that the upper end of the arm g', is adapted to move
towards or away from the crown B, of the hat in an arc described from the shaft k,
as a center. The arm g, is supported in its normal position with the brush g,
resting with required pressure upon the crown, by means of springs or their
equivalents, not shown. Arranged on one side of the brush g, is a beater which
is pivoted as at g³, to the arin gl, so as to have a reciprocatory movement towards
or away from the crown B. This beater consists of a rigid arm h, of wood or other
suitable material, to the upper end of which is secured a thin flexible strip ',
preferably of steel, concavely curved to approximate the convex shape of the top
of the crown B. This strip, is normally pressed against the hat crown by means
of a spring, one end of which is secured to the rigid handle A, below the pivot 9,
while the other end is secured to the arm g', all as clearly illustrated in Figs.
and 8, of the drawings. The handle 4, is adapted to be struck by one or more
fingers or triggers, revolving with a shaft A, rotating in a suitable bearing in
the arm g, which shaft A, is rotated by means of a grooved pulley 4, secured to
one end of the said shaft and connected by means of a belt A, and pulley A', with
a driving shaft k, rotating in suitable bearings g, of the machine. The handle h,
thus reciprocated by the fingers or triggers h³, causes the flexible strip h¹, to beat
upon the top of the hat crown to thereby free the same from dust, sand, loose fur
and other extraneous matter.
For the side and a portion of the crown of the hat is arranged a similar beater !,
actuated in the same manner as the beater above described and similarly arranged
upon an arm 1, which is pivoted at its lower end in a bearing 2, substantially at
right angles to the shaft k, in such a manner that said beater 1, carried by said arm
is permitted to move towards or away from the hat. The arm l', is normally held
under the tension of a spring 2, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The driving shaft,
carrying the triggers adapted to operate the beater l, is mounted in suitable
bearings, in said arm , and is driven by the pulley I, belt and pulley. This
latter pulley, is driven by a shaft, rotating in the pivotal bearing P, of the
arm and motion is conveyed to said shaft 0, by a miter-gear ", meshing with a
miter-gear k, of the shaft k.
To beat the brim of the hat is arranged a third beater m, the flexible portiou m',
of which is provided with an upwardly extending end m2, resting in the corner
formed between the crown and brim of the hat. This beater m, is operated by
mechanism similar to that used to actuate the other beaters and it is mounted upon
an arm m³, hinged as at m³, to a support me, projecting from the base a, in such a
manner, that the arm and beater may move automatically towards and away from
the elliptical side crown. The arm m³, is held towards the hat crown by means of
a spring or its equivalent, not shown. The mechanism for reciprocating the
beater m, is operated by means of a shaft me, supported at its lower end in an
extension m', of the arm m³, and provided with a miter-gear m³, meshing with a
miter-gear, secured to the shaft k. The beater m, is adapted to beat upon the
upper surface of the hat brim directly over the brush f, on the frame b', which is
located under the brim, all as illustrated in Fig. 8, of the drawings. This brushf,
is therefore adapted not only to support the brim of the hat, but to receive the
dust from the same, while it is being beaten by the beater m.
During the operation of the machine, as for instance, while the block: d, are
being brushed or cleansed, by the brushing mechanism hereinafter explained, and
no hats are mounted upon said blocks, it is necessary that this beating mechanism
shall be stopped and for this reason the shaft k, which operates all of the beaters,

page_text: is thrown into and out of connection with the main driving shaft, not shown, by
means of the following preferred mechanism.
On the shaft k, is secured a driving pulley A, connected with a pulley upon the
main driving shaft by means of a loose belt s. Upon this belt is adapted to rest a
tension roll or wheel, carried at the free end of an angle lever k, pivoted as
at k, to the support a', of the machine. The free end of the angle-lever is
counterweighted as at , to normally depress the tension roll, upon the belts.
The other end of the angle-lever, is pivotally secured to a vertically disposed
arm, passing through a recess 2, in the top of a box ", and adapted to be
depressed to raise the roll, by lowering with the feet or otherwise a cross-bar",
to which the vertical arm k, is secured. The arm k, is provided with a catch or
projection, fitting under the top of the box k", and adapted to thereby maintain
the arm, in a depressed position. This catch is shifted under the top of the box
to catch thereunder by means of the spring k¹, as shown in Fig. 1. To release the
arm, the cross-bar k12, is pushed towards the machine to release the catch ¹³,
from the box, when the counter-weight, will depress the tension-roll, upon the
belt s, and raise the said vertical arm and cross-bar. When the roll ko, rests upon
the belts, it tightens the belt sufficiently to transmit motion from the main driving-
shaft to the shaft k, and when the roll, is elevated from the belt no motion is
conveyed to the said shaft k.
