Improvements in Hat Pouncing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hat Pouncing Machines.
I, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, of Daubury, Fairfield County, Connecticut,
United States of America, Engineer and Machinist, 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 relates to useful improvements in hat finishing or pouncing
machinery, and is designed to treat a large variety of hats, both as to size and
quality; and has for its object to provide a durable and light running machine
which will not require the services of a skilled operator; to provide mechanism
whereby the speed of the pouncer-head may be regulated in accordance with the
grade of the hat to be treated and the quality of the work desired; to provide an
automatic and constantly increasing tension whereby any desired pressure of the
pouncer upon the hat may be secured; to provide mechanism by which the pouncer
lever and head may be elevated to accommodate different sizes and heights of hats;
to provide means whereby the line of travel of the pouncer over the hat is both
circular and oblique with relation to the center thereof, thus bringing the entire
surface of the sand paper into play during the pouncing of each hat; and to
provide suitable means whereby the hat may be secured to the lathe, as will later
more fully be explained.
Upon the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification, the
same letters of reference denote like or corresponding parts upon the several
figures, and of which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are left and right side elevations respectively of my machine
complete.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical cross sections of the machine, looking in opposite
directions.
Figures 5 and 7 is a front sectional elevation of the machine showing two
positions of the pouncing head upon the hat, and a diagram plan view of
the same.
Figure 6 is a central cross section of the pouncing head.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged detailed sectional views of the tension mechanism
whereby the pressure of the pouncer upon the hat body is regulated.
Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 show detail parts of the pouncer lever, head and
clamping device.
Figure 16 is a sectional elevation of the clutch on shaft V.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of bracket G, which supports the speed regulating
mechanism for the head.
Figure 18 is a plan view of the machine complete.
Figures 19 and 20 show modified forms of heads which are used for different
grades of hats, Figure 19 showing a roll provided with pouncing material upon
its periphery, and Figure 20 a pouncing pad provided with a reciprocating
movement.
Figure 21 is a central sectional elevation similar to Figure 5, the lathe, however,
being in a different position.
Figures 22, 23 and 24 are detailed views of the oval lathe mechanism.
The machine is constructed having a suitable frame work in which is journaled
the driving shafts A and B, which shafts are operatively connected by bevel gears
as shown. Power is communicated to the shaft D from the driving shaft. A
..מ
017

page_text: through intermediate gears E; and through intermediate gears, shafts and worms
power is communicated to the horizontal feed shaft F. Shaft D is suitably
mounted in the frame at its upper end and in a bracket G at its lower end; said
bracket being secured to the frame at opposite sides and serving to support the feed
regulating mechanism for the pouncing head. Shaft D carries a disk wheel whose
lower horizontal face is brought into engagement with the small frictional wheel
mounted on shaft H, and splined thereto so as to be rotated with such shaft, and
yet have an end wise movement thereon. Said wheel upon the shaft H is also
provided with an elongated hub as shown, which latter extends through a hole
provided in the upper end of the slide I and is secured thereto by means of the
collar as shown. This arrangement allows said friction wheel to freely rotate,
while its movement over the horizontal face of the disk wheel, to and from the
center thereof to regulate the speed of the pouncer head, is controlled by the
crank J through the medium of the rod K, the rear end of which is operatively
connected to the before mentioned guided slide I (see detail Figures 2 and 17)
which moves said small friction wheel on shaft H. Upon the shaft H is keyed a bevel
pinion which meshes with and drives another pinion on the short vertical
shaft L; and, attached to said vertical shaft L is a short flexible shaft M which is
connected with the shaft N in the pouncer lever O and serves to drive the
pouncing head.
It will be seen from the foregoing, that if it is desired to either increase or
decrease the speed of the pouncing head, the operator has simply to manipulate the
crank J, a movement of which towards the front, as in Figure 2, will increase
the speed of the pouncer head, while a movement towards the rear will have
the opposite effect. This change of speed essential in changing from one grade
.
of hats to another.
