US2399932A

US2399932A - Hat ironing machine

Info

Publication number: US2399932A
Application number: US479181A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen J Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-03-15
Filing date: 1943-03-15
Publication date: 1946-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1963-05-07

Description

May 7, 71946 s. J. MILLER 4HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed March l5, 1943 3 Sheets-SheetI l May 7,1946. s. J. MILLER 2,399,932

HAT RONING MACHINE @www5 May 7, 1946.

S. J. MILLER HAT IRONINGMACHINE Filed March l5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheer:l 3

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Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAT IRONING MACHINE stephen J. Miller, Danbury, cena.

Application March 15, 1943, Serial No. 479,181

15 Claims.

This invention relates to hat ironing machines, more particularly to a machine for ironing the brims of felt hats, and has for an object to provide a construction whereby the entiresurface of the brim of the hat may be uniformly ironed 1 the ironing elements at the points of these greater V curvatures than at the flatter portions of the brim. Due to the transverse curvatures required, it is very difcult to secure uniform pressures and therefore uniform ironing of thev brim across the entire width thereof. Uneven pressure of the irons on the surface, due to differences or changes in temperature, leaves a water mark on this surface as the surface is not uniformly dried or ironed, and the surface has to be done over by l, hand. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a construction whereby this nonuniform drying or ironing is eliminated to eliminate these water or similar marks and provide a surface which is uniformly ironed or finished. This is accomplished by causing a relative .back and forth movement between the irons and the surface of the brim in a direction transversely of the brim while the irons are passed around or longitudinally over the brim.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown, but may employ various changes and modifications within the scope of this invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine with certain parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a detail section through the ironing head;

Fig, 3' is a plan View of the hat supporting form usual-ly called a flange or block with a hat thereon in ironing operation, parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction and relative positions of the parts, the block being shown in a position during the ironing operation when the ironing elements are pressed against one side ofthe rear portion Yof the brim where greater curvature and stiffness is required of the brim for giving it strength and maintaining its shape;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the lower portion of the machine showing part of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially on line 5--5 of Fige;

Fig, `(i is a plan View ofthe ironing surfaces of the ironing means, Vand' jme-ans for supporting and operating ,the oval shaped annular hat supporting block I3.

Mounted within the housing I2 is an oval annular gear I4 which is cut on its outer periphery to form a wormgear I5 meshing with a driving worm t6, the gear I5 being 4a hob-cut worm gear. The worm [E is mounted on a driving shaft I'I mounted in any suitable anti-friction bearings I8. There maybe an ant-friction thrust bearing to take the lateral thrust' of the shaft. The shaft is driven by a pulley 2U on the shaft driven by any suitable means, as the belt 2| from the motor II; Within the housing i2 is a plane surface 22 on which the gear I4 rests and` is. therefore mounted for both rotative movement and limited ,relative sliding or bodily movements While still in mesh `with the Worm IB, for a purpose which Will'rpresently bedescribed'. `The inner periphery 23 of .this gear may be of any desired shape depending onV `the ironing effect desired on the hat brim. In the present showing it is shown as an irregularly shaped curve forming' in effect a cam surface cooperating with` suitable guide means to give the motion desired to the gear' as' it is rotated. In the presi-:nt instance `this guiding means comprises a

pairof rollers

24 and 25 mounted by suitabie antifriction bearings 26 on studs 2T projecting upwardly from the surface 22, `lvfountedon the gear f4 by any suitable means is' api'atev '28.V `'This plate rests on the` topof the gear and is' secured'in position by any suitable nur nberI of pins or dowels .2s carried by the plate and extending `into openings 3U in the. gear and by'screwvsl (not shown). The block I3 is mountedv on a hollow upright support 3i having a bottom wall 32 resting on the top of the plate 28. In order to raise this support above the plate this plate is formed with a central boss 33 on which the support is mounted and to which it may be secured by any suitable means such as the screws 34. To facilitate centering the support on the plate the boss 33 may have a smaller boss 35 extending into a central opening in the bottom wall 32 of the support. At the upper edges of the side walls of the support 3l are inwardly extending flanges 36 on which the hat block I3 rests. The block is secured to the support for easy and quick mounting of the block thereon and removal therefrom, this being permitted by a pair of upright pins 31 mounted in the flange 36 and mounted to project into suitable openings in the bottom of the block. 'I'he block therefore may be quickly mounted on the support by merely placing it on these pins, and it may be removed by merely lifting it olf the pins.

