US2217906A - Machine for and method of blocking hat bodies - Google Patents
Machine for and method of blocking hat bodies Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2217906A US2217906A US214642A US21464238A US2217906A US 2217906 A US2217906 A US 2217906A US 214642 A US214642 A US 214642A US 21464238 A US21464238 A US 21464238A US 2217906 A US2217906 A US 2217906A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- brim
- felt
- hat
- block
- clamps
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42C—MANUFACTURING OR TRIMMING HEAD COVERINGS, e.g. HATS
- A42C1/00—Manufacturing hats
- A42C1/04—Blocking; Pressing; Steaming; Stretching
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42C—MANUFACTURING OR TRIMMING HEAD COVERINGS, e.g. HATS
- A42C1/00—Manufacturing hats
- A42C1/08—Hat-finishing, e.g. polishing, ironing, smoothing, brushing, impregnating, stiffening, decorating
Definitions
- the present invention relates to hat blocking machine where there is provided a hat block havmachines and more particularly to amachine ing a crown and brim portion and means asso-' for the blocking of womens hats. ciated therewith for receiving and tensioning a
- womens hats are of many felt and for maintainingthe felt under tension and varied shapes, and it is necessary for each as the felt is shaped over the crown and wrapped different shape to use a different type of hat around the brim board or'as the felt is shaped block.
- the difference in shapes may be due to over the flange block and the crown portion then 7 a diiference in the design of the crown or of the positioned within the felt, whereby the felt will brim or of the positioning of the crown relative be evenly stretched at all points and maintained 1;) to the brim, and often the brim of the hat does under a constant and even tension throughout not extend radially from the crown but curves the blocking operation. outwardly and angiilarly from the point of in- A still further object is the provision of such a tersection therewith at varying degrees.
- hats which are the same headsize have formed in extremely fast time by unskilled labor l5 ely different shapes of crowns
- a d s ron a machine which is simple in operation, ecoally the crown or center thereof is not centrally no i al to manufacture, and of rugged and located relative to the outside edge of the finsturdy construction ished brim, and as a result the brim width differs
- Other bje t 111 be in part Obvious and at many Points around e Crown, it may be part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.
- Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig.
- the felt will not'be. evenly stretched as it block A comprises a Crown black and brim is impossible to place and maintain the same deboard the Q face 0f b m oard 0.6-
- the hat block A is'car-riedon a block 50
- the object ofthe present invention is the prou port 20 s n d a v p a Hi and havin vision of a machine for the finished blocking of a Centrally located brim board Positioning lOiIl hats irrespective of what the finished shape 22 extending upwardly there d. p j
- the pin 22 hat felt from its rough blocked shape over the ing is a hat block Supporting means on which 45 5 It is a still further object to provide such a beingsmaller than. the opening ill to allow for lateral shifting of the block, for reasons hereinafter described.
- the support 20 is secured on a plunger of piston rod 24 which extends downwardly and connects to a piston 28 which is power operated in cylinder 26.
- the piston cylinder 28 is supported on a cross member 30 extending between the side frames I2 and I4 and on which there is also supported a four-way valve 32 for controlling the operation of the piston; the valve 32 being inanually operated by a handle 34 arranged above the top plate Ill.
- the valve 32 is of the usual construction and has an inlet 38 connecting to any suitable power medium, such as steam, an exhaust connection 40, and cylinder connections 42 and 44 adapted to be atgruately connected to the inlet and exhaust connections to raise or lower piston 28 to properly position the block A relative to the peripherally disposed brim clamps 46 which extend around the opening It and are adapted to engage and hold the brim of a rough blocked hat felt B which may be positioned thereon above block A.
- the upward travel of piston 28 is such that the base of block A may be carried above the brim clamps, for reasons hereinafter described.
- the brim clamps or gripping fingers 46 each comprise a lower, relatively fixed jaw 48 and an upper jaw 58 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with jaw 48.
- the jaw 50 is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the lower jaw 48 by a pivot pin 52 and pivotally connected at its outer end by a pivot pin 54 to the upper end of a jaw actuating lever 56.
- the lever 56 extends beneath top plate I0 and has its lower end pivotally connected by a pin 58 to the head 59 of a connecting bolt 60, which bolt slidably extends through a lever actuating ring 82 and is secured in place by a nut 68.
- a cushioning spring 84 may be positioned between ring 62 and head 59 to compensate for slight irregularities in adjustment or felt thickness.
- the lever actuating ring 82 is carried on the upper ends of link arms 68, which arms have their lower ends connected to links I0, which links are pivotally connected at I2 to the inner end of lever arms 14.
- the other ends of the lever arms 14 are keyed to a shaft I6 extending transversely of the machine and journalled in the end frames I2 and I4 with one end 78 thereof projecting beyond the frame member I2.
- Keyed to the projecting end 18 of shaft 16 is the inner end of an operating lever 88, the outer end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically arranged adjustable link 82 which has its upper end connected to an eccentric strap 84.
- the eccentric strap is operated by an eccentric 88 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig.
- the brim clamps 48 are likewise adapted. to be moved towards and away from the block A,
- the lower jaw 48 is formed integral with a bell crank lever having a vertically extending arm II and a horizontally extending arm TI extending inwardly and substantially at right angles from the lower end of the arm II.
