Patent GB-190202254-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Leather Working Machines
Inventor: DOUGHERTY HUGH FRANCIS
Filed: 1902-01-28
Granted: 1903-01-08
Abstract: 2254. Dougherty, H. F. Jan. 28. Hides and skins, raw, treating.-Relates to machines for unhairing, " putting out," and " striking " out " morocco, calf, and other skins after liming, and, at the same time, increasing their superficial area, removing the fleshings, and smoothing the skins in readiness for the subsequent tanning operations. In a supporting-frame A are journalled two parallel shafts A<3>, A<3>X which carry sprocket or star wheels b formed with notches b<2> to receive the link pins b<4> of an endless chain of supporting- tables B'. The shaft A<3> is driven by spur gearing from a shaft which is belt-geared to the countershaft which supplies power to the machine. The tables B<1> are connected by links B<2>, the link pins b<4> being situated at a suffcient distance from the extreme ends of the tables to cause them to project outwards at the point X, Fig. 4. This outward projection facilitates the placing of the skins over the edges of the tables, an operation which is performed at the point X. The skins, after treatment, are removed at Y. During the upward movement of the tables from the point X, the skins pass between two pairs of rollers C and C'. These rollers are supplied with stripping- knives or fluted surfaces of known form, for the purpose of unbairing and "striking out" the skins. Each roller is mounted in a pair of hangers S<1>, and the journal plates swivel in the hangers, so that not only can the rollers yield laterally but they can also take up a slightly-angular position if the skin is thicker at one side of the table than at the other. The pairs of rollers are tensioned towards one another by springs s or pins s<1> which pass through the hangers. The rollers rotate in directions opposed to the motion of the tables B<1>, and they are driven by sprocket chains from two shafts, each of which is belt-driven from the countershaft. The tables B' are held against lateral movement by guides d, which engage either the edges of the tables or the links which connect them ; the guides diverge at d<2>, to facilitate the entry of the tables. The hair removed from the skins is collected in a double trough formed by walls m<1> and m<4>. In the bottom of each trough is an endless conveying-belt H, which transfers the hair &c. to a suitable receptacle. Guide-boards L direct into the troughs any hair or other material which may be thrown outwards by the rollers C'. An attendant stands on the platform D and shifts each skin slightly on the table before it enters between the second pair of rollers C'. This prevents the portion of the skin which is folded over the edge of the table from escaping without treatment. Fig. 6 shows a modified form of bearing for the rollers C or C<1>. On brackets S secured to the frame A are fixed guides D for the blocks c<1> in which are journalled the shafts d' of the rollers C. The guides are slotted at d to receive studs or pins d<2>, which enable the journal blocks to swivel as well as to move laterally in the guides. Rods f extend from the guides D and carry an adjustable tension plate f<1> in which is seated one end of the compression spring F. The other end is seated in the face of the journal block. Rods f<5> with adjusting-nuts f<6> limit the inward movement of the journal blocks.