Upon the feed shaft F I place an angle arm Q which is provided with a cam
groove. R in the hub thereof. Said arm as will be seen is splined to its shaft and
is subject to a sliding movement thereon by reason of its cam groove R engaging a
terminal pin S upon a stud made fast to the frame of the machine. The purpose
of this angle arm
to support the pouncer lever and head. and control them in one
of their movements. It will thus be seen that any rotary movement of the shaft
will be imparted to the angle arm, and that the sliding movement of the arm by
reason of said rotary movement, and the engagement of its cam groove with the
before mentioned terminal pin, will be communicated to the pouncer head operating
upon the hat. The feed shaft F begins its slow rotary movement from the position
shown in Figure 2 (see also Figures 5 and 12) in which views it will be observed
that the rotary pouncer head begins its operation central with the center of the
top of the hat crown. The shaft F in its movement rotates to the right, viewing
Figure 5 (see also Figure 2) carrying with it the angle arm, pouncer head, lever, etc.
As said head travels over upon the side of the hat, it will be observed, (see Fig. 2)
that its center has been drawn rearward from the center of the hat by reason of
the connection between the cam groove in the angle arm, and the stud, as previously
described. It will also be understood that the practical amount of work of the
head is increased upon the sides of the hat crown since the head is then cutting
away from its center. This is advantageous since the hat requires more work upon
its sides than upon the top and quarters.
The head, of which I show modified forms, is mounted in the hinged pouncing
lever O and receives its power from the flexible shaft M through the short shaft N,
which is housed within a shank i of the head. This shaft is provided at one end
with a knuckle joint, by means of which the flexible shaft is connected thereto, and
at the opposite end carries a bevel pinion meshing with the bevel pinion of the
head. The shank i of the pouncing head is fitted into a bore of the lever O and
loosely secured therein, which construction permits an oscillatory movement of the
head and shank, whereby the head may adapt its position to the conformation of the
hat. In order to steady the pouncer and prevent it from tilting while pouncing
the side of a hat, I employ a spring T, the torsional action of which operates to

page_text: keep the working face of the pouncer head parallel with the surface of the
hat crown while pouncing the quarters and sides thereof, said spring T being
connected at one end to a collar upon the pouncer lever, and the other end to
a stud upon the pouncer head. The tension upon this spring may be adjusted at
will to accommodate the shape of the bat crowns, by the collar just mentioned.
In connection with the head and its driving shaft is a rotary brush U which serves
to free the hat of its dirt.
In order to properly adjust the pouncer head, and its lever O to the various,
heights of hats, I have provided the following means, viz.: upon the angle arm Q:
is secured a bracket provided with arms a and b (see Figs. 1 and 11). To the arm b
is pivotly connected an operating lever c shown in Figures 1, 11 and 15, which is
provided with orifices to receive the hub f of the pouncing lever, and fulcrum pin,
respectively, for the purpose of permitting a lengthwise movement of the operating
Said lever is further provided with a stud around which is coiled a spring
which abuts against the arm a, the whole being provided with a series of notches.
in which a small pin of the lever may be seated. It will be seen that the forward.
movement of said lever c will disengage the pin from its seat in the arm a, after
which said lever may be tilted on its fulcrum pin, so as to adjust the hinged
connection of the pouncer lever O to and from the feed shaft F.
lever c.
The angle arm Q is provided with an oblong opening, (see Fig. 2) and fitted
loosely therein is a sliding block to which is fixed a stationary shaft h, forming a
fulcrum for the pouncer lever. In order to counterbalance the weight of the
pouncer lever O, and secure any required pressure of the pouncing head upon the
hat at the beginning of an operation, and to force the pouncer from the hat
at the completion of the operation, I have provided mechanism as shown in,
Figure 11, consisting of a torsional spring e, one end of which is secured to a collar
arranged upon the hub of the pouncing lever, and the other end of which is
secured to the lever y provided with a hub extending around the fixed shaft ½ and
meeting the hub f of the pouncer lever about midway, the spring being disposed to
encircle the two. In order to retain the desired tension of the spring, I have fitted
to the lever g in a suitable guide-way (see Fig. 13) a spring actuated slide, shown
in Figure 14, having a lug which engages the teeth of the ratchet fixed in shaft h.