The third and last position of the shaft &, and its block d, is that in which the
arm rests in its lowermost position to bring the hat in contact with a series of
rotary brushes.
These brushes are three in number, two of which n and n', are designed respec-
tively to brush the underside of the brim A, and to brush the upper side of
the brin and a portion of the crown of the hat. The brushes n and n', rotate
in suitable bearings 2, carried at the end of an arm a³, which is supported by a
chain or cord n', from one end of a lever arm n', pivoted as at no, in an extension n',
of the support a', the other end of the lever n', being counterweighted as at n³,
sufficiently to maintain the brush arm n³, and lever arm a, in a state of equilibrium,
as illustrated in Fig. 1. The other end of the brush arm n, is connected to a
support, on the base no, by means of a universal joint n", the construction of
of which by preference is that illustrated in Fig. 11. By means of this joint a",
and of the counter-balancing lever n, the two brushes n and n', are permitted
to move towards or away from the brim and towards or away from the crown
in order that varying sizes and shapes of hats placed upon the block d, may all
be thoroughly brushed. The third brush o, is adapted to brush the entire top
of the crown B, and that portion of the side of the crown not brushed by the
brush n¹. For this reason the brush o, is shaped preferably as illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 3, that is to say, it consists of a portion o¹, partially conical in shape
terminating or merging in a substantially cylindrical portion o². This brush o,
rotates in a suitable bearing at the end of an arm of, counterbalanced in the same
manner as the brush arm n³, that is to say, the arm o, is supported by a chain or
cord n, from one end of a counterweighted lever arm n, pivoted as at n, to
an extension or standard n", supported upon the support a. The extension ",
is connected to the extension n', by means of a connecting rod 18. The lower end
of the arm of, is universally jointed as at o, to a support o, of the base n¹, in the
same manner as said arm n³, and substantially as illustrated in Fig. 11.
The three brushes n, n' and o, are all driven from a common shaft p, to which the
same are connected by belts and pulleys and this shaft p, is driven by the main
driving shaft, not shown, by means of the belt p', and pulley p². The supports
or arins n³ and o, of the brushes are pressed inwards to bring the brushes against
the hat by means of the angle-levers t and t¹, pivoted in the base of the machine,
the free arms t2 and t³, of which are weighted.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The blocks d, are first placed
upou the heads, of the shafts b, and a hat placed upon the block, which is in the
uppermost position. The frame b, is then revolved by hand until the hat and

page_text: block are brought into position for the beaters to operate upon the hat being as
before described, that position in which the shaft 63, is substantially horizontal.
The hat is guided to this position by the following preferred mechanism: The con-
cave brush or guiding piece g, is continued upward into an oblique arm r, against
which the crown B, of the hat strikes and thereby moves the arm g¹, and beater
carried thereby sufficiently to permit the crown entering the concave brush and the
concave beater strip h¹. The crown B, also strikes at its side upon a flexible
guiding strip, secured to the arm m³, carrying the beater m, for the brim of the hat,
thus moving said arm sufficiently to permit the brim and crown of the hat to rest
in proper position with respect to the beater m. After the hat has reached this
position the heaters are set into operation by allowing the tension roll 4, to rest
upon the loose belt s, which drives the beater mechanism.
The shaft 63, and block b, are also set in rotation since the shaft a³, which rotates
the arm and block is preferably driven by the shaft k, which operates the beaters,
said shaft a', being connected to the shaft k, by a belt a', substantially as shown.
The next succeeding arm and block now reaches a position in which as heretofore
explained, the upper member of the arm and block are braked, to prevent rotation.
In this position another hat is placed upon the second block. After the first hat
has been sufficiently beaten the frame 6, is again turned and the crown B, of the
hat strikes against a flexible guide 2, on the arm l, to throw said arm and
particularly its beater mechanism out of the path of the hat. The guide, serves
also to guide the hat to the brushes n, ni and o. The brim of the hat enters
between the brushes n and n', and the crown rests against the conical and
cylindrical portions of the brush o. The first hat is thereby thoroughly brushed
and cleansed. During the brushing operation, the second hat is being beaten and
the third arm has reached the position in which a hat may be mounted upon the
block. By now again turning the frame 6, the first block with the hat thoroughly
beaten and cleansed is brought to a position where it can be removed and replaced
by another hat, the second hat undergoing at the same time a brushing operation
and the third hat the beating operation. These operations are continued until all
the hats have been operated upon. By stopping the beating mechanism and
sending the blocks through the brushing mechanism all dust, dirt or other
extraneous matter settling in the brush-like surface of the block (being forced
therein by the action of the beaters,) may be thoroughly and quickly removed
therefrom. During the rotation of the hat in the beating operation it is preferable
that the brim be held flat, and to assist the brush f, on the frame &, in supporting
the brim is placed upon the upper end of the arm A, a flat projecting strip,
preferably of wood.