The gear I4 and the plate 28 carried thereby are retained in the housing by an annular top plate 38 secured to the top of the side walls of the housing by any suitable means, such as the screws 39. This plate projects inwardly over the gear I4 and the outer portion of the plate 28 so as to cover and protect the same as well as retain them in the housing, but preferably extends between the plate 28 and the base 32 of the support 3I so that this base overlaps cover 38 and the opening 40 therein to cover this opening and prevent entrance of dirt. The opening 40 is made of a size to permit suicient clearance between its sides and the boss 33 to permit the desired lateral or bodily movements of the gear I4 and the elements carried thereby. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 the housing I2 and therefore the .surface 22 are inclined at an angle to the horizontal or vertical for a purpose presently to be described. This angle is preferably about 45, but I am not limited to this angle as it may be varied considerably if desired. The lower part of the housing I2 is filled with suitable lubricant for the gear I4.

During the ironing operation the hat is mounted on the flange or block I3 in the inverted position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the crown 4| extending downwardly through the inner opening in the block and with its brim 42 resting on the outer curved surface 43 of the block. It is held in this position by a covering cloth 44 spread over the top surface of the brim and extending down on the outer sides of the block to which it is clamped .by a cord 45 which is clamped about the cloth in the usual manner with a slip knot, the block being provided with a groove 46 into which the cloth is compressed by the cord so that it is positively held in position on the block. After the hat is placed in position and the cloth properly stretched smoothly over it, the cloth is moistened with a sponge or other suitable means for the ironing operation which will presently be described more in detail.

The ironing means comprises a head 41 including a housing 48 in which are mounted a plurality of individual ironing elements 49. Each element has an ironing surface 50 which is preferably curved in the direction of the curvature of the outer surface 43 of the hat block, as shown in Fig. 1, but preferably substantially straight or only slightly curved in the other direction as shown in Fig. 7. In order to insure that the entire surface of the brim is ironed simultaneously a plurality of these ironing elements are arranged in two rows as shown in Fig. 6 and suiiicient in number to provide an ironing surface extending for the full width of the brim as shown in Fig. 1, and the ironing elements 49 in each row are arranged in alignment with and to extend across the gap 5I between the elements of the next row, so that as the ironing elements pass over the surface of the brim all portions of this surface are properly ironed. It will be understood that in the normal operation of ironing a hat brim the surface being ironed is covered with a cloth, which is moistened at the beginning of the ironing operation, so that the ironing elements do not directly contact the surface of the brim. Thus where in the specification and claims it states the ironing elements engage or are pressed against the brim it is not used in a limiting sense to mean the surfaces of the elements are necessarily in direct contact with the surface of the hat, but in a generic sense to mean that they are in ironing relation to the brim although they may contact the covering cloth rather than the brim itself,

The ironing elements 49 are mounted on suitable supporting bars 52 mounted for limited sliding movement within the housing 48 to permit the elements 49 to adjust themselves to properly engage the article being ironed and also to adjust themselves to variations in the contour of the surface. Each element is pivoted to its supporting member as indicated at 53 to swing in a direction transversely of the hat block. Also, each element is mounted to yield individually of each of the other elements so that each can assume its proper position and maintain it for the best ironing operation. This permits the proper ironing of different shapes and sizes of brims as they readily adjust themselves to the brim being ironed, it being well known that some brims are much flatter or less curved than others, and also that there are various sizes and shapes of the flanges or blocks on which the hats are ironed. The ironing elements are held against vthe surface of the hat by action of coiled springs 54, there being one of these springs for each element preferably mounted as shown in an open frame 55 so that there may be a free circulation of air through the springs to keep them cool and prevent their overheating and therefore losing their temper by heat conducted to them from the heating element in the ironing head. At its outer end each spring seats in a recess 56 in the frame and at its other end it embraces an extension 51 on a supporting bar 52 and by reacting against the flange 58 on this bar tends to shift this bar and the element 49 carried thereby toward the hat, this movement, however, being limited by engagement of the flange 58 with any suitable stop means, such for example as the top surface of the housing.

