A New or Improved Felt Hat Body Stretching Machine.
Year: 1895

page_text: A New or Improved Felt Hat Body Stretching Machine.
We, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, ALBERT TURNER and ARNOLD TURNER, all
of Denton, near Manchester, Hatters' Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of a new or improved machine for stretching felt hat
bodies in the process of their manufacture whereby such hat bodies are stretched
with greater evenness or accuracy, and with greater rapidity than is possible by
hand stretching.
In accordance with our invention we employ a suitable frame or table fitted with
a hot water tank, and upon suitable bearings on such frame we mount a set of
levers carrying at their upper extremities semi-circular blocks, which, according to
our invention, are covered with a coating of india-rnbber or similar soft yielding
material with a, by preference roughened or spongy like surface. These levers
are drawn together by a spiral spring or rubber band, and always tend to bring
the two half blocks aforesaid into contact with each other, and so make up a
complete circular block. At a point near their upper extremities the aforesaid
levers are bent and their innermost or opposite edges engage with an inverted
V shaped block at the upper extremity of a vertical rod or shaft, which rises and
falls with the movements of a cam or eccentric on the driving shaft of the machine.
The upward movement of the said V shaped block separates the levers aforesaid
and with them the semi-circular blocks, which carrying the hat body to be stretched
effectually distend or stretch it to an extent equal to the distance they separate
from each other.
With the alternate opening and closing of the block the hat body is turned
round a fraction of a revolution so as to put an equal amount of stretch in all
portions of the hat body. This operation may be done by hand, or may be done
automatically as hereinafter described.
And in order that our said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a drawing and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.
Fig. I is an end elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of our improved machine, the
former partly in section and the latter with certain parts omitted to shew our
invention more clearly and to shew our improved machine with or without the
mechanism for rotating the hat body.
Fig. 3 is a side view of part of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate details of
the stretching blocks and the means of attaching them to their levers.
In accordance with our invention, which we will first describe as applied for
tretching hat bodies without the mechanism for turning the hat bodies round,
(A) is the table or frame of our improved machine embodying a hot water
auk (B). (C) is a shaft which extends from side to side of the machine and
receives motion from the driving pulley (E) through the bevil wheels (F), (F').
On this shaft is mounted an elliptical or egg shaped cam (D) keyed to and
apable of revolving therewith.
Upon the side of the tank (B) are mounted the brackets (G) in which is
mounted and capable of working up and down therein the square iod (H). At
he lower extremity of this rod (H) is a curved or "anchor" shaped foot (I)

page_text: which is in a line with and always rests upon the periphery of the cam (D)
and at the upper extremity of the said rod is a triangular or wedge shaped
block (J) (hereinafter called the " separating block") which is connected to
the said rod by the screw (K) which adjust the block in relation to the
rod, and adjusts it in relation to two arms or levers (L) which are constantly
drawn together and in contact with the recessed or flanged edges of said
separating block by a spring (N). The said levers (L) are mounted
centres (M) and pass through opening (L') in the table top. On the upper
extremity of each of the said levers (L) is a semi-circular metal block (Q) upon
the curved face of which is a coating or sleeve of india-rubber, by preference
moulded direct on to the cap, and left with a roughened or spongy exterior
surface.
on
These blocks when put together, with their flat faces opposite each other, form
a complete circular block, and it is upon this block that the hat body to be
stretched is placed.
"
The action of our improved machine so far as hereinbefore described is as
follows: Revolving motion is imparted to the shaft (C) from the pulley (E).
The cam (D) being in a horizontal position when the blocks (Q) are nearest
together and the rod (H) and block (J) in their lowest position, the effect of the
cam's action in revolving is to raise the rod (H) and with it the separating
block (J) which pushing its.
66 nose between the two levers (L), (L), causes the
two levers and blocks to separate to an extent equal to the diverging angles of
the block sides, and the elevation of the rod (H) by the cam (D), but as the cam
comes to a horizontal position again, and the rod (H) and block (J) descend, the
levers (L) once more approach each other and bring the half portions of the
stretching block together.
When the blocks (Q) are nearest together the felt hat body to be stretched is
placed upon them and as the block opens and closes, or the blocks (Q) advance
and recede to and from each other the felt hat body is given a slight turn so as to
secure the most effectual and equal stretching of all the parts thereof.
To effect this movement automatically and to ensure of the hat body being
turned round equal distances for every stretch of the blocks, we employ the
arrangement shewn more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 and at the left hand end of
Fig. 2, which consists of a hollow circular stand (R), the upper part of which is
of conical formation and extends into the hat body (S).
At equal distances
apart and mounted in small brackets (T) on the said stand (R) is a series of
spring blades or clamps (R') with roughened or rubber gripping faces, which as
the edges of the hat body (S) is placed upon the blocks (Q) clip or binds such
edge against the stand under the upward pressure of spiral springs (V).
The said stand (R) is kept central by the flange (R2) of the machine top and to
enable it to move freely is mounted upon anti-friction rollers (R³) (see Fig. 1).
Upon the lower and outer periphery of this stand (R) is a set of ratchet
teeth (R) and more or less tangent to one side of the stand is a slide (U),
carrying a ratchet tooth or pawl (W), held in gear with the ratchet teeth (R¹) by
a spring.
The slide (U) is mounted in a dovetail groove and is capable of moving to and
fro for impelling the pawl (V) against the teeth (R) and of so imparting to the
stand a fraction of a turn for each forward stroke. The slide (U) is linked to
a lever (W) centered at (X). This lever at its lower and free extremity engages
with a double cam (Y) mounted on the shaft (Y') driven by the bevil wheel (Y²)
from the shaft (C) at the same rate and speed as the cam (D). When the
cam (D) comes to its horizontal position the free end of the lever (W) has been
forced out of the vertical to an extent equal to the length of one
"claw or tooth
of the cam (Y), and just at the instant when the blocks (Q) are nearest together,
and the hat body fits slackly thereon, such lever end slips off the "claw" and
under the pull of a strong spiral spring (Y³) and weight (Y*) regains its normal
position, and in so doing causes the slide (U) and pawl (V) to move forward, and