- the lower end of arm II is pivotally mounted by a pin 13 on the outer end of a bracket 15 secured to the top plate I0.
- the outer end of arm 1! is pivotally connected by a pin 19 to the bifurcated head 8
- the lower portion 81 of the bolt 83 is of reduced diameter and extends through and below a corresponding opening provided therefor in a lever pivoting or expansion ring 89; the upper face of the expansion ring being adapted to abut against the downwardly facing shoulder 85 intermediate of the head BI and reduced portion 87 of the bolt 83 and adapted upon upward movement to pivot the brim clamps outwardly.
- the shoulder 85 is normally maintained in abutting engagement with the upper face of the expansion ring 89 by a coiled spring 93 mounted on the bolt 81 intermediate of the securing nut 9I on the lower end thereof and the lower face of the expansion ring 89.
- the spring 93 may be omitted and the downwardly facing shoulder 85 of bolt 83 may be maintained in engagement with the upwardly facing shoulder of the expansion ring by a spring I02 having one end secured to the top plate I0 and the other end extending substantially at right angles thereto and engaged in a bracket on the rear of the vertically extending lever II, thus tending to normally pivot the brim clamps towards the hat block.
- the spring I82 is illustrated as assisting the action of the spring 93. However, it is apparent that either one of the springs could be dispensed with and the other spring would function to move the brim clamp inwardly upon downward movement of the expansion ring 89.
- the expansion ring 89 would serve, on its upward movement, to move the brim clamps outwardly in unison, but on its downward movement it would move independently of the brim clamps and the spring I02 would tend to maintain the shoulder 85 in engagement with the upper face thereof.
- the expansion ring is adapted upon its downward movement to move relative to the bolt 81 with a certain amount of lost motion if the inward motion of the brim clamps is restrained upon coming into engagement with the block, as hereinafter described.
- the vertical movement of the ring 89 is obtained by securing it to the upper ends of the arms 95 which extend upwardly from a yoke 91, which yoke is carried on the upper end of a plunger or piston rod 99 which connects to a suitable piston (not shown) in the cylinder 98.
- the operation of the piston and yoke 91 is controlled by a four-way valve 98 which is similar to the four-way valve 32 and is manually controlled by the handle I00 positioned above the top plate I0.
- the expansion ring 89 When the valve 98 is set to admit steam to the top of the piston, the expansion ring 89 will be moved downwardly and through springs 93 will yieldingly draw the bolts 83 downwardly and pivot the brim clamps inwardly about the pivot pin I3. If the springs 93 are omitted,the expansion ring will move downwardly relative to and independently of the bolts 8? and the brim clamps will be pivoted inwardly by the action of the spring I02.
- a vertically arranged support I08 which carries on its upper end a collar I20 on which there is mounted an outwardly extending steam pipe I28 carrying on the end thereof a steam shower outlet I30.
- the pipe I28 connects through a fiexible'conduit I32 to a steam inlet pipe I33 through a control valve I 34 on which there is pivoted an outwardly extending operat ing lever I38 which lies in the path of and is adapted to be operated bythe collar I28.
- the steam shower outlet I38 normally lies to one side of the machine, and in order to position it over the felt the support I08 is rotatably and vertically movable in a standard I I secured to the top plate of the machine; the standard IIO having a cam groove H2 in which there rides a cam follower II 4 secured to the support I08 and adapted, as the support is lowered, to. rotate the support in standard I I0.
- the lower end thereof extends below the top plate and is swivelly connected to one end of a lever II which has its other end rotatably mounted on the shaft I6.
- lever I I6 there is pivotally connected a lever I I8 which extends downwardly therefrom and has its other end pivotally connected intermediate of the ends of a horizontally arranged lever I20.
- the lever I20 has its inner end pivotally mounted on the frame member, and its outer end projects beyond the machine and is provided with a foot pedal I22.
- a spring I 24 which connects to the lever I28 and to the cross member of the frame I2 and normally maintains the lever I28 in its uppermost position.
- a steam shower I85 supported on the head of the cylinder III by brackets I31.
- the steam shower I35 has a plurality of openings I39 adapted to spray the steam outwardly against deflectors I4I which will direct the steam beneath the hat felt B.
- the shower I85 is connected through a suitable inlet I48 and control valve I45 to the steam inlet pipe I33.
- the control valve I45 is of similar construction to the control valve I34 and is provided with a control lever I41 extending into the path of a collar I48 carried on the standard I08 and adapted to be actuated by the collar when the standard is lowered. Obviously if it is desired to only use one of the steam showers it is only necessary to move one of the control levers I38 or I4'I out of the path of the actuating collars on the standard I08.
- the junction 0 does not lie in a horizontal plane. In some instances, it is only necessary to cord the hat with the felt stretched over the block and then force the cord down and around the junction. of the crown and brim of the hat.
- a banding ring I48 which is preferably of a flexible compressible material, such as rubber, which, when forced over the crown and into contact with the brim, will adjust itself to the curvature thereof.
