US291598A - hooebe - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

N. B. HOOPER. MAGHINEFOR 1301mm HATS. y No. 291,598. Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

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MACHINEFOR IRO'NINGHATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,598, dated January 8, 1884..

Application filed April 27, 1883. (N0 model.)

To (025 whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Nlononns B. Hoornn, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Machines for Pressing or Ironing Hats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is applicable to machines for performing apressing operation, the effect of which is the same as that commonly known as ironingfl and which is performed by hand with a heated iron.

The invention relates to that class of machines in which the hat is operated on by a heated sand-bag; and it consists in a novel combination of parts particularly hereinafter described, and referred to in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the dotted line or 00, Fig. 1

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures.

A designates the bed or table of a press, which is made hollow, and having connected with it two pipes, B O, which provide for heating the saidbed 01- table by steam. Upon the bed or table is attached and supported a block, I), which is adapted to fit the crown of a hat; E, while the brim of the hat may rest upon the bed or table adjacent to the block, as shown in Fig. 2. The bed or table A is surmounted by a frame-work composed of uprights F and a cross bar or beam, F.

G designates a platen or plate, which is vertically movablcupon guides or guide-rods H, the platen here beingshown as provided with rollers or wheels a, bearing on said guide-rods, and upper sockets, b, surrounding and sliding on said rods. The platen is thus retained in a horizontal position, while it is free to move upward and downward.

As here shown, the weight of the platen G is counterbalanced by weights I, depending from cords or connections J, which pass over pulleys c and are attached to the platen. In this example of any invention the platen G is moved upwardand downward by a screw, K, which is provided with a hand-wheel, K, whereby it may be turned. Said screw has a swivel-connection, d, with the platen G, and

' works in a nut, c, in the cross-beam F. Other mechanism might be used forimparting movement to the platen G. To the under side of, the platen is attached what I term a .sandbag, although it is here shown as composed of a cylindric metal shell, L, with its lower end covered with flexible material L, which may be secured over the open end of the cylindric shell by a'band, wire, or cord, f. The flexible material, L, is not continuous across the end of the shell L, but has in it a pocket, L", which conforms approximately to the shape of the block D and the crown of the hat E. This pocket can be made of a piece separate from thepiece L, and secured to an opening therein, or they may be made of one piece of material. The metal shell L contains a quan tity of sand, snfficient to fill it, except for the pocket L but when the machine is not in use the weight of the sand will cause the material forming the pocket to turn wrong side out and to depend from the part L, as shown in Fig. 1.

The sand-bag might be otherwise constructed; and although I term ita sandibag, it may contain other mobileor yielding material in lieu of sand. In all cases, however, the pocket L will be used, and it will be con strueted of muslin, ticking, or some other pervious fabric, so that moisture may pass from the hat under operation to the sand in the bag.

In operating my machine the hatE is drawn down upon the block D, and the platen G is moved down so that the said bag will pass downward over the hat, which, with the block within it, will be received in the pocket L shown in Fig. 2. The hat is subjected to heat from the hollow bed or steam-table, and from the sand in the bag, or by other equivalent means; or the sand-bag may be heated in a similar manner, andwhile the crown and brim of the hat are subjected to pressure between the sand-bag and the block and table or bed A it is also subjected to heat, as described,'to bring up the finish. The hat, while being subjected to pressure, is heated both by the block and bed or table and by the sand in the bag. WVhen there is no hat in the machine, the platen is depressed so that the sand-bag rests upon the block and bed or table, and thereby the sand in the bag is kept hot. This method of I ironing or pressing hats is very advantageous,

as it brings up better the stiffening, or the stiff, as it is technically termed, in stiff hats. It also develops a fuller color and gives a better finish, and one that holds itself better than when produced by the ordinary operation of ironing.

I am aware that heated sand-bags operated by hand and by presses have long been used in the manufacture of hats; and I am also aware that a bag to contain compressed air,

and having a pocket made of india-rubber and conforming to the exact shape of the hat to be operated on, has been used. The india-rubber pocket will be soon destroyed by the heat, and,

being impervious, will not allow moisture to pass from the hat under operation to the sand ,7 in the bag.

I do not claim either of the above-described forms of apparatus as of my invention; but

What .I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

the under side of the platen. moving upward and downward with the platen, and having in it a pocket of muslin, ticking, or other pervious fabric, which conforms exactly to the shape of the crown of the hat to be operated on, and

through which moisture may pass from the hat operated on to the sand in said sand-bag, all organized for operation substantially as described.

NICHOLAS B. HOOIPER.

Vitn esses FREDK. HaYNEs, A. L. BROWN.

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