It will be manifestly obvious that as to some of the details of arrangement of
parts of the machine modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting
myself to the precise construction and arrangement of all the parts as illustrated.
and hereinbefore explained; but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a machine of the character described, a solid block having an outer surface
composed of bristles upon which the hat is mounted preparatory to the heating and
cleansing operations and means for beating the hat while upon the block, substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a machine of the character described, a solid block having an outer surface
composed of bristles upon which the hat is mounted preparatory to the beating and
cleansing operations, means for beating the hat while upon the block, and means
for rotating the block, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In a machine of the character described, a solid block having an outer surface
composed of bristles upon which the hat is mounted preparatory to the beating and

page_text: cleansing operations, means for beating the hat while upon the block, means for
rotating said block and means for revolving the block while rotating, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
4. In a machine of the character described, a block, a shaft carrying said block
and consisting of two members having frictional contact, upon the upper member
of which said block is mounted, means for rotating said shaft, means for revolving
said shaft while rotating, and means for braking the rotation of the upper member
of the shaft to stop the rotation of the block, during a certain portion of the
revolution of said shaft and block, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
5. In a machine of the character described, a block having a flexible pilous
outer surface upon which the hat is mounted, reciprocatory beaters adapted to
beat against the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the block, and
means for operating said reciprocatory beaters, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
6. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface of
bristles upon which the hat is mounted, a series of reciprocatory beaters adapted
to beat against the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the block,
and means for operating said beaters, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
7. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface of
bristles upon which the hat is mounted, a series of reciprocatory beaters adapted
to beat against the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the block,
means for operating said beaters, and means for rotating said block and hat, during
the operation of the beaters, substantially as and for the purposes described.
8. In a machine of the character described, a block having a flexible pilous
outer surface upon which the hat is mounted, rotary brushes adapted to brush
the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the block, and means
for operating said rotary brushes, substantially as and for the purposes described.
9. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface of
bristles upon which the hat is mounted, a series of rotary brushes adapted to
brush the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is upon the block, and
means for operating said rotary brushes, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
10. In a machine of the character described, a block having a flexible pilous
outer surface upon which the hat is mounted, a series of rotary brushes adapted to
brush the brim and crown of the hat, while the same is on the block, means for
operating the rotary brushes, and means for rotating said block and hat, during the
rotation of said brushes, substantially as and for the purposes described.
11. In a machine of the character described, a 'block upon which the hat is
mounted, two rotary brushes adapted to brush the upper and lower faces of the hat
brim while the same is upon the block, a rotary brush consisting of a conical
portion merging into a cylindrical portion adapted to brush the crown of the hat,
means for rotating said brushes, and means for rotating the block and hat,
during the rotation of the brushes, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
12. In a machine of the character described, a series of reciprocating beaters, a
frame consisting of a series of radially disposed brackets, radially disposed shafts
each rotating in one of said brackets, a block having a flexible pilous outer surface
upon which the hat is mounted adapted to be secured to each shaft, means for
rotating said shafts and blocks, and means for revolving said frame, during the
rotation of said shafts to bring successive blocks and hats into and out of engagement
with said beaters, substantially as and for the purposes described.
13. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface,
consisting of bristles or similar brush like material upon which the crown of the
hat is supported, reciprocatory beaters adapted to beat upon the crown of said hat,
an auxiliary brush adapted to rest under the brim of the hat and a reciprocatory.

page_text: beater adapted to beat upon the upper surface of the hat brim directly over said
auxiliary brush, substantially as and for the purposes described.
14. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface,
consisting of bristles or analogous brush-like material upon which the crown of the
hat is supported, reciprocatory beaters adapted to beat upon the crown of said hat,
an auxiliary brush adapted to rest under the brim of the hat, a reciprocatory
beater adapted to beat upon the upper surface of the hat brim directly above the
auxiliary brush, means for rotating said block and hat, and means for operating
the reciprocatory beaters during the rotation of the block and hat, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
15. In a machine of the character described, a block having an outer surface of
bristles upon which the hat is mounted, a series of rotary brushes adapted to brush
the hat while the same is upon the block, means for operating said brushes, means.
for rotating said block and hat, and means for constantly supporting the rotating
brushes against the brim and crown of the hat during the rotation of said hat,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 20th day of May A.D. 1896.
CLAES ERIC WINTERROS.