The housing 48 comprises a central member 59 having in its opposite side surfaces grooves in which the bars 52 are mounted to slide and in which they are retained by the side plates 6I secured to the central member by any suitable means such as the screws 62. Extending through the member 59 is a curved recess 63 in which is mounted an electric heating element 64 from which extends suitable leads 65 to a control switch 66. This heating element supplies the necessary heat directly to the bars 52 and the ironing elements 49 carried thereby. To conserve this heat the inner sides of the plates 6I may be recessed to carry an insulation 61 such as asbestos or other suitable material.

The ironing head 41 is pivoted at 68 between the side arms of a forked lever 69 to swing in a vertical plane and to permit it to adjust itself t allow the surfaces of `the ironing elements `49 to properly and uniformly engage `the surface `of the article being ironed. This 'lever 6911s in turn pivotally, mounted to swing in a vertical plane by pivots inan upright support 1I pivoted on a transverse shaft 12 in a suitable supporting bracket 13 mounted on the pedestal I0. This support 1| is substantially U-shape in cross section, and mounted between the side walls thereof is a lever arm 14 secured to the transverse shaft 12 which may turn in the bracket 13. The support 1I is also free to turn on this shaft so that the shaft may `turn relative toV this support. The free end of the lever arm 14, however, is secured to the support 1I by means of a spring `15 connected at one end to the lever arm 14 `and at its other 4end to an adjustable bolt 16 mounted in an extension 11 on the support 1|. This bolt may be adjusted longitudinally by a hand :nut 18 threaded on the bolt to vary the tension 0f the spring 15, .and after. adjustment may be heldin ,adjusted position bya lock nut 19. The support 1| has a second extension 80 having a recess 8| in which is mounted a compression. spring B2 reacting at one end against the bottom of the recess and at `its outer end against the arm 83 of the lever 69. A rodr84 passes through the .arm 83 and the inner `wall of the recess 8| and on its inner `end is :provided with a stop .85 to engage this wall to hold the rod against 4outward movement., A stop collar 86 uponthe opposite side of the leverarm `83- from the Ispring 82 limits the outward movement of this arm on the rod under action of theLspring, but the Vlever arm is spaced from the end of the extension 80 so that it mayswing inwardly and permit swinging movement of the lever 69 about its pivot 10 and against the actionof the spring 82 under conditions which will be described in the operation.

Also mountedon and secured -to the shaft 12 is a hand lever 81 on which is a pivoted grip 88 to f operate a rod 89 connected with a catch 90 adapted to seat in suitable notches in a segment 0I to lock the lever 81 in different positions. The segment 9| is mountedon the bracket 13. An electric junction box` 02 may be mounted on the pedestal I0 `from which suitable leads connected to a plug-in cap,lnot shown, may fextend fto be plugged in to any suitable outlet receptacle in the shop Wiring system, and leads 93 may extend from this box to the switch 66 for supplying heating current to the unit 64 in the ironing head. To control the operation of the motor II there is mounted Yon the shaft 12 a suitable switch 94, which for example may be a mercury switch controlling the current to the motor preferably through a suitable relay or starting mechanism. This switch is mounted on the shaft 12 in such a position that when the lever 81 is in the full line position and therefore the support 1I and the ironing head 41 are in their retracted or inoperative position, as shown :in full lines inFig. l, the circuit to the Imotor is opened and the motor therefore is not operating, but when the lever 81 is swung forwardly to press the ironing head against the article to be ironed this switch will close the circuit and start the motor` operating to rotate the gear Mythe hat blockll`3, and 4therefore the hat carried thereby.