It will be seen that by the handle the lever g can be turned in either direction and
can be secured at any point by means of the above mentioned locking slide.
By turning the handle to the left, as shown in Figure 1, the tension of the spring
is increased, thus lessening the pressure of the pouncer upon the hat; whereas by
turning the handle in the opposite direction, the tension is decreased, and the
pressure upon the hat is increased. The above means of adjustment dispense with
a multiplicity of weights, and insure an even and accurate adjustment of the
pouncer upon the hat.
From the above description it will be seen that as the pouncer descends from the
tip to the side crown of the hat, there is a tendency upon the part of the counter-
balancing device above described to decrease the pressure upon the hat owing to
the fact that the weight of the pouncing head, already partially overcome by the
counterbalancing device, is no longer exerted on the hat in a vertical plane;
whereas the pressure should be increased since the hat requires more work upon the
side than the tip, and therefore I have provided automatic means (see Figs. 5, 6
and 7) for increasing the pressure as desired upon the side crown of the hat as the
pouncer head descends from the tip along the side crown thereof in its operation,
tbe construction being as follows: on the vertical shaft B is a worm transmitting
power to a gear C upon the shaft V, which is hung in a bracket p near one end,
and is journaled in a suitable bearing in the bracket G at the other end. The
gear C which is loose upon the shaft is provided with a hub having an internal
clutch face forming one member of the clutch, of which the other member is shown
atk and is splined to the shaft by a key as shown. This clutch forms the
operating connection between the shaft and the driving mechanism. The extremity
of the member k of the clutch is loosely journaled in the end of the sleeve / which

page_text: is splined to the sleeve m loose upon the shaft V and having an arm n..
The
sleeve is provided with a cam groove upon its periphery to receive a guide-pin o,
said pin being firmly held in a projection from the bracket p. The sleeve m is
loose upon the shaft and may be rocked in either direction by means of the rod
(see Figs. 8, 9 and 10). Said rod is connected with a lug on the arm r, of the
shaft F. It will thus be seen that when the arm r is elevated to a vertical position
as in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the rod will be forced down, and by means of its connection
with the arm n, will operate the latter together with its sleeve, and the sleeve
mounted thereon, thereby causing the engagement of the clutch members. At the
lower end of the rod q is suspended a weight which serves to counterbalance the
weight of the bifurcated arm r and the pouncer lever supported therein while
descending in their operation. The connection between the rod q and the arm n
(see Figs. 2, 9 and 10) consists of a sleeve loosely secured within a slot of said
arm n, and is provided with a hole through which the rod q is free to move
vertically. Upon the rod q, above and below the sleeve secured to the slot within
the arm n are secured adjustable collars s which engage said sleeve and operate the
arm n at each movement of the before mentioned rod q.
Referring to Figures 2, 9 and 10, it will be clear that the adjustable collars s do
not fit snugly against the sleeve and may be set at any desired distance apart, thus
allowing the latter a slight movement while the rod travels a considerable distance,
the arm n of the sleeve m being engaged only at the extremities of the movement
of the rod q.
Upon the shaft V, is a sleeve t secured in place by a set screw, and upon this
sleeve is mounted a winding drum 4 which supports a loosely mounted wheel or
disk v provided in its periphery with a groove. A weight or enlargement also
forms a part of this disk as shown at the bottoms of Figures 8, 9 and 10. The
face of the winding drum u is provided with a spiral groove for the reception of a
torsional spring w, one end of which is secured to the loosely mounted wheel, and
the opposite end of which is secured to the lug of the winding drum, whereby the
only connection between the wheel and winding drum is through said spring. At
one end of the drum is an opening forming the female member of the clutch, and
adjacent thereto is a sleeve a slidably mounted upon the shaft V and having at one
end the male member of the clutch, said sleeve being provided with a collar
having a groove in its periphery to receive a roller (see dotted lines, Figures 1
and 2) upon a lever z. The lower end of this lever is hinged to a rod suitably
secured to the base of the framework, and the other end of the lever is attached
to a sleeve a having a pin fitting in a groove cam 6¹ upon the rock shaft e¹ which
is parallel with the shaft F. It will be seen that a partial rotation of this rock
shaft c', and the cam b¹ will operate the sleeve a' and its lever, bearing the roller
which engages the collar y of the clutch sleeve e, thereby causing the engagement
and disengagement of the clutch members, thus making or breaking the connection
between the shaft V and the winding drum u.
