Improvements in Felt Hat Body Planking Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Felt Hat Body Planking Machines.
We, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, ALBERT TURNER, and ARNOLD TURNER, all
of Denton, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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 relates to machinery for planking felt hat bodies, of the type in
which sets of rollers are employed and between which rollers, after being immersed
in hot water the hat bodies are placed and treated. Our invention consists
essentially in mounting the rollers in brackets, one or both of which may be moved
to the other so that the distance between the two sets of rollers may be increased
or decreased as required, and of mounting around each set of rollers a number of
stout india-rubber rings arranged at a slight angle in opposite directions. Each set
of rollers is provided with a spur pinion gearing with a toothed driving wheel or
worm common to each set.
The hat body to be felted being placed between the rollers the rubber rings
owing to their angular setting (which in effect is the same as a screw) advance
the hat body towards one end of the machine and there deliver it onto a channel or
groove placed to receive it ready to be again dipped in water and introduced
between the rollers if required.
And in order that our said invention shall be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings
illustrating our improved machine and will now proceed to describe the same with
the assistance of the various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of our improved
machine.
On Sheet Two, Figs. 3 and 4 are end and rear views respectively.
In accordance with our invention (A), (A') are two sets of rollers for planking
or felting the hat bodies, the bearings of which are on or in the brackets or
frames (B), (B) as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3. Brackets (B) are formed
solid with the end frames of the machine, whilst brackets (B¹) are formed separate
and are capable of sliding on the bends of the end frames to and from the stationary
bracket (B) in a manner which will keep the rollers (A.) at all times equi-distant
from the rollers (A').
(C), (C) are sets of stout india-rubber rings, each encirclin two rollers and let
into grooves formed in such rollers.
The rings in the rollers (A) are slightly inclined to the left and the rings in the
rollers (A) are slightly inclined to the right. The bearings of the upper rollers of
each set are supported in slide blocks (A) from the tension screws (A³) so that
the tension of the rings (C, C) may be adjusted. The lower roller of each pair
of rollers is provided with a spur pinion (D) which gears with the pinion (E) con-
nected with the driving pulley (F) through the intermediate and change spur
wheel (G) on the stud (H).
The operation of felting by our improved machine may be described as follows.-
The rollers (A), (A') and rings (C, C¹) being set in motion by the wheels (F), (G),
(E), (D) and (D') and the degree of pressure to be exercised upon the hat bodies
having been determined by the spacing of the two brackets (B) and (B), the hat
body to be felted which has been previously treated in the usual manner in the
trough (L) is placed in roll form (with or without the usual protecting cloth) in
the channel (1). The hat body being then advanced (point or tip forward)

page_text: between the two first sets of rubber rings the peculiar setting of such rings causes
them to nip the hat body and draw it forward between them and pass it on to the
other rings which in turn carry it to the other end of the machine. Each set of
rings being driven at the same speed the hat body has no tendency to either fall or
rise but passes centrally between the rings. The rings in the respective sets of
rollers nearest the inlet end of the machine are slightly further away from each
other than the rings at the opposite end (the grooves in the rollers being deeper to
allow of this) for the purpose of affording the rings a better chance of getting hold
of the hat body as it enters the machine. This graduated setting of the rings is
advantageous in that it only allows the planking and felting to be done gradually
and thus saves the felt. As the hat body issues from between the rubber rings it
is received by the channel (J) and on being treated in the trough (L) may be again
introduced into the machine if required.
The effect of this treatment is obviously better than that produced by the hat
bodies coming in direct contact with the rollers, as the rubber rings are more
yielding to the felt. Furthermore the hat bodies are more effectually felted
as the rings being flexible act upon a greater portion of the surface of the hat
bodies.
Instead of a series of rubber rings we may employ endless bands of sheet rubber
with spiral ribbings, or hempen ropes or other suitable material which will act in
the same or a similar manner to the rubber rings aforesaid.
Instead of surrounding a set of rollers the rubber rings may be made smaller
and arranged around each roller separately but this would not in our opinion be so
effective as the arrangement previously described.
To keep the hat bodies moist whilst between the rings we employ a perforated
pipe (M) situated above the rollers and communicating with the hot water
trough (L).
The supply of water is forced up by an injector (N) or by a pump or other
suitable means.
The spacing of the brackets (B) and (B¹), is effected by the screws (0) and to
allow of this spacing the teeth of the gear wheels are either made slightly deeper
than usual or the wheel (G) is interchangeable with a larger or smaller wheel, the
centre of the wheel being movable. The driving may be effected by worm, rope or
other suitable gearing.
To expedite the operation of felting two machines may be arranged side by side,
with the inlets of the two machines at opposite ends and with the hot water
trough (L) formed with two end tables (L').
It will be obvious that in a compound form of our machine there may be sets of
three or four rollers, and if desired one set acting in conjunction with sets on either
side.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.-
1st. In felt hat body planking machines the use and employment of sets of
rollers surrounded by endless india-rubber rings or their equivalent and mounted in
adjustable brackets substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of parts and alternative contrivances
constituting the felting or planking machine hereinbefore described and illustrated
on the accompanying drawing.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.