- the ring I40 is forced into position by a positioning ring I42 which is pivotally mounted on trunnions I44 in the sides of a yoke I48.
- the yoke is carried on a lever I48 which extends rearwardly of the machine and is pivotally mounted on a pin I52 in a bracket I54 I secured to the frame of the machine; the outer end of lever I43 extending beyond the pivot and being provided with a suitable counterweight I50. Extending forwardly of the yoke is a suitable operating handle IE8 for drawing the yoke down and over the block to properly position the ring I42 over the banding ring I40 to enable it to be forced into position.
- the selected hat block A is positioned on the block support 20 with the centering pin 22 of the support projecting into the opening I! in the base of. the brim board.
- the rough blocked hat felt B is then positioned with its brim I68 on the lower jaws 48 of the brim clamps 48; the brim clamps having been opened to the approximate periphery of the brim.
- hand lever 92 is then operated to pivot the upper jaws 58 of the brim clamps over the brim I88 and secure the felt in position.
- the hat block A may I then be raised to the approximate position shown in Fig. 3 wherein it just extends into and prevents the felt B from being turned inside out during the subsequent steaming.
- the foot pedal I22 is next operated to position the upper steam shower and emit steam over or under the felt as desired to mellow it to the desired degree, and when the felt is properly mellowed the foot pedal is released.
- the brim clamps 48 are now pivoted outwardly and away from the block to place the felt and brim under tension, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.
- valve 32 is again opened and kept open to raise piston 28, whereupon hat block A will be forced into the felt to progressively stretch the felt until the resistance of the felt equalizes the pressure on the block and stops the upward movement thereof.
- a selected banding ring I40 is now placedover the felt, as indicated in Fig. I, and the yoke I48 brought downwardly to position the ring I42 over the banding ring I40.
- the yoke will now be forced downwardly to force the banding ring down and over the felt to draw the felt properly around the crown and define the junction between the crown block and the brim board, and if, as in the block illustrated, the brim is wider at one side than the other, the ring will also cause the block A to shift laterally on the block support and properly position same in the felt with the center of the crown offset from the center of the outer periphery of the brim.
- the other clamps will continue to move inwardly independently of the restrained clamps until the felt is wrapped closely to the brim board and tensioned over same; it being desirable to have the rough blocked felt of such size that the brim clamps may wrap in and around the base of the brim board (see Fig. 5).
- the handle 92 When the felt has been completely wrapped around the block, the handle 92 is actuated to open the gripping fingers and release the felt, whereupon the block A will move to its upward limit of travel and may be readily removed from the machine.
- the hat is then corded immediately beneath the banding ring and also in the brim board groove. When so corded, the banding ring may be removed, and when sufliiciently dry the blocked hat is cut around the lower periphery of the brim.
- the banding ring I40 may be corded at the band at the time that the banding ring is usually applied thereto. However, either the cord or the banding ring will be in position to maintain the crown and brim in proper relationship to one another during the subsequent operations.
- a steam pot I to which there is admitted steam through a suitable connection I82.
- a banding ring support I86 Carried with in the steam pot and supported on a platform I84 is a banding ring support I86.
- the periphery of the support is smaller than the inner periphery of the steam pot to allow lateral movement thereof on the bearings I88.
- Projecting upwardly from the support I86 are a plurality of hollow guide members I90 into which there extends the downwardly depending arms I92 of the flexible banding ring I94.
- the lower ends of arms I92 are provided with collars adapted to overlie spring members I98 positioned therebetween and the bottom of the guides I90.
- the collars I96 are made slightly less in diameter than the inside diameter of the guides I90 to allow for a wobbly motion of the posts I92 within the guides.
- the proper sized banding ring I94 there is placed on the support I88 the proper sized banding ring I94.
- the brim of the felt is then secured in the gripping fingers and the block placed within the felt.
- the felt is then steamed as before in order to properly mellow it, and, when properly mellowed, the gripping fingers 46 are pivoted outwardly to place the felt under tension.
- the lever I48 has pivotally mounted thereon a downwardly extending member 200 adapted to engage the base of the brim board when the handle I56 is lowered. Pressure is then applied to the brim board to force the block into the felt and properly position the ring I94 at the junction of the crown and the brim.
- the banding ring may be forced downwardly and below the level of the gripping jaws to angularly tension the felt over the brim board, and the support I 86 may shift within the steam pot, whereupon the banding ring may properly position itself regardless of the contour of the hat.
- the pressure is maintained on the block as the gripping fingers 46 are released and brought inwardly around the base of the block to wrap the felt around the brim and bring it into contact with the brim board.
- the fingers are released and the handle I 56 raised, whereupon the banding ring will be raised by the tension of springs I98 and the block may be removed from the machine and corded as before.
- a hat block has been shown of rather extreme form.
- a womans hat is non-symmetrical and the outer periphery of the brim is not concentric with the band.
- the brim does not extend radially therefrom, but at an obtuse angle thereto, which angle varies at most every point around the hat.
- it is possible to properly shape the crown felt around the crown block define the junction between the crown block and the brim board while angularly tensioning the brim, and, while maintaining the tension on the brim, wrap it around the brim board and shape it thereto.