The housing11|2 andtheparts carried thereby including the hat bleek la are mounted foriirn` ited rocking movement `about a horizontal axlsso ,that as the ,blockand .the hat rotate to carry the lugs `|02 are secured to the underside ofthehousing and include bearings |03 on a transverse shaft |04 `mounted in the pedestal I0. On the underside of .the housing toward its upper or free edge is a lug |05 provided with a rounded recess |06 :in its lower wall in which is seated the upper rounded end of a `rod |01. The lower rounded end of thisrod seats in a rounded recess |08 in the top wall `of a lever |09 pivoted at I|0 to a curved bracket III mounted `on the inner wall of lthe pedestal I0 by any suitable means, such as the screws II2. The recesses |06 and |08 are tapered so their entrances are larger than the rod |01 to permit rocking movement of the rod inthe recesses. The pivot rod I|0 is mounted in suitable-bearinglugs I I3.

This lever |09 carries adjacent its free end a roller |-I4 vrunning on an eccentric -II5 carried by a shaft;` I|6mounted in a bearing |I1 in the bracket I I I. Thisshaft projects through the wall of the pedestal and carries on its outer free end a grooved pulley IIB .operated by a belt II9 running over a pulley |20, `mounted on the worm shaft I1. It will be seen vthat the shaft IIE is therefore driven .from the shaft I1 and as the shaft |I6 rotates it rotates the eccentric II5 which causes `the roller II4 and the free end of the lever |09 to move up and down. This movement is twicethe throwof the eccentric which does not need tobe a `great deal, it having been found with theapparatus shown that an eccentric with its center about .le inch off the center of the shaft, thus .giving a throw of about 1/8 of an inch, is sufficient, although of course the device is not limited to this figure but may be varied as it is Vfound desirable or to suit other portions of the device.

A tension spring I2I (Fig. 1) is secured to the upperfree edge of the housing I2 and the upper portion of the pedestal' I0 tending to draw this Yfree edge 4downwardly or to the left toward .the

pedestal. This retains the lug |05 against the push rod |01 and Aretains the parts in operative position and also insures downward movement of ther hat block during operation of the eccentric. It also prevents swinging of the upper edge of the block outwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. l away `from the eccentric support and insures uniform movement of the block under action of the eccentric. .It is preferred that the push rod |01 be constructed withsome means to adjust its length for `proper relative location of the parts. For this purpose it may be provided with a noncircular end portion |22 tapped to receive the threaded,A end .|23 of theY lower portion AI 01a of the rod, permitting threading of this portion of the rod. more `or less into the upper portion to vary the length of the rod, and then after adjustment it may be secured in adjusted positionuby a lock `nut |24.

The operation is as follows:

It will be seen from the above that `as, the hat block witha hat `thereon is rotated by the worm I6 and the gear I4 to carry the brim past the c ironing Velements 49, the rotating eccentric `I I5 will move the rod |01 up and down and will'irhpart this movement to the housing I2 .and through ythis rod and the spring I 2| will rock the` housing 'about the `pivot .104, thus shifting the hatbrimba'ckand forth to the right and left as viewed in Fig. 1, relative yto the ironing, elements in a direction transversely of the brim at the same time a rotating movement of the block causes relative movement between the brim and the ironing elements longitudinally of the brim or around the hat. Because of these two simultaneous movements the ironing elements really have a back and forth or a wavy path relative to the surface of the brim while passing around the brim which overcomes or eliminates the effect of any nonuniform pressure or ironing of the brim so that there is uniform drying throughout the entire surface of vthe brim and no watermarks or similar marks or surface variations are formed. It is the relative transverse movements between the ironing elements and the brim, combined with the relative longitudinal movements, which secure this effect, and it is therefore immaterial whether it is the hat which is given the transverse movements or whether it is the ironing elements. However, it is more convenient to impart this movement to the hat than to the ironing elements and requires a simpler construction.