page_text: turn the stand (R) and hat body (S) a fraction of a revolution, ready for the next
stretch. The blocks (Q) opening twice for one revolution of the cam (D) it will
be obvious that the other claw of the cam (Y) operates for the next turning of the
stand and hat body.
The amount of traverse imparted to the stand may be varied by altering the
fulcrum of the lever (W), or the size of the cam (Y).
To lock the stand during the operation of stretching, a click or pawl set in an
opposite direction to the pawl (V) may be arranged on the opposite side of the
stand.
As soon as the hat has been turned a complete revolution and it is desired to
remove the stretched hat body to make way for the next hat body, it is necessary
to release the edge thereof from the clamps (R) and to this end we employ a
hoop (Z) of such a diameter as to overhang the free ends of the clamps (R) as
illustrated, and to such hoop is connected a series of rods (Z) which pass through
openings in the machine top as illustrated and are connected to cross bars (72).
which in turn are connected to a boss (Z³) mounted centrally upon a sleeve (Z) on
the rod (H). This sleeve (Z) forms parts of a bracket on the tank side and carries
a switch block (Z) with handles (Z) resting on the flange or collar (Z). The
underface of the boss (Z³) to which the cross bars (Z2) are connected has an
inclined face corresponding to that on the switch block (Z).
It will now be
obvious that on turning the "switch" block (Z) to the right, or in the direction
of the arrow (Z), the cross bars (Z), rods (Z) and hoop (Z) will all be lowered,
and this latter pressing on the free ends of the spring clamps (R') which it
overhangs as aforesaid, causes such springs to tilt up and release their hold on the
hat body. Until the "switch" block (Z) is reversed, the hoop (Z) holds the
spring clamps clear of the hat body and thus enables the hat body to be changed,
and the edge to be released and re-nipped with great facility.
The position of the "switch block (Z) and the length of its handle (Z)
permits of the same being actuated by the knees and thus leaves the operator's
hands free to manipulate the hat bodies.
The peculiar rough surface of the india-rubber on the half portions of the
stretching block, is very effective in the action of stretching the felt hat bodies as
it affords a firm grip on the surface of the felt, and is sufficiently yielding to
prevent the felt being damaged or unduly stretched.
To effect the stretching of the felt hat bodies gradually, or by degrees from the
"tip" to the wider portions, or to stretch hats of different sizes, we provide our
machine with interchangeable and different sized blocks, and we duplicate the
machine as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2 providing, say the levers on the right
hand side of the machine with blocks suitable for stretching the "tip" of the hat
or small sizes of hat bodies, and the levers on the left hand side of the machine with
blocks suitable for stretching the crown or wider portions of the hat, or larger sizes
of bats.
If desired the movement of the stand (R) may be continuous with a frictional or
other similar device to impart motion to the hat body at the proper time.
When it is preferred to use our improved machine without the automatic
mechanism for turning the hat body the table top will be formed as seen at the
right hand end of Fig. 2.
The mechanism for operating the blocks at one end of the machine is the same
at the other end for operating the other blocks, the driving shaft (C) operating
both. The blocks are, by preference timed to open and close alternately, that is
to say, when the two half portions of one block are furtherest apart, the two half
portions of the other block are nearest together, thus enabling a single operator to
attend to both blocks, or for two operators to work uniformly.
In lien of the spring (N) an endless rubber band may be passed around the
levers (L) to draw them together, preferably at a point above the table top.
The fixing of the blocks (Q) is effected by a tapered dovetail groove (Q¹) fitting
on to tapered dovetail ribs (L³) on the levers (L). To effectually mould the india

page_text: rubber on the metal blocks (Q) the curved surfaces of such blocks are, by
preference serrated or grooved circumferentially, with the grooves slightly undercut
on the side nearest the machine.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. In felt hat body stretching machines the use and employment of levers (L)
carrying the half portions of a stretching block and actuated by separating
block (J), rod (H), revolving egg-shaped cam (D), and spring (N) substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
2nd. For rotating the hat body in felt hat body stretching machines the use and
employment of the stand (R) carrying spring clamps (R') or their equivalent, and
formed with ratchet teeth (R) in combination with pawl (W), slide (U), lever (WI),
and double cam (Y), or any mere modification thereof, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In. felt hat body stretching machines the combination of hoop (Z),
rods (Z), cross bars (Z2), sleeve (Z³), boss (Z), "switch" block (Z) all mounted
and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. The semi-circular blocks (Q) covered with india-rubber, cork or similar
yielding material and provided with tapered dovetail grooves (Q') substantially as
and for the purposes set forth and illustrated.
5th. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting our improved felt
hat body stretching machine substantially as set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1895.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.