- a hat block support means for moving aid hat block support
- each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means for openin and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining the same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, actuating means for moving said brim clamps outwardly from said hat block support, and means associated with said brim clamps for moving same inwardly independently of said last named means.
- a hat blocking machine a hat block support, means for moving said hat block support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means operative independently of movement of said brim clamps for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, actuating means movable in reverse directions for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, means on each of said brimclamps simultaneously engageable by said actuating means when moved in one direction for moving said brim clamps outwardly and yielding means associated with each of said brim clamps for normally maintaining said last named means in engagement with said actuating means when moved in the other'direction and for yieldingly releasing same when said brim clamps have reached a predetermined position.
- a hat block support means for moving said support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brimedge therebetween, means operative independently of movement of said brim clamps for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, an expansion ring movable in reverse direction for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, a connection between each brim clamp and said expansion ring including a member carried by said brim clamp and extending through an opening in said expansion ring, a shoulder onsaid member positioned above said expansion ring and adapted to be engaged by same upon movement in one direction, and spring means positioned on said member below said expansion ring and normally maintaining said shoulder in engagement with said expansion ring.
- a-hat block support means for moving said support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movclosing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, an expansion ring movable in reverse direction for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, a connection between each brim clamp and said expansion ring including a member carried by said brim clamp and extending through an opening in said expansion ring, a shoulder carried on said member above said expansion ring, and spring means associated with each brim clamp for normally maintaining said shoulder in engagement with said expansion ring.
- a banding ring adapted to support a hat block therein, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said banding ring and movable towards and away from same, each of said brim clamps including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed relation when closed, means supporting said banding ring for vertical and lateral movement relative to said gripping clamps, actuating means for moving said brim
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Description
Oct. 15, I940. w HUNTER 2,217,906
MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES Filed June 20, 1938 5 Sheeis-Sheet l HUGH WHUNTER Oct. 15, 1940. H. w. HUNTER 2,217,906
MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES H m'o Filed June 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HUGH 17011;";
Show;
Oct. 15, 1940. H. w. HUNTER MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES Filed June 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' HUGH wfil/Af g Oct. 15, 1940. w N R I 2,217,906
MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES Filed June 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 HUGH WHUNTER Oct. 15, 1940.
MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES H. W. HUNTER Filed June 20, 1938- 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Q "6"? L U I /,?ao J4 62 50 E Q 50 f4 o o gywwwfm HUGH WHUNTER Patented Oct. 15, 1940 V l e it t I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF BLOCKING HAT BODIES Hugh W. Hunter, Danbury, Conn.
Application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,642
6 Claims. (Cl. 223-15) The present invention relates to hat blocking machine where there is provided a hat block havmachines and more particularly to amachine ing a crown and brim portion and means asso-' for the blocking of womens hats. ciated therewith for receiving and tensioning a As is well known, womens hats are of many felt and for maintainingthe felt under tension and varied shapes, and it is necessary for each as the felt is shaped over the crown and wrapped different shape to use a different type of hat around the brim board or'as the felt is shaped block. The difference in shapes may be due to over the flange block and the crown portion then 7 a diiference in the design of the crown or of the positioned within the felt, whereby the felt will brim or of the positioning of the crown relative be evenly stretched at all points and maintained 1;) to the brim, and often the brim of the hat does under a constant and even tension throughout not extend radially from the crown but curves the blocking operation. outwardly and angiilarly from the point of in- A still further object is the provision of such a tersection therewith at varying degrees. In some machine wherein finished blocking may be perinstances, hats which are the same headsize have formed in extremely fast time by unskilled labor l5 ely different shapes of crowns, a d s ron a machine which is simple in operation, ecoally the crown or center thereof is not centrally no i al to manufacture, and of rugged and located relative to the outside edge of the finsturdy construction ished brim, and as a result the brim width differs Other bje t 111 be in part Obvious and at many Points around e Crown, it may be part pointed out more in detail hereinafter. go extremely bread to one slde of the crown and The invention accordingly consists in the ieaextremely narrow the other Side; In P tures of construction, combination of elements, 3 every type O Women 5 P the Junetlen and arrangement of parts which will be exemplitWeen the crown and the bum defines a lme of fied in the construction hereafter set forth and curva'tm ett}at the depth of the crown i the scope of the application of which will be insome points is greater than at others, and this dicated in the appended clamm 25 depth likewise varies at many points around the In the accom panying drawings. intersection. Because of the difierences in shape, it is necessary to block hats of the foregoing Flgure an n v1ew one embodlment of the machine;
kind on a hat block which comprises both a Fi 2 i a Sid i of th b di t s crown portion and a brim board or flange block F1 s e V ew e em m over which the hat felt is stretched to properly shape the finished hat. Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing The felts which are to be blocked into finished the.s.teammg: means and wtlerm felt has been hats are initially rough blocked by hot water to positloned wlthm the machme i provide a crown and brim portion, and the same Flgs' 4 and are fmgmentaiy VIEWS Illustratshaped rough blocked felts are then blocked into mg t m' of h machme;. and finished hats which may take any one of a num- Flgs' 6 i 7 if? news of another embodl' her of shapes. The finishing of such hats has ment 8 mm 1118- heretofore been done by manual operation, and Referrmgt? the drawmgs the mac-time it is apparent that the manual blocking of such tmted r toe-Plate t suppol'tedt a hats is not only tedious and slow but requires convement Workmg helght from the floor 011.5163,
high'iy skilled and trained labor. Moreover, when frame members and t Plate w has the finished blocking is done manually, it is neccentrally located elhptlcal opemng cut essary to gradually and progressively stretch the therethmugh, a located Centrally of the Open block which defines the new shape, and, in so there is removably su ported a hat block A. The
doing, the felt will not'be. evenly stretched as it block A comprises a Crown black and brim is impossible to place and maintain the same deboard the Q face 0f b m oard 0.6-
gree of tension around the entire periphery of mg flat a having Centrally located Op i the felt as it is being Worked upon. I! therein. The hat block A is'car-riedon a block 50 The object ofthe present invention is the prou port 20 s n d a v p a Hi and havin vision of a machine for the finished blocking of a Centrally located brim board Positioning lOiIl hats irrespective of what the finished shape 22 extending upwardly there d. p j
may be. ing into the opening I! in the block; the pin 22 hat felt from its rough blocked shape over the ing is a hat block Supporting means on which 45 5 It is a still further object to provide such a beingsmaller than. the opening ill to allow for lateral shifting of the block, for reasons hereinafter described.