y
A small chain d' is secured at one end to the pouncing lever O, passes over a
recessed wheel on the shaft F, extends downward and around within the groove of
the before mentioned wheel or disk v and is secured to the said wheel as shown (see
Figs. 9 and 10). The function of this chain is to communicate pressure to the
pouncer lever from the winding drum as follows: with the parts of the machine in
the positions shown in Figure 2, the several clutches being connected, the rotation
of the shaft V will communicate motion to the winding drum, thereby winding the
torsional spring w causing an increased pressure which will be conveyed to the
pouncing head through the medium of the disk and chain which latter will be
wound upon the disk. This pressure will obviously increase with the rotation of
shaft V and the drum, by reason of connections as previously described, and the
spring will tighten until the completion of the pouncing operation, when the arm r
will engage the stud el on. the trip lever (see Fig. 4) thereby disengaging the
latter from the notched disk g' of the shaft c', when the said shaft will by means of
a weight secured thereon, rock back to its normal position, as previously described.

page_text: The connection of the lever z with the cam a' on shaft c¹ will cause the disengage-
ment of the clutch sleeve a from the winding drum, the sleeve of the latter
allowing the retraction of the before mentioned spring w. During this time the
other clutch k on the same shaft is being opened by the connection of the rod q
with the arm n, whereby at the completion of each operation these parts become
idle and the gear C revolves loosely upon its shaft V. The function of the
enlargement on the disk v is to insure the retraction of the disk as the pouncing
lever is raised on the beginning of the pouncing operation. It is necessary to
provide for different heights of hats and yet retain the same relative tension for
each, and it will be seen that when the lever is raised and the head is placed on
top of the hat, the weight of the disk will be sufficient to take up any slack in the
chain and maintain the winding drum u at a certain position with relation to the
disk v.
In order to prevent the shaft V from retraction at the moment of the disengage-
ment of the clutch members, I have placed at one end of said shaft a friction clutch
(see Figs. 8 and 16) consisting of a housing which is secured by a set-screw to
said shaft, and a disk W fitting within the housing and having inclined notches on
its periphery, forming between the disk and housing a series of recesses in which
are arranged small notches. The disk W is provided with a hub extending
outward from the shaft and keyed to a stationary part of the framework, whereby
the disk is fixed and the clutch just described will allow the shaft to revolve in one
direction only.
In order to revolve the bat block in an oval manner to insure the pouncer head
operating smoothly upon the surface thereof, I have devised an oval lathe which
will be understood with reference to Figures 5, 7, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Said lathe
consists of a slide X having dovetail surfaces upon the top and bottom thereof,
arranged at right angles to each other; the lower dovetail engaging the disk
secured to the vertical driving shaft B and the upper dovetail engaging a block X",
which in turn is engaged by the center shifting slide Y". Within the center of
the slide X is secured a vertical spindle X to which is secured the mechanism
(which will be later described) for carrying the hat and hat block. The action
of the oval lathe will be best understood with reference to Figure 7, in which
view it is apparent that the center of the block is continually shifting, (by reason
of the dovetail slide just described) in such a manner that the side surface of the
hat follows around at one side in practically the same position, with relation to the
center of the shaft B, thus avoiding the necessity of the pouncer being forced in
and out by the oval side surfaces of the hat block. In connection with the above
oval lathe, I employ automatic mechanism to operate the slide Y" in said lathe,
which consists of the cam upon the rock-shaft F, which cam engages a slide-
rack operatively connected with pinion upon the rock-shaft k. Upon this
shaft is a cam engaging a pin in one end of lever 1, which is pivoted to the
machine near its center, its opposite end being connected to the slide Y".
These connections will throw the lathe off from the center any predetermined
distance.