The ironing elements are normally in the position shown by the full lines Fig. 1. The operator places a hat to be ironed on a suitable ange or block I3 while this block is removed from the machine and mounted on a suitable block support on a bench, table or other suitablesupport. As previously indicated the hat is placed in the block with the crown 4I extending down through the inner opening of the block and with its brim 42 resting on the outer surface 43 of the block. The cloth 44 is then stretched over this brim and secured in position by the clamping cord 45. This cloth is drawn snugly over the brim so as to hold it in place and care is taken to insure that the cloth is smooth with no folds or wrinkles. The cloth may then be moistened with a sponge or other suitable means and the block with its hat is lifted from its support on the bench and placed on the pins 31 on the support 3 I.

The operator then releases the lever 81 and draws it forwardly. It will be understood the electric heating means in the ironing head has been previously turned on so that the ironing elements 49 have been brought to the proper temperature. As the lever 81 is swung forwardly it turns the shaft 12 and carries with it the support 1I and the ironing head 41 to bring the ironing elements 49 against the brim of the hat on the block, and it is locked in this forward position by the catch 90 seating in a suitably located notch or stop 95 in the segment 9|. This action is secured by the arm 14 swinging forwardly with the lever 81 as they are both secured to the shaft 12. This movement of the lever 14 acting through the spring 15 draws the support 1| forwardly, and the notch or stop 95 is so located that when the lever 81 is in the forward position with the ironing elements engaging the hat the spring 15 is tensioned, and therefore the ironing elements are held against the surface to be ironed by the tension of the spring 15. This provides a yielding and proper pressure on the surface to be ironed automatically, merely by the operation of swinging the lever 81 forwardly without any other action by the operator, and the amount of the pressure being determined by the setting of the adjusting means 18 for adjusting the tension of the spring 15. Also when the lever 81 is swung forwardly the switch 94 is turned to close the circuit to the motor l l which immediately starts to slowly rotate` the hat block past the ironing elements 49. It also rotates the eccentric H which gives the hat a back and forth rocking movement as previously described. This operation may continue for any desired number of revolutions of the hat or until the desired ironing has been completed, which will be readily known to the operator after some experience, but it will be seen that during the ironing operation the entire curvature or transverse surface of the hat brim is simultaneously ironed by the plurality of ironing elements 49, so that whether the hat is given one or a plurality of revolutions the brim is given the desired and uniform ironing, except as it is Varied automatically at certain parts of the periphery 0f the brim by the action of the rotating means for the hat and the shape of the block, as will presently be described. In order to prevent danger of the ironing elements 49 more or less digging into the surface to cause injury or an uneven surface the forward edges of these elements may be suitably rounded as indicated at 50a.

It is found to be very desirable and to give much better results if the block is inclined to the horizontal as indicated in Fig. 1. I prefer to make this angle about 45, but I am by no means limited to this angle as it may be varied considerably. Also the ironing head 41 when in the retracted position is preferably above and to the rear of this inclined block, and therefore when it is swung forwardly to the ironing position it is brought forwardly and downwardly against the curved surface of the article to be ironed. This places the proper pressure on the curved portions vwhere it is ordinarily most diiicult to secure the proper pressure and where it is wanted, instead of placing it principally on the top as would be apt to be the case if the block were horizontal.

