A MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND SHAPING STRAW HATS OR VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE CHARACTER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hiram Edwin West, of Attleborough, in the State of
Massachusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention of
"A MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND SHAPING STRAW HATS OR VARIOUS OTHER
ARTICLES OF LIKE CHARACTER."
Sealed the 18th January 1861, and dated the 12th November 1860.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Hiram Edwin West at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declara-
tion, on the 12th November 1860, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, HIRAM EDWIN WEST, of Attleborough, in the State of
Massachusetts, of the United States of America, have made a new and useful
Invention of "A MACHINE FOR PRESSING AND SHAPING STRAW HATS OR VARIOUS
OTHER ARTICLES OF LIKE CHARACTER," and I do hereby declare that the nature
of my said Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed or con-
structed and operated, are fully described in the following Specification and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top view or
plan; Figure 2, a vertical. and longitudinal section; Figure 3, a horizontal
section; and Figure 4, a side elevation of the said machine; Figure 5 is an
inner end view of the several sections of the elastic hood expander or expan-

page_text: sive block; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the block sections; while
Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the block section carriers, to be
herein-after described.
The nature of my Invention consists in the combination of a mould and an
expansive block or its equivalent.
Also in a combination of an expansive block, a mould, and a heating chamber
(or its equivalent) so applied to the mould as to heat or aid in heating the
same for the purpose of heating the article to be pressed, and while it may be
in the act of being pressed in the mould.
5
Also in the combination of an elastic covering with the mould, the expan- 1
sive block, and machinery for effecting such movements of the several sections
of the latter as will expand the said covering while it is within a hat, and
both are within the mould, the elastic covering serving to press the hat into
close contact with the finishing surface of the mould.
Also in the combination of mechanism for connecting or latching the expan-
sive block levers to the mould with the mechanism for pressing the .block into
the mould.
Also in a combination of mechanism, by which the expansion of the block
and its advances into the mould are effected.
Also in the combination of separate mould section carriers with the mould
sections and their supporting head.
In the Drawings A represents the stand or frame of the machine, its base
plate a being constructed with parallel ways b, b, for guiding the standard or
carriage B of the expansive block, such carriage being placed on the base plate
and between and against such ways. The said carriage supports a circular disc or
head c, through whose central part or hub d a shaft C carrying a band wheel D is
screwed. The inner extremity of the said shaft is so connected with a pyramidal
frustum E as to cause the latter to move with the shaft, while such shaft may be
either advancing or retreating in the direction of its axis. Against each face of
the pyramidal frustum E a block section carrier e is placed, such carrier also
being arranged against the inner face of the head c, and connected with such
head and the frustum E by dovetail tenons and grooves, such being shown at
g, h, and i, k. To each carrier a section of the expansive block F is affixed
by means of screws or other proper devices. I make the block sections sepa-
rate from their carriers, in order that the latter may be employed from time
to time to support in place of such block sections others whose forms may vary
more or less with respect to those first used. Over and so as to encompass
these block sections or the block F which they compose, is an elastic hood or
covering G, which should be suitably fastened to the said sections; I prefer to

page_text: make this covering of a caoutchouc or some other composition or matter not
only possessing an inherent elasticity, but being waterproof and capable of
withstanding a degree of temperature equal to or considerably above that
of two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit. This covering should fit
closely.to the external surface of the block, and should correspond very nearly
in contour with that of the hollow concave surface of a mould H, which is
supported on the. stand A, and placed in front of the block F, as shown in the
Drawings. This mould.may be constructed of cast metal, and, as exhibited in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, it is extended into and surrounded by a heating vessel or
chamber I, into which steam from a steam generator or boiler may be led by
a suitable conduit, and for the purpose of heating the mould. Furthermore,
there are two hooks or latches L, L, applied to the mould, they being arranged
with respect to it as shown in Figures 1. and 2. The head c on its near face
supports the fulcra of two levers M, M, whose longer arms extend toward the
hub of the head c, and respectively enter two notches n, n, of a bell-shaped
yoke N, through the middle of which the shaft C passes. The two legs of the
yoke enter corresponding grooves made in the upper and under surfaces of the
hub. In using this machine a straw hat or bonnet to be pressed and shaped
is to be drawn closely on and so as to surround the elastic covering G. This
having been done the carriage B is to be forced forward toward the mould, so
as to cause the block with such hat so placed on its covering to enter the
mould until the latches L, L, have been elevated by and made to latch upon
the shorter arms of the levers M, M. Next, the hand wheel should be
revolved so as to put the screw shaft C in revolution, and cause its screw to
force the pyramidal frustum forward and effect an expansion of the block and
its elastic covering. While such is taking place the hand wheel will be drawn
against the yoke, which by pressing on the longer arms of its levers M, M,
will so move such levers against the hooks of their latches as to cause the
block to be pressed or forced forward into the mould. By this process the hat
on the block covering will be firmly pressed into and made to fit to the mould,
the heat of which will operate to great effect and advantage in producing a
finish of the surface of the hat. By reversing the movement of the hand
wheel the pressure will be relaxed, so as not only to enable the latches to be
unhooked from the levers M, M, but the block to be withdrawn from the
mould. The elastic covering G applied to the expansive block renders the
machine of great utility and value for the purpose for which it is designed.
I claim the combination of the mould and the expansive block or its
equivalent.
I also claim the combination of the expansive block, the mould, and a

page_text: heating chamber (or its equivalent), so applied to the mould as to heat or aid
in heating the same for the purpose as specified.
I also claim the combination of the elastic covering with the mould, the
expansive block, and machinery for effecting such movements of the block
sections as will expand the said covering, under circumstances substantially as
specified..
I also claim the combination of the mechanism for latching or connecting
the expansive block levers to the mould with the mechanism for pressing the
block into the mould.
I also claim the combination of mechanism, by which the expansion of the
block and its advance into the mould are effected.
I also claim the combination of the separate mould section carriers with
their mould sections and supporting head.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hiram Edwin West, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 24th October 1860.
HIRAM EDWIN WEST. (L.S.)