For the purpose of securely retaining the hat upon the lathe, I employ a pair
of jaws m which are fitted in ways of a plate n. Beneath this plate is mounted
an operating plate o' having a scroll p' upon its upper face to engage lugs of the
plate n. By means of this scroll plate p' said clamping jaws are drawn inward
against the action of the spring q'; thus the jaws are tightly drawn in, clamping
the hat body as shown (see Fig. 12) against the block and securing it firmly
thereto. To ensure the proper placement of the block within the hat crown,
I employ a spring actuated plate which engages the face of the block independent
of the hat body and supports said block as desired.
The operation of the machine is as follows: beginning with the parts in the
positions shown in Figure 2 the machine is started by the manipulation of the
crank J which operates the clutch of the driving wheel on shaft A. Power is
communicated from said driving shaft A to the shaft B and the vertical shaft D.

page_text: f
Daid shaft D serves to drive the pouncing head, through the disk upon said shatt,
its connecting disk and shaft H, and vertical shaft I which is connected to flexible
shaft M of the pouncer lever; the flexible shaft in turn drives the shaft i in the
shank of the lever and upon said shaft is a bevel pinion to engage that of the
rotary pouncing pad. The feed shaft is driven from the shaft A as follows:
a worm upon the vertical shaft D meshes with a gear son a horizontal shaft
having a worm; said worm meshes with a gear on a vertical shaft & and this in turn
has at its upper end a pinion, driving the pinion v mounted upon a clutch sleeve
of the feed shaft F. This sleeve is engaged by a slidable clutch member w
which is operated by its lever connection a¹ with cam y' upon the rock shaft c'.
When these clutches are engaged, slow rotary movement is imparted to the feed
shaft F, which carries with it the angle arm Q, pouncer lever O, etc. When the
head has descended and completed its work, the lever thereof will engage the
pin e of trip lever f¹which is fulcrumed on shaft F and the opposite end will be
disengaged from the notch in disk g' on shaft c¹, when its weight will return it to
its normal position, and by connections of cam & ou said shaft, and lever z
connecting the same with the winding drum, mechanism will automatically release
the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A hat pouncing machine comprising a rotary oval lathe, a moveable pouncing
head, a lever supporting the same, automatic means for carrying the head from the
tip to the brim in a single oblique line, and means for regulating the movement of
the head upon the hat.
2. A hat pouncing machine comprising a rotary oval lathe and means for
adjusting said oval, a rotary and oblique movable pouncer head and means for
automatically regulating and operating the same.
3. In a hat pouncing machine, the combination with a rotary lathe, of a rotary
pouncer head and automatic means for moving the head from the tip to the brim
in a single oblique straight line over the surface of the hat; substantially as
described.
4. A hat pouncing machine comprising a rotary lathe, a pouncing head, a lever
supporting the same, and a reciprocating and oscillating rigid arm to which said
pouncing lever is hinged, the combined movement of said arm imparting to said
lever a movement in one direction; substantially as described.
5. A bat pouncing machine comprising a rotary lathe, a moveable pouncer head,
a lever to which said pouncer head is attached, a rock shaft on the machine, and an
angle arm slidable on said rock shaft, but oscillating therewith, said pouncing lever
being hinged to said angle arm; substantially as described.
6. The combination with a rotary lathe of a hat pouncing machine, of a rotary
and obliquely movable pouncer head, and means for operating the same comprising
an adjusting device whereby the speed of said head on its axis may be varied;
substantially as described.
7. The combination with a rotary lathe, of an angle arm, a cam attached thereto,
a bracket and stationary pin to engage said cam, a feed shaft upon which said cam
is slidably mounted and axially fixed, with means for operating said feed shaft, and
a pouncer lever carried by and adjustable upon the angle arm; substantially as
described.
8. A hat pouncing machine comprising a head, and a feed shaft and mechanism
for operating the head including an angle arm slidable mounted and axially fixed
on the feed shaft, a slide block fitted in a slot of the arm, a pouncer lever hinged
thereto, an adjustable mechanism interposed between the lever and arm whereby
the weight of the arm is counterbalanced, all substantially as described.