The support 20 is secured on a plunger of piston rod 24 which extends downwardly and connects to a piston 28 which is power operated in cylinder 26. The piston cylinder 28 is supported on a cross member 30 extending between the side frames I2 and I4 and on which there is also supported a four-way valve 32 for controlling the operation of the piston; the valve 32 being inanually operated by a handle 34 arranged above the top plate Ill. The valve 32 is of the usual construction and has an inlet 38 connecting to any suitable power medium, such as steam, an exhaust connection 40, and cylinder connections 42 and 44 adapted to be atlernately connected to the inlet and exhaust connections to raise or lower piston 28 to properly position the block A relative to the peripherally disposed brim clamps 46 which extend around the opening It and are adapted to engage and hold the brim of a rough blocked hat felt B which may be positioned thereon above block A. The upward travel of piston 28 is such that the base of block A may be carried above the brim clamps, for reasons hereinafter described.
The brim clamps or gripping fingers 46 each comprise a lower, relatively fixed jaw 48 and an upper jaw 58 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with jaw 48. The jaw 50 is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the lower jaw 48 by a pivot pin 52 and pivotally connected at its outer end by a pivot pin 54 to the upper end of a jaw actuating lever 56. The lever 56 extends beneath top plate I0 and has its lower end pivotally connected by a pin 58 to the head 59 of a connecting bolt 60, which bolt slidably extends through a lever actuating ring 82 and is secured in place by a nut 68. A cushioning spring 84 may be positioned between ring 62 and head 59 to compensate for slight irregularities in adjustment or felt thickness.
The lever actuating ring 82 is carried on the upper ends of link arms 68, which arms have their lower ends connected to links I0, which links are pivotally connected at I2 to the inner end of lever arms 14. The other ends of the lever arms 14 are keyed to a shaft I6 extending transversely of the machine and journalled in the end frames I2 and I4 with one end 78 thereof projecting beyond the frame member I2. Keyed to the projecting end 18 of shaft 16 is the inner end of an operating lever 88, the outer end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically arranged adjustable link 82 which has its upper end connected to an eccentric strap 84. The eccentric strap is operated by an eccentric 88 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) carried on a plate 88 provided with a manually operable lever 90 and handle 92; the eccentric and plate being rotatably mounted on the housing by a suitable screw 94. The eccentric and strap are so designed that upon operation of handle 92.link 82 will move downwardly to lower lever 89 and rotate shaft I6 clockwise (Fig; 2). Rotation of shaft 16 clockwise will raise the outer end of lever I4 and simultaneously move links 68 and 10 vertically to raise the lever actuating ring 62, which, through spring 80, will lift lever arms 58 and pivot the upper jaws 50 into engagement with the lower jaw 48 to properly grip the brim of the rough blocked felt hat B (see Fig. 3).
The brim clamps 48 are likewise adapted. to be moved towards and away from the block A,
and to accomplish this the lower jaw 48 is formed integral with a bell crank lever having a vertically extending arm II and a horizontally extending arm TI extending inwardly and substantially at right angles from the lower end of the arm II. The lower end of arm II is pivotally mounted by a pin 13 on the outer end of a bracket 15 secured to the top plate I0. The outer end of arm 1! is pivotally connected by a pin 19 to the bifurcated head 8| of a bolt 83. The lower portion 81 of the bolt 83 is of reduced diameter and extends through and below a corresponding opening provided therefor in a lever pivoting or expansion ring 89; the upper face of the expansion ring being adapted to abut against the downwardly facing shoulder 85 intermediate of the head BI and reduced portion 87 of the bolt 83 and adapted upon upward movement to pivot the brim clamps outwardly. Upon downward movement of the expansion ring, the shoulder 85 is normally maintained in abutting engagement with the upper face of the expansion ring 89 by a coiled spring 93 mounted on the bolt 81 intermediate of the securing nut 9I on the lower end thereof and the lower face of the expansion ring 89.