'I'he ir-oning head is also so placed in its supporting lever 69 that when it is brought over to the ironing position the rear or lower tail portion 96 of the ironing elements engages the hat first, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and then tips to the dot and dash line position to engage the entire curved surface of the brim when the full pressure is applied. This prevents the tendency ofthe upper or forward portion to be pressed or dig into the surface more than the other portion and thus mar the surface and give uneven ironing. This cannot be readily done when the block is horizontal as it is difficult to secure the proper pressure on the edge portions, but this is readily secured when the block is inclined as described. Also, the strength of the brim is .in the curvature in the brim, and by this arrangement increased pressure can be secured where it is most needed on the curved portion of the brim to give it its proper setting and strength. The heat and moisture together with the pressure from the ironing operation shrinks the brim onto the surface of the flange or block giving it the right shape and necessary increased strength. That is, it sets the brim to conform to the shape of the iiange or block and sets the stiffening in the hat. It also gives a fine uniform surface to the hat.

It will be evident that to secure the best ironing operation it is desired that the ironing surfaces of the elements be in the same relation to the surface being ironed throughout the entire operation, or that is, throughout the entire periphery of the surface being ironed, and this ironing surface should be preferably tangent or parallel to the surface being ironed, or that is, the center line 91 or plane of the head as indicated in Fig. 3, should be maintained at substantially right angles or normal to the surface of the hat at the ironing point. It is evident that, as a hat is not round but of general oval shape, if the block were mounted' to rotate about a fixed axis the ironing elements would beat different angles to the surface being ironed at different points throughout the periphery of the brim. That is, the ironing head would in effect rock somewhat back and forth to the opposite sides of a plane perpendicular or normal to the surface at thel ironing point so that the pressure of the ironing elements would be greater on one side of the point at one time and on the other side at another time, with continuous var l iations between, giving an uneven and varied ironing.

I have devised an improved and novel means for rotating the hat 'during the ironing operation whereby this objection is effectively overcome and the surfaces of the ironing elements are maintained at all times substantially7 parallel to the surface being ironed atthe ironing point, or stated another way, center 91. or the plane of the ironing head is always maintained at lsubstantially right angles to the; surfacev of the hat at the ironing point. This effect is secured by the mounting above described for the gear Itl which carries the hat supporting flange or block, so that this gear has both rotary and limited lateral or bodily movement on the: surface 22.

As the gear I4'rotates underaction of the worm I6 its inner periphery 23.` which is of general oval shape, although irregular as; required, runs on the

guide rollers

24 and 25, and the pins 31 are so placed on the support 3|` that the long diameter of the hat corresponds with the long diameter of the oval gear I4 and the. generally oval shaped cam surface 23. It is also common that the brims of hats are curved more toward the rear portion thereof than at the front portion, and the strength or stiffness of the-brim is secured primarily by the curvature of this brim. The surface of the flange or block I3 is curved more or is on a shorter transverse curvature at the rear portion of the hat as indicated at 98, Fig. 3, and the forward portion of the flange or blockis flatter and wider as shown at 99; As the strength of the brim is secured by the proper curvature, greater pressure is required from the ironing elements at the points of these greater curvatures than at the atter portions of the brim. These effects are also secured by this gear I4 and the method of mounting to secure combined rotary and limited bodily movement. Thus as shown in Fig. 3 when the long diameter of the hat, and therefore the gear I4, is horizontal thek elements 49 are ironing the intermediate side portions of the brim and the hat is heldin substantially central position by the less acutely curved portion 23a of cam 23 running onl the

rollers

24 and 25, but as the gear I4 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow |00 the side4 portions ofthe brim toward the rear of the hat, which are the more curved, portions of the brim and give the greatest support,4

are brought into engagement with the ironing elements. This is the position of Fig. 3,V the greatest diameter of the oval being. indicated by the line IUI. At this time the properlyshaped por.-

tions 23h and 23e of the cam surface 23 run onto the guide rollers 25 and 24V and shift the gearI I4 bodily and with it the hat block,|3 to press the hat brim more firmly into the ironing elements. This shifts the ironing elements and the head supporting them backwardly which may further tension the spring 15 and also compress the spring 82, thus automatically increasing the ironing pressure on these more acutely curved portions of the hat brim to give it. the necessarypressure to properly form it around the more acutely curved portion of the hat block and cause it to properly conform to this surface, and give the proper shape and strength to the brim where this greater i strength and shaping action is required.

