IMPROVEMENTS IN 'PARING THE CURLS OF HAT BRIMS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Carrington, of Stockport, in the County
of Chester, Hat Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
'PARING THE CURLS OF HAT BRIMS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 21st March 1879, and dated the 23rd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Carrington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd September 1878.
WILLIAM EDWARD CARRINGTON, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, Hat
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PARING' THE CURLS OF HAT BRIMS AND
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFor,"
Hitherto, the "paring" of the curls of hat brims has been effected by hand,
necessitating skilled workmen, and there has been generally an irregularity in the
form of the "paring."
Now this Invention consists in performing the operation by machinery, whereby .
the "paring" is effected in a more regular, speedy, and perfect manner than when
performed by hand, and without the necessity of skilled labour.
A suitable form of machine for carrying out my Invention is constructed as
follows:-
I provide a suitable revolving table on which the hat to be pared is placed;
I also provide a cam of a shape corresponding with the shape of the inner edge of
the curl when complete; this cam serves to guide a revolving cutter suitably placed
for "paring" the edge of the curl as the hat revolves. A foot or guide maintains,
the curl in the proper position for cutting or "paring."
The position of the cutter is adjusted by means of a set screw, and motion is
communicated to the revolving table by a worm and worm wheel, and to the
revolving cutter by a pulley and cords driven by any suitable motive power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Carrington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1879.
WILLIAM EDWARD CARRINGTON, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, Hat
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PARING' THE CURLS OF HAT BRIMS, AND
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Hitherto, the "paring " of the curls of hat brims has been effected by hand,
necessitating skilled workmen, and there has been generally an irregularity in the
form of the "paring."
Now this Invention consists in performing the operation by machinery, whereby
the "paring" is effected in a more regular, speedy, and perfect manner than when
performed by hand, and without the necessity of skilled labour.
A suitable form of machine for carrying out my Invention is constructed as
follows:-
I provide a suitable revolving table on which the hat to be "pared" is placed ;
I also provide à cam of a shape, corresponding with the shape of the inner edge of
the curl when complete; this cam serves to guide a revolving cutter suitably placed
for "paring" the edge of the curl as the hat revolves. A foot or guide maintains
the curl in the proper position for cutting or "paring."
The position of the cutter is adjusted by means of a set screw, and motion is
communicated to the revolving table by a worm and worm wheel, and to the
revolving cutter by a pulley and cords driven by any suitable motive power.
"
But to make my Invention better understood, I will proceed to describe the
same by reference. to the accompanying Drawing in which Figure 1 is a side
elevation of a suitable machine for "paring" the curls of hat brims; Figure 2, an
end view, and Figure 3, a plan of the same. Similar letters in all the Figures
represent similar parts.
A, A, is the framing of the machine; B is the revolving table, and C is the cam
of an oval shape corresponding with the shape to be given to the inner edge of the
curl; the cam C is rigidly fixed to the table B by any suitable device, and can be
removed and replaced by another cam of other shape as required; D is an expanding
block (fixed to and moving with the cam C) on which the hat to be operated on is
placed, the said block being made in four sections d, d, d, d, Figure 3 (or other
suitable number), so that it may be varied in size by means of a scroll to adapt it
to receive different sizes of hats. The table B is fixed on the shaft F, carrying the
worm wheel F¹ at its lower end, the said worm wheel being revolved by a worm
driven by a band passing over the pulleys G and H, the latter being placed on the
main shaft I provided with the clutch boxes J, K, driven from the main pulley L.
M is the revolving cutter fixed to a spindle N working in the sliding holder O,
the spindle of the cutter being driven by the pulley P, as herein-after described;
the holder O slides in the arm Q which is hinged or pivotted at Q¹ to the headstock
or carrier V, so as to allow it (and with it the holder O and cutter M) to be raised
up to a suitable height when placing a hat on the block D or removing it there-
from; R is a pivotted crutch to keep the said parts raised. The holder O is moved
forward or backward so as to adjust the cutter M by means of the rack S operated
by the pinion S'; T is a thumbscrew for fixing the holder O when set; U is a
large pulley on the main shaft I; an endless band passes over this pulley U and
over the pulleys U1, U2, and round the herein-before_described pulley P on the
cutter spindle N (the pulleys U1, U2, are not shewn in Figure 3). This band must
be of india-rubber or other suitable material or construction that will admit of it
varying in length to suit the varying position of the cutter. The headstock V has
a V groove and slides on the slide W; X is a roller on the lower portion of the
headstock V, which is kept against the edge of the revolving cam C by means of a
weight or spring on one end of the bell crank Y, the other end of the said crank
being connected by a wire or cord Y¹ (or otherwise) to the headstock V. By this
.

page_text: arrangement the cutter M is guided by the movement of the cam C, and thereby
the form or shape of the cam is given to the inner edge of the curl of the bat brim ;
Z is a presser foot to press the curl down and keep it firm, so that the cutter may
operate more effectually. The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The arm Q, holder O, and cutter M are raised and kept raised by moving the
crutch R from a to b; the hat Z previously "curled" and "ironed down" is then
placed on the block D (previously adjusted by means of its sections d, d, d, d, to the
required size), and the crutch R being moved back to the position a; the cutter M
is adjusted to the required position by means of the rack S and pinion S₁ to suit
the width of the brim of the hat and the width of curl, and then fixed by the
thumbscrew T.
The clutches J, K. are then geared, and a slow revolving motion will be given to
the table B, cam C, and block D, and consequently to the hat Z by means of the
worm wheel F, as herein-before described, and at the same time a quick revolving
motion will be communicated to the cutter M by the endless band passing over the
pulleys U, U1, U2, and P; the cutter will also be guided in its path by means of
the roller X, which is kept against the edge of the cam C by the action of the
weight or spring on the bell crank Y, the headstock V allowing of this sliding
movement of the cutter by sliding on the slide W.
When the cam C has completed an entire revolution, the "paring" of the curl of
the hat brim will be completed, and the inner edge of the "curl will as herein-
before described correspond in shape to the shape of the cam C. The clutches are
then disengaged, the cutter N is raised by the crutch R, as herein-before described,
and the hat Z removed and another hat placed on the block D, and the machine
started as before.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that what I claim is,-
Firstly. The improvements in "paring" the curls of hat brims, as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The general arrangement and construction of the machine for "paring"
the curls of hat brims, operating substantially as herein-before described, and
represented in the accompanying Drawing,
Thirdly. In a machine for "paring" the curls of hat brims, I claim the employ-
ment (either separately or in combination) of a revolving plate or table, a revolving
cutter, and a cam or its equivalent for guiding the cutter and causing it to move in
the course required to "pare" the curl of the hat brim to the required form, as
herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Carrington, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. E. CARRINGTON
(L.S.)