If desired, the spring 93 may be omitted and the downwardly facing shoulder 85 of bolt 83 may be maintained in engagement with the upwardly facing shoulder of the expansion ring by a spring I02 having one end secured to the top plate I0 and the other end extending substantially at right angles thereto and engaged in a bracket on the rear of the vertically extending lever II, thus tending to normally pivot the brim clamps towards the hat block. In the embodiment shown, the spring I82 is illustrated as assisting the action of the spring 93. However, it is apparent that either one of the springs could be dispensed with and the other spring would function to move the brim clamp inwardly upon downward movement of the expansion ring 89. If the spring I02 were utilized alone, the expansion ring 89 would serve, on its upward movement, to move the brim clamps outwardly in unison, but on its downward movement it would move independently of the brim clamps and the spring I02 would tend to maintain the shoulder 85 in engagement with the upper face thereof. With either construction, the expansion ring is adapted upon its downward movement to move relative to the bolt 81 with a certain amount of lost motion if the inward motion of the brim clamps is restrained upon coming into engagement with the block, as hereinafter described.
The vertical movement of the ring 89 is obtained by securing it to the upper ends of the arms 95 which extend upwardly from a yoke 91, which yoke is carried on the upper end of a plunger or piston rod 99 which connects to a suitable piston (not shown) in the cylinder 98. The operation of the piston and yoke 91 is controlled by a four-way valve 98 which is similar to the four-way valve 32 and is manually controlled by the handle I00 positioned above the top plate I0. Thus when the valve I00 is turned to admit steam or the like to the bottom of the piston, the piston rod 99 and yoke 91 will raise the expansion ring 89, causing it to engage the downwardly facing shoulders 85 of the bolts 83 and simultaneously and positively pivot the brim clamp levers 'II and 56 about the pivot pins 13 and 58 and away from the hat block.
When the valve 98 is set to admit steam to the top of the piston, the expansion ring 89 will be moved downwardly and through springs 93 will yieldingly draw the bolts 83 downwardly and pivot the brim clamps inwardly about the pivot pin I3. If the springs 93 are omitted,the expansion ring will move downwardly relative to and independently of the bolts 8? and the brim clamps will be pivoted inwardly by the action of the spring I02.
As it is necessary to steam and mellow the felt, there is provided a vertically arranged support I08 which carries on its upper end a collar I20 on which there is mounted an outwardly extending steam pipe I28 carrying on the end thereof a steam shower outlet I30. The pipe I28 connects through a fiexible'conduit I32 to a steam inlet pipe I33 through a control valve I 34 on which there is pivoted an outwardly extending operat ing lever I38 which lies in the path of and is adapted to be operated bythe collar I28. The steam shower outlet I38 normally lies to one side of the machine, and in order to position it over the felt the support I08 is rotatably and vertically movable in a standard I I secured to the top plate of the machine; the standard IIO having a cam groove H2 in which there rides a cam follower II 4 secured to the support I08 and adapted, as the support is lowered, to. rotate the support in standard I I0. To lower the support I08, the lower end thereof extends below the top plate and is swivelly connected to one end of a lever II which has its other end rotatably mounted on the shaft I6. Intermediate of the ends of the lever I I6 there is pivotally connected a lever I I8 which extends downwardly therefrom and has its other end pivotally connected intermediate of the ends of a horizontally arranged lever I20. The lever I20 has its inner end pivotally mounted on the frame member, and its outer end projects beyond the machine and is provided with a foot pedal I22. Intermediate of the foot pedal and the lever I I8 there is provided a spring I 24 which connects to the lever I28 and to the cross member of the frame I2 and normally maintains the lever I28 in its uppermost position.
It may also be desirable to steam the under side of the felt, and to accomplish this there is provided a steam shower I85 supported on the head of the cylinder III by brackets I31. The steam shower I35 has a plurality of openings I39 adapted to spray the steam outwardly against deflectors I4I which will direct the steam beneath the hat felt B. The shower I85 is connected through a suitable inlet I48 and control valve I45 to the steam inlet pipe I33. The control valve I45 is of similar construction to the control valve I34 and is provided with a control lever I41 extending into the path of a collar I48 carried on the standard I08 and adapted to be actuated by the collar when the standard is lowered. Obviously if it is desired to only use one of the steam showers it is only necessary to move one of the control levers I38 or I4'I out of the path of the actuating collars on the standard I08.
Thus when the foot pedal I22 is pressed downwardly, the lever IIB will be carried downwardly to rotate the lever I I6 counterclockwise on shaft I8 (see Fig. 2) and lower the support I 08. As the support I08 is lowered, it will be rotated by the cam follower to position the steam shower outlet over the hat felt. Just before the outlet I30 is positioned over the felt, collars I26 and I59 will engage the valve operating handles I38 and I45 to open the control valves and permit the steam to flow to the showers, and the steam will continue to flow as long as pedal I22 is pressed downwardly. Upon removing the foot from the pedal I22, spring I24 will raise the pedal and, through the various connections, will raise the standard I08, whereupon the control valves, which may be of the automatically closing type, will shut off the steam flow to the steam showers and the standard I08 will likewise be rotated to rotate the upper shower I30 out of position over the hat block.
In the blocking of hats, it is necessary to cut the bandthat is, to clearly define the junction between the crown and the brim of the hat, and,
as is evident from the drawings, the junction 0 does not lie in a horizontal plane. In some instances, it is only necessary to cord the hat with the felt stretched over the block and then force the cord down and around the junction. of the crown and brim of the hat. However, with other typesof hats, in order to properly cut the band, there is utilized a banding ring I48 which is preferably of a flexible compressible material, such as rubber, which, when forced over the crown and into contact with the brim, will adjust itself to the curvature thereof. The ring I40 is forced into position by a positioning ring I42 which is pivotally mounted on trunnions I44 in the sides of a yoke I48. The yoke is carried on a lever I48 which extends rearwardly of the machine and is pivotally mounted on a pin I52 in a bracket I54 I secured to the frame of the machine; the outer end of lever I43 extending beyond the pivot and being provided with a suitable counterweight I50. Extending forwardly of the yoke is a suitable operating handle IE8 for drawing the yoke down and over the block to properly position the ring I42 over the banding ring I40 to enable it to be forced into position.
In carrying out the blocking, the selected hat block A is positioned on the block support 20 with the centering pin 22 of the support projecting into the opening I! in the base of. the brim board. The rough blocked hat felt B is then positioned with its brim I68 on the lower jaws 48 of the brim clamps 48; the brim clamps having been opened to the approximate periphery of the brim. The
The foot pedal I22 is next operated to position the upper steam shower and emit steam over or under the felt as desired to mellow it to the desired degree, and when the felt is properly mellowed the foot pedal is released. The brim clamps 48 are now pivoted outwardly and away from the block to place the felt and brim under tension, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.
The valve 32 is again opened and kept open to raise piston 28, whereupon hat block A will be forced into the felt to progressively stretch the felt until the resistance of the felt equalizes the pressure on the block and stops the upward movement thereof. A selected banding ring I40 is now placedover the felt, as indicated in Fig. I, and the yoke I48 brought downwardly to position the ring I42 over the banding ring I40. The yoke will now be forced downwardly to force the banding ring down and over the felt to draw the felt properly around the crown and define the junction between the crown block and the brim board, and if, as in the block illustrated, the brim is wider at one side than the other, the ring will also cause the block A to shift laterally on the block support and properly position same in the felt with the center of the crown offset from the center of the outer periphery of the brim. When the banding ring is so positioned, ring I42 is lifted out of position and valve actuating handle I00 is now operated to cause the brim clamps 46 to gradually move inwardly, and, as the piston 28 is still under pressure, the hat block A will continue to progressively move upwardly as the fingers are drawn inwardly, and the felt is thus maintained under tension while it is wrapped and positioned around the brim board I 60.
It will be seen from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 that the longitudinal axis of the hat block is greater than the transverse axis thereof, whereupon the end brim clamps of Fig. 2 will come into alignment with the brim board and further movement thereof will be temporarily restrained and the spring connection 93 to the expansion ring 89 will yield as the ring continues to be lowered. If the springs 93 are not utilized, the expansion ring 89 will move inde pendently of the brim clamps and the springs I02 will move the brim clamps inwardly and yieldingly hold them in engagement with the brim board of the hat block. However, the other clamps will continue to move inwardly independently of the restrained clamps until the felt is wrapped closely to the brim board and tensioned over same; it being desirable to have the rough blocked felt of such size that the brim clamps may wrap in and around the base of the brim board (see Fig. 5).
When the felt has been completely wrapped around the block, the handle 92 is actuated to open the gripping fingers and release the felt, whereupon the block A will move to its upward limit of travel and may be readily removed from the machine. The hat is then corded immediately beneath the banding ring and also in the brim board groove. When so corded, the banding ring may be removed, and when sufliiciently dry the blocked hat is cut around the lower periphery of the brim.
As previously stated, in some instances it will not be necessary to use the banding ring I40 as the hat may be corded at the band at the time that the banding ring is usually applied thereto. However, either the cord or the banding ring will be in position to maintain the crown and brim in proper relationship to one another during the subsequent operations.
It will be observed that after the felt is mellowed, pressure is exerted to raise block A and this pressure is maintained throughout the subsequent blocking operations, thus at all times maintaining the felt under tension to obtain a maximum and uniform stretching thereof and working of the felt around the crown block and brim board. Likewise, to assist in the proper blocking thereof, the block is permitted to shift laterally on the support 20 and properly position and center itself as the felt is drawn and tensioned around the block.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the hat is blocked in inverted position. In order to accomplish this, there is provided a steam pot I to which there is admitted steam through a suitable connection I82. Carried with in the steam pot and supported on a platform I84 is a banding ring support I86. The periphery of the support is smaller than the inner periphery of the steam pot to allow lateral movement thereof on the bearings I88. Projecting upwardly from the support I86 are a plurality of hollow guide members I90 into which there extends the downwardly depending arms I92 of the flexible banding ring I94. The lower ends of arms I92 are provided with collars adapted to overlie spring members I98 positioned therebetween and the bottom of the guides I90. The collars I96 are made slightly less in diameter than the inside diameter of the guides I90 to allow for a wobbly motion of the posts I92 within the guides.
