US1288762A - Mechanism for making hats. - Google Patents

Description

J. J. TRACY. MECHANISM FOR MAKING HA APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. I9

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

f Wm d 3Q im of r Ewes/vans- JAMES J. TRACY. OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MECHANISM FOR MAKING HATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Original application filed April 3. 1913. Serial No. 758,564. Divided and this application filed December 29, 1916. Serial No. 139,461.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. Janus J. TRACY, a citizemof the United States. and a resident of (-Ileveland, county of (uyahogin and State of Ohio. have invented anew and useful Iniprovement in Mechanism for Making Hats. of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explaihed and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

In the manufacture of straw hats as heretofore carried ()lL Jlle usual procedure is to sew the braid to the shape desired, whether consisting of the crown and the brim joined, or made separately; thereupon Such hat shape is sponged with liquid glue or size and dried in a drying chamber, where a temperature of 100 F. oithigher has to be maintained in order to etfect the drying with suflicient expedition; from said drying chamber the hats or parts thereof are taken in a very much distorted condition, and steamed over open steam boxes to soften them; and then they are finally blocked by being pressed over interiorl y heated forms of the desired shape. being worked down by hand. and pressure blocks being applied to the outside. until they have set. it being understood that the form blocks are maintained at such an temperaturekas to dry the glue in the straw and thus cause the latter to retain the final desired shape.

The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus or mechanism, whereby the foregoing operations in connection with the manufacture of straw hats may be very materially shortened and in part eutirely eliminated. thereby materially quickening the process of manufacture and at the same time rendering the work pleasentergand Lihlt'l' for the operators. To the :ll't'lllllplishmeut of the foregoing and related ends said invention. then. consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, it being understood that the method aspect of the invention forms the subject matter of a separate application (now issued into Patent No. 1,214,845. under date of February 6, 1917). out of which the present case has been required to be divided.

The annexed drawing and the following descri'pt ion set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting. however. but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of my mechanism for making hats; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of such mechanism; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an element removed from the rest of the mechanism.

The apparatus utilized in carrying out my improved method of manufacture is relatiyely simple, consisting of a table or workbench 1, that carries a series of apertnred base-plates 2. upon which the hat molds 3, whether for the crown of the hat. as shown at the right, or the whole hat. are designed to rest, such Whole hat or part thereof being termed iudifl'erently a hat-part in the present specification. These molds may be made out of plaster of Paris and the portion thereof designed to receive the hit part is provided with a number of closely arranged perforations. An annular sheet 4 of soft rubber, or like packing material. may be interposed between each base-plate 2 and the mold resting thereon. if found necessary to form a tight seal between the l\\'n such seal being desirable for reasons that will present I v appear. Connected with the central aperlure in each base-plate is the Haring. or funnellike, upper end 5 of a duct 6. the lower end of which is connected to a manifold or main duct, 7 leading to a suction fan 8. The latter may be operated by a motor 9, as shown, or any other suitable driving mechanisni.

Removably supported within the conical or funnel-like upper end 5 of each ddct 6 is a receptacle in the form of a. cup 10 with flaring walls of the form shown in Fig. 3, having lugs or arms 11 extending laterally from its edge, so as to support the-cup in the position shown at the left in Fig. 1, just below or in the opening in the baseplate 2.

In such opening a ring 12 of bevelled shape is preferably inserted. the inner edge of the ring form ng a flange for the opening in the base, that extends within the edge of the cup. This ring may be supported either from the sheet of packing, where such is used. or directly from the base 2.

Below the cup, at a convenient point i each duct, is a valve 13 preferably of the familiar slide type. operable by a handle 14;

In utilizing the foregoing apparatus, the

hat-parts are taken just as they come from the sewers, and are fitted over the molds 3 intended for their reception, the valves 13 in the corresponding ducts being closed.

Thereupon, by opening any particular valve, a suflicient suction is created within the corresponding mold to hold the hat-part firmly thereon, whether crown or brim, and while it is thus held snugly onto the mold, the glue, or sizing, is applied in liquid form with a sponge. Any excess of the glue that is drawn through the hat and through the mold is caught by the cup 10 in the throat of the duct, the ring 12 below the mold serving to uide the particles of glue into said cup. he cup being removable may be taken out and emptied, as occasion demands. It may also be desirable to locate a similar separator in the discharge duct 17 leading from the fan 8, in order to intercept any particles of glue that may be carried along with the draft of air past the cup 10..

The current of air, drawn through the hat resting on the mold after the application of the glue, very quickly dries the latter and obviously leaves the hat of exactly the desired form. There is no chance for the hatpart to buckle or \varp. this being \'er apt to occur. particularlyat' the peak of the crown. when the hat is subjected to heating. as is necessary in the prevailing method of manufacture. Aside from this and other advantages pertaining to the betterment of the product. the simplification in manufacture permits a very considerable increase in rate of production, one man doing as much as three men under the old conditions. while owing to the absence of all heating and steaming steps the comfort of the operator is much greater.

Other modes of applying the'principle of my invention-may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by anyof the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an apertured base; airsuction means connected with the aperture 1 ,assmaz in said base, a hollow, perforated mold, of the shape of the hat-part being formed, adapted to rest on said base; and means adapted to collect any liquid drawn through such aperture by said air-suction means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an apertured base; a suction fan; a duct connecting the aperture in said base with said fan; a hollow, perforated mold, of the shape of the hat-part being formed, adapted to rest on said base; and a receptacle disposed to intercept and collect any liquid drawn through such aperture by said fan.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an apertured base; fi'SlltF tion fan; a duct connecting the aperture in said base with said fan: a cup supported in said d not below -such aperture; and a hollow, perforated mold. of the shape of the hatpart being formed. adapted to rest on said base.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an apertured base; a sues tion fan: a duct having a flaring end connecting the aperture in said base with said fan; a cup removably snpportedin Such flaring end of said duct just below the aperture in said base: a flange for such aperture extending within the edge of said cup: and a hollow. perforated mold. of the shape of thc hat-part being formed. adapted to rest on said base.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a base formed with an aperture: an annular sheet of packing material on said base; a suction fan; a duct having a flaring end connecting the aperture in said base with said fan; a cup removably supported in such flaring end of said duct just below the aperture in said base: a ring of beveled shape resting on said annular sheet. and forming a flange extending within the edge of said cup; and a hollow, perforated mold, of the shape of the hat being formed, adapted to rest on said annlllilar sheet and form a sealed joint therewit Signed by me, this 20th day of December, 916.

JAMES J. TRACY.

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