As the rotation of the .gear I4 continues, the action `of the cam 23` cooperating with the rollers 24'rand 25 continues to give the proper shifting of thegear I4' and hat block I3 throughout the remainder ofthe ironing action on the hat brim, the pressure being greater on the ironing of the rear or more curved portions of the brim and less at the. front or less curved portions of the brim.

This bodily shifting of the gear I4 also compensates for the irregular or general oval shape of the hat brim so that the ironing surfaces 50 of the ironing elements 49 are maintained substantially parallel with the surface being ironed at the ironing pointor point of contact throughout the entireperiphery of the brim. In other words the center 91 or the plane of the ironing head is automatically retained at substantially right angles to the surface being ironed throughout the entire. periphery, giving a much better and more uniformly finished surface. The pivotal mounting of the ironing elements also permits them to rock slightly as the hat support is rocked back `and forthby the eccentric I I5 so that their ironing surfaces may adjust themselves to the surlface ofthe brim and properly engage this surface andl to the best advantage at all times.

Having thus set forth the nature of my inven-V tion, what Iclaim is:

l. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat 4supporting block having a transversely curved side of and at the higher part of theblock, means `i` forshifting the head to and. from the block and to press the elements against the block to iron a hat brim thereon, pivotal mounting means for the block adjacent the lower portion thereof to permit it to rock about a horizontal axis, means 'for rotating the block, and means for at the same time rocking the block about said pivot to movel the brim transversely relative to the iron ing head.

2. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, -an ironing head having ironing surfaces arrangedin a curve similar to that of the block to iron aV hat` brim on the block, means for yieldiinglypressing. said surfaces against the block, means for rotating the block and at the same time shifting said block laterally to maintain the ironing surfaces at all `times substantially parallel to the surface of the-brim at the ironing point, and means for` rocking the block back and forth in adirection transversely of the brim during said rotating movement.

3; :In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, a base` having a plane surface, a support for said block mounted on said surface for rotating and limited lateral movements, means having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a brim on said block, means fory yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, means for rotating said support, means for guiding said support on said surface to shift the block toward and from the head at predetermined portions of its rotative movement different amounts to vary the pressure of the ironing means on the brim at predetermined points, means for pivotally mounting the base to swing about a horizontal axis, and means for rocking the, base back and forth about said axis during rotative movements of the support.

4. In a hat ironing machine, a base, a support pivoted to the upper part of the base, an annular hat supporting block mounted on the support having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing head including ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, means for rotating the block to carry the Ibrim past the ironing head, and means for at the same time continuously rocking the support to cause relative lateral movement between the brim and the ironing surfaces in a direction'transversely of the brim.

5. In a hat ironing machine, a base, a support pivoted to the upper part of the base, an annular hat supporting block mounted on the support having a transversely curved outer surface t support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing head including a plurality of ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, means for yieldinlgly pressing said elements against the block, means for rotating the block to carry the brim past said elements, means for at the same time continuously rocking the support to cause relative lateral movement between the elements and the brim in a direction transversely of the brim, and means for pivotally mounting the individual elements so that they may rock to maintain their surfaces substantially parallel to the surface of the brim.

6. In a hat ironing machine, a base, a support pivoted to the upper part of the base, an annular hat supporting block mounted on the support and having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing head comprising a plurality of ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, means for yieldingly pressing said elements against the block, an eccentric in the base, means for rotating the block on the support to carry the brim past the ironing elements, means for driving the eccentric, and an operative connection from the eccentric to the support to rock the support on its pivot during rotation of the block to at the same time cause relative lateral movement between the ironing elements and the brim inl a direction transversely of the brim.

7. In a hat ironing machine, a hollow base, an inclined support pivotally mounted on the base, an annular hat supporting block mounted on the support provided with a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing head including ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, means for yieldingly pressing the ironing elements against the block at the upper part thereof, means for rotating the block on the support to carry a hat brim thereon past said elements, a shaft mounted in the base, means for driving the shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, a lever pivotally mounted in the base and carrying means bearing on the eccentric, and an operative connection from the lever to the block support to rock said support on its pivot during turning movements of the block.

8. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting element comprising a block, an ironing element including heated ironing means to iron the brim of a hat supported on said block by pressing the brim between said means and block, means to rotate the hat supporting element while said ironing means is pressed against said brim to iron the brim, and means for continuously shifting one of said elements back and forth relative to the other in a direction transversely of the brim while the hat supporting element is rotating to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing means and the brim in a direction transversely of the brim while the brim moves longitudinally past the ironing means.

9. In a, hat ironing machine, an element for supporting a hat brim comprising a block including a supporting surface for the brim, a heated ironing element for ironing the -brim by pressing it on said supporting surface, means for causing relative movement between the ironing element and the brim around and longitudinally of the brim, and means for at the same time continuously shifting one of said elements back and forth relative to the other in a direction transversely of said movement to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing element and the brim in a direction transversely of this brim. y

10. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting member comprising a block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing member comprising a plurality of individually yieldable ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, a support for mounting the ironing member to move to and from engagement with a brimv on the block, means for rotating the block, and means for continuously shifting one of said members back and forth relative to the other in a direction transversely of the brim while the block Ais rotating to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing elements and the brim in a direction transversely of the,

brim while the brim moves longitudinally past these elements.

11. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting member having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, means for supporting said member inclined to the horizontal, an ironing member comprising a plurality of individually yieldable ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block and to simultaneously iron the full transverse surface of the brim, means for mounting the ironing member to one side of and at the higher part of the hat supporting member, means for shifting the ironing member to and from the hat supporting member and to press the elements against a hat brim on the latter member to iron said brim, means for rotating the block, and means for at the same time continuously shifting one of said members back and forth relative to the other in a direction transversely of the brim to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing elements and the brim in a direction transversely of said brim as the brim moves longitudinally past said elements.

12. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting element having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an ironing element having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the hat supporting element to iron a hat brim on said latter element, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the brim. and means for rotating the hat supporting element and at the same time continuously shifting one of said elements back and forth relative to the other element in the direction of said transverselyl curved surface to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing surfaces and the brim in a direction transversely of the brim as said brim moves I longitudinally past the ironing surfaces.

13. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting element having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, a base having a plane surface, a support for said element mounted on said surface for rotating and limited lateral movements, an ironing element having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the hat supporting element to iron a brim on said latter element, means for yieldingly pressing said ironing surfaces against the brim, means for at the same time continuously shifting one of said elements back and forth relative to the other in a direction transversely of the brim to cause continuous,

relative short back and forth movement between said ironing surfaces and the brim as the brim moves longitudinally past said surfaces. and means for laterally shifting the hat supporting element toward and from the ironing element at predetermined portions of its rotation to vary the pressure of said surfaces on the brim.

14. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting member having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, an ironing member having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the supporting member to iron `a brim on the latter member, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the brim on the supporting member, mean for imparting to the supporting member combined rotative and limited lateral bodily movements relative to the ironing member during the ironing operation to maintain the ironing surfaces substantially parallel to the surface in contact therewith at all times, and means for at the same time continuously shifting one of said members back and forth relative to the other in a directionV transversely of the brim to cause continuous, short relative back and forth movement between the ironing surfaces and the brim in a direction transversely of the brim as said brim moves longitudinally past said surfaces.

15. In a hat ironing machine, a base, a support pivoted to the base, an annular hat supporting block mounted on the support, an ironing head including means for ironing the brim of the hat on the block, means for rotating the block to carry the brim longitudinally past the ironing means, and means for at the same time continuously rocking the support back and forth on its pivot to provide continuous, short relative movement between the ironing means and the brim in a direction transversely of the brim as said brim moves longitudinally past the ironing means.

STEPHEN J. MILLER.