In carrying out the process with the embodiment shown, there is placed on the support I88 the proper sized banding ring I94. The brim of the felt is then secured in the gripping fingers and the block placed within the felt. The felt is then steamed as before in order to properly mellow it, and, when properly mellowed, the gripping fingers 46 are pivoted outwardly to place the felt under tension. The lever I48 has pivotally mounted thereon a downwardly extending member 200 adapted to engage the base of the brim board when the handle I56 is lowered. Pressure is then applied to the brim board to force the block into the felt and properly position the ring I94 at the junction of the crown and the brim. Due to the spring members I 98, the banding ring may be forced downwardly and below the level of the gripping jaws to angularly tension the felt over the brim board, and the support I 86 may shift within the steam pot, whereupon the banding ring may properly position itself regardless of the contour of the hat. As before, when the band is properly cut, the pressure is maintained on the block as the gripping fingers 46 are released and brought inwardly around the base of the block to wrap the felt around the brim and bring it into contact with the brim board. When properly wrapped, the fingers are released and the handle I 56 raised, whereupon the banding ring will be raised by the tension of springs I98 and the block may be removed from the machine and corded as before.
It will be observed that in this embodiment, as in the last, the pressure is maintained on the block from the time the felt is mellowed until the gripping fingers are opened to release the brim.
In the embodiments illustrated, a hat block has been shown of rather extreme form. However, in practically all instances a womans hat is non-symmetrical and the outer periphery of the brim is not concentric with the band. Likewise, the brim does not extend radially therefrom, but at an obtuse angle thereto, which angle varies at most every point around the hat. However, with the present machine it is possible to properly shape the crown felt around the crown block, define the junction between the crown block and the brim board while angularly tensioning the brim, and, while maintaining the tension on the brim, wrap it around the brim board and shape it thereto.
As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of sion the felt on a line from the peak to the brim edge and then while maintaining the felt tensioned from the peak to the brim edge wrapping the brim edge inwardly and around the block.
2. In a hat blocking machine, a hat block support, means for moving aid hat block support,
a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means for openin and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining the same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, actuating means for moving said brim clamps outwardly from said hat block support, and means associated with said brim clamps for moving same inwardly independently of said last named means.
3. In a hat blocking machine, a hat block support, means for moving said hat block support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means operative independently of movement of said brim clamps for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, actuating means movable in reverse directions for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, means on each of said brimclamps simultaneously engageable by said actuating means when moved in one direction for moving said brim clamps outwardly and yielding means associated with each of said brim clamps for normally maintaining said last named means in engagement with said actuating means when moved in the other'direction and for yieldingly releasing same when said brim clamps have reached a predetermined position.
4. In a hat blocking machine, a hat block support, means for moving said support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brimedge therebetween, means operative independently of movement of said brim clamps for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, an expansion ring movable in reverse direction for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, a connection between each brim clamp and said expansion ring including a member carried by said brim clamp and extending through an opening in said expansion ring, a shoulder onsaid member positioned above said expansion ring and adapted to be engaged by same upon movement in one direction, and spring means positioned on said member below said expansion ring and normally maintaining said shoulder in engagement with said expansion ring.
5. In a hat blocking machine, a-hat block support, means for moving said support, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said support and movable towards and away from same, each brim clamp including cooperating gripping jaws movclosing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed gripping relation when closed and throughout the range of movement of the brim clamps, an expansion ring movable in reverse direction for moving said brim clamps towards and away from said hat block support, a connection between each brim clamp and said expansion ring including a member carried by said brim clamp and extending through an opening in said expansion ring, a shoulder carried on said member above said expansion ring, and spring means associated with each brim clamp for normally maintaining said shoulder in engagement with said expansion ring.
6. In a hat blocking machine, a banding ring adapted to support a hat block therein, a plurality of brim clamps disposed around said banding ring and movable towards and away from same, each of said brim clamps including cooperating gripping jaws movable relative to one another to grip a brim edge therebetween, means for opening and closing said gripping jaws and maintaining same in fixed relation when closed, means supporting said banding ring for vertical and lateral movement relative to said gripping clamps, actuating means for moving said brim
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US214642A US2217906A (en) | 1938-06-20 | 1938-06-20 | Machine for and method of blocking hat bodies |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US214642A US2217906A (en) | 1938-06-20 | 1938-06-20 | Machine for and method of blocking hat bodies |
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US2217906A true US2217906A (en) | 1940-10-15 |
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US214642A Expired - Lifetime US2217906A (en) | 1938-06-20 | 1938-06-20 | Machine for and method of blocking hat bodies |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2440845A (en) * | 1946-05-16 | 1948-05-04 | Cairns Edward | Blocking apparatus for forming crowns of headgear and other articles |
-
1938
- 1938-06-20 US US214642A patent/US2217906A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2440845A (en) * | 1946-05-16 | 1948-05-04 | Cairns Edward | Blocking apparatus for forming crowns of headgear and other articles |
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