9. A hat pouncing machine comprising a feed shaft, an angle arm slidable
mounted and axially fixed thereon, a slide block fitted into a slot of the arm, and

page_text: an operating lever connected with said bracket and with the hub of the pouncing
lever to vertically adjust the latter; substantially as described.
10. In a hat pouncing machine, the combination with a pouncer head, of a driven
shaft D carrying a disk, operative connections between said disk and said head
comprising a friction wheel engaging with said disk, a slide carrying the friction
wheel provided with an attached rod, and an operating lever whereby the position
of the slide and wheel are changed with relation to the disk; substantially as
described.
11. The combination with the main shaft, of the lathe shaft B having a worm
secured thereto, a longitudinal shaft V carrying a loose gear having a clutch face,
an opposing clutch member k splined upon the longitudinal shaft, a sleeve
connected with said member k, a cam carried by the sleeve of the moveable clutch
member and engaging a stationary pin and operative mechanism for shifting said
sleeve and clutch member; substantially as described.
12. The combination of a rotary lathe, of a pouncer head, and a pouncing lever
provided with a base to receive the shank of the pouncer head, with a yielding
connection between the pouncer head and the lever, and means for operating the
pouncing head; substantially as described.
13. The combination with a rotary lathe, of a pouncing lever having a collar
and provided with a base to receive the shank of a pouncing head, the pouncer
head mounted therein and provided with a stud, a spring coiled upon the lever and
having one end secured to the said stud and the other end connected to the
collar on the lever, and means for operating the pouncer head; substantially as
described.
14. The combination with a pouncing lever carrying a pouncing head, of a shaft
to which said lever is hinged and provided with a ratchet, a lever g journaled upon
the shaft a spring actuated slide mounted upon the lever and provided with a lug
to engage the ratchet, a torsional spring connecting the lever to a collar upon the
pouncing lever, and means for operating the pouncer head carried by the lever;
substantially as described.
15. A hat pouncing machine comprising a pouncer lever carrying a pouncing
bead, a shaft V and means for driving the same, a disk and drum loosely mounted
thereon, a chain connecting said disk with the pouncing lever, a spring coiled upon
the drum and connecting the same with the disk, and mechanism for connecting the
drum with the shaft; substantially as described.
16. A hat pouncing machine comprising a pouncer lever, a shaft V carrying a
clutch member a, a sleeve upon the hub of said clutch, a rock shaft F carrying a
cam, a sleeve surrounding said cam, a lever connecting the sleeve of the cam with
the sleeve of the hub of said clutch member, a winding drum carrying the other
member of the clutch, a disk carried by the shaft V, means for connecting the
drum and the disk, and a chain connecting the disk with the pouncing lever;
substantially as described.
17. The combination with a rotary lathe and a driving shaft, of a pouncer
lever, a pouncer head carried thereby and provided with tension mechanism
connecting said pouncer head and lever with the driving shaft, whereby the
pressure of the pouncer upon the hat may be increased as the pouncer descends;
substantially as described.
18. A hat pouncing machine comprising a lathe, a pouncing lever, a pouncer
head carried by said lever, a shaft V with means for operating the same, a sleeve
mounted on said shaft, a drum carried by said sleeve, a spring fitting a peripheral
groove in the drum and secured at one end to the latter and the opposite
end to a disk, said disk mounted upon the shaft and flexibly connected to the
pouncer lever, and a weight carried by said disk; substantially as described.
19. A hat pouncing machine comprising a driving shaft A, a pouncing lever
with operating connections between the two, a main driving wheel mounted upon
said shaft, a and having a clutch face, a slidable clutch member carried by the
shaft, a lever with operative connections between it and the slidable clutch member,

page_text: a rock shaft provided with an operating crank J', and operative connections
between the rock shaft and the lever, a cam on the rock shaft and a fixed pin
co-operating therewith whereby the movement of the machine is controlled;
substantially as described.
20. The combination with a lathe having a slide and a lever connection therewith,
of a shaft k mounted in the frame work, a cam on said shaft, a pinion carried by
said shaft, a rack engaging said pinion, a feed shaft, an adjustable cam carried by
the feed shaft and connected to the rack, and a pouncing lever with suitable
driving